Like any human activity, basketball has an impact on society and the environment.
For many years, ESG (Environment, Social & Governance) dimensions have been integrated into the basketball economy, thanks to CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) approaches, whether at the level of clubs, federations or suppliers.
Petit tour d’horizon.
*In NBA
Everyone knows NBA Cares, which is a foundation with a social purpose.
You can find the NBA cares social impact report here, which carries out numerous actions: https://cares.nba.com/social-impact/
At club level, the Trail Blazers, for example, have an ambitious program to reduce their various environmental impacts (Carbon, Plastic, Waste, Water, etc.), which is rare in the NBA. https://www.nba.com/blazers/livegreener
They also have, like most clubs, a foundation which invests in social projects. https://www.nba.com/blazers/community/foundation
* In France
We have some pioneering clubs, but above all congratulations to Boulazac Basket Dordogne, the first professional basketball club certified 1 star ISO 2600 (Standard on sustainable development in business) by the French standardization agency (AFNOR). https://www.boulazac-basket-dordogne.com/bbd-club-engage-rse/
We will also mention the Chalon elk which is making great efforts. https://www.elanchalon.com/nosengagements/
* On the institutional side, we can wonder about the Euroleague “One team” initiative https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/fr/one-team/
No activity report, it smacks of greenwashing.
Finally, on the supplier side, we have a little bit of everything:
– Balloons made from recycled rubber, without phthalates, without toxic ink, or even made from hemp, for example https://www.net-asso.net/ballon-basket-sport-ecolo.html
– Locally produced vegan swimsuits or shoes, for example https://www.wedressfair.fr/blog/13-marques-de-baskets-eco-responsables
For those who want to go further, an analysis on the subject by two academics (in English) https://www.ship.edu/globalassets/jbd/articles/v1mcgowanp45-p82.pdf
And you, in your club, in your company, do you talk about these subjects?
Are you taking actions?
