We, the three teams of the Wolfpack – Soudal Quick-Step, AG Insurance Soudal, and the Soudal Quick-Step Devo Team – have taken our commitment to address our environmental impact, very seriously.
In 2020 we launched our #ItStartsWithUs campaign, with the aim of not only to reduce our carbon footprint, the amount of waste we produced, and increase the amount of recycling done within the team, but to also encourage wider conversations within the cycling community about its environmental impact. Since then, we have continued to evolve our habits, influence behaviours and push for real changes. To help with this process, we have been working with climate change specialists South Pole, who have been helping us to evaluate and measure our emissions, find ways to reduce our footprint and take climate action for our climate impact.
As we celebrate Earth Day, the special day designated to highlight our environmental impact, we are delighted to announce that we have been awarded the South Pole Funding Climate Action Label, which highlights the work that we have done and will continue to do, to help our environment.
To be awarded this label, we are undertaking a five-step climate journey. The first step is to measure our emissions, from our meals to our gear, which showed the three teams generated 4,383 tons of greenhouse gas emissions in 2022. Our performance is data-driven and so should our climate progress. That is why we are sharing our emissions data in full transparency with the rest of the world.
Step two is to plan, meaning we have put in place a target and an emission reduction plan for the organisation in line with SBTi near-term criteria, as well as set up a target in line with SBTi long-term criteria within 2 years. Our target is to reduce absolute scope 1 & 2 emissions 42% by 2030 from a 2022 baseline, and to achieve an annual linear reduction of absolute scope 3 emissions of at least 0.5%.
Action is the third step, with the organisation required to show ongoing proof of progress in line with the reduction plan. We are committed to cutting emissions as much as we can by switching to renewable energy and other sustainable practices.
Step four will see us contribute towards a state-of-the-art climate project, to take responsibility for those emissions we have not yet managed to avoid. As an outdoors sports team, we care deeply about the environment and health of the planet. Therefore, we support Solidagro’s clean cookstoves project in cycling-loving Burkina Faso, which improves household health and reduces emissions and deforestation.
The final step is to communicate about not just our work but the plight of the climate in general, and enable conversations and influence action from within our team and the cycling public in general.
Soudal Quick-Step CEO Patrick Lefevere commented on being awarded the label, ‘We are very proud that the work we are doing to tackle climate change is being recognised. We operate in a world that may not be the kindest to the environment, but we have identified the actions that we need to take to help the environment in which we race and train.’
Join us on our climate journey, track our progress and discover how you can get serious about the climate too: https://www.southpole.com/label/decolef#labeltabs