The think tank for sustainable sports

Research. Consulting. Education.


Who we are

We are an international network of experts from science and practice who are dedicated to sustainable sports development. Both independently and together with cooperation partners, we pursue our mission.

Our Mission

We rethink sport: resource-efficient, low-emission, nature-friendly, socially responsible and humane. We provide a basis of knowledge for actors who want to embark on the path of sustainable development. And we give impulses to take such paths.

Approach


Non-profit status and intention to promote

The think tank sportainable is an independent non-profit organisation. We take sport as a socially significant and ecologically relevant subsystem as our starting point. With applied sustainability research, the think tank promotes the transformation of sport towards resource and emission minimisation, recycling optimisation, nature compatibility, social justice and public welfare orientation. In an overarching sense, the think tank sportainable contributes to achieving the United Nations' sustainability goals and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's 1.5 degree target.

Changing structures to enable action

The think tank sportainable sees itself as a trailblazer. Awareness of sustainability and education for sustainable development reach their limits where structures make sustainable action difficult. The think tank's research aims at sustainability routines, i.e. the development of structures in which people can do what they think makes sense in terms of sustainability based on good arguments.

Interdisciplinarity and field reference

The think tank sportainable networks researchers in the natural, social, technical and economic sciences. On the other hand, the think tank builds on the experience of actors in various social and economic fields of action and work. In this respect, our team integrates practical knowledge and research competences as a well-founded and creative basis for cooperation.

Cooperative development

The think tank sportainable cooperates with partners in sport with a view to mutual development. We see our research fields as fields of action in which we work out questions and solution strategies in cooperation with our partners.

Making sustainability visible in sport

On a meta-level, the think tank sportainable is working on the development of a sportainableSCORE. The aim is to inform consumers of sporting goods and users of sporting services about the sustainability of products and services in sport in a striking and differentiated way.

Inspiration

Common good economy


The common good economy establishes an ethical economic model. The well-being of people and the environment becomes the primary goal of economic activity.
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Image by Epicurrence on Unsplash)

Eco routine


Michael Kopatz's "concept of eco routine pleads for changing the conditions. Then behaviour will also change. [...] Motto: structures instead of people. Eco routine makes sustainability the norm."
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Image by Robert Armstrong on Pixabay)

Post-growth economy


‘Post-growth’ is a worldview that sees society operating better without the demand of constant economic growth. It proposes that widespread economic justice, social well-being and ecological regeneration are only possible when money inherently circulates through our economy.
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Slow Sports


Actually, all we need is our body, fresh air, comfortable clothes and aesthetic or exciting movement ideas. And off we go. Désirée Smits offers an interesting approach.
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