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DÉCATHLON, towards maximum transparency of the environmental impact of its products

6. Clients and consumers

Context

Décathlon is an international company founded in 1976. It designs and markets sports articles in its 1,667 shops in 59 countries.

In a transparent approach, Décathlon commits the entire chain to a more sustainable production and consumption process. In collaboration with its employees and financial partners, the company has therefore launched various initiatives, such as environmental signage

Objectives

  • Introduce teams to product ecodesign

  • Offer customers better visibility on the environmental performance of the products they choose

  • Highlighting products with a low environmental impact in order to develop their sales

APPROACH

In 2009, Décathlon set up an eco-design support tool. It studies different criteria over the entire life cycle of the product, such as energy or waste. 

Décathlon has also set up a communication system that is useful to customers and employees, enabling them to discover new modes of consumption: repair and use of second-hand objects for example.

Décathlon has also set up an environmental display, giving customers visibility on the environmental impact of products. This clear and reliable tool makes purchasing more responsible.  To do this, Décathlon works in cooperation with different structures such as Afnor, Ademe and the European Commission, in order to allow better harmony of market practices. 

Thus since 2015, a grade from A to E is indicated on each product. Customers can thus compare products. 48% of products are currently subject to these studies and ratings, and Décathlon is tending to roll out this system more widely in the coming months.

CONTRIBUTION TO COMPANY PERFORMANCE

  • Decathlon was ranked 4th best employer in 2014 and 2015, "Great Place to work"

  • Considerable drop in turnover of -15 points (from -30% to -55%) between 2015 and 2016

  • 12% of Decathlon's capital is held by 50% of employees, which has had a positive impact on their productivity and has reduced the absenteeism rate by -20 points

  • From 2015 to 2016, employees saw their hourly wages increase by 10%

  • Internal changes have reduced recruitment costs and improved employee involvement: employees are more committed to continuous improvement and are becoming more autonomous

  • Reduction of energy consumption at its various sites

  • Better relations with customers and partners by displaying the environmental impact of different products, thus Décathlon encourages responsible consumption

Benefits

  • Improvement of the environmental impact of products based on various factors: global warming, depletion of resources and discharges into water and the air. 61% of Decathlon products have environmental labelling, with a target of 100% by 2022

  • Knowledge and evaluation of the impact of the products manufactured, redesign of the business model for a more sustainable production and initiation of companies to an ecodesign process

  • Encouraging consumers to think about their purchasing decisions, raising awareness of the environmental impact of products and supporting them in a more responsible purchasing process

  • Fight against "greenwashing" and more transparency demanded from companies
Workforce
94 000 (2019)
Turnover
12,4 milliards € (2019)
Country
France

DECATHLON

4, boulevard de Mons
59650 Villeneuve d'Ascq

www.decathlon.fr/

Mise à jour le 20/01/2021

Creative Commons Attribution This work by Réseau Alliances – World Forum Lille is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.