World Squash Environmental Sustainability Strategy 2023-2030

---

World Squash have created an Environmental Sustainability Strategy (2023-2030) as a statement of intent and roadmap to address environmental sustainability issues facing our sport, and to contribute to global environmental priorities.

The strategy has been prepared with the support of a Sustainability Task Group and other stakeholders within the sport including representatives from the PSA.

---

Introduction

The WSF have created this strategy as a statement of intent and roadmap to tackle environmental sustainability issues facing our sport, and to contribute to global environmental priorities.

To assess how our organisations can achieve improved environmental sustainability, we have adopted the approach taken by the IOC whereby we have reviewed areas our organisations have direct control of and spheres we can influence, all relative to the potential impact we can have.

Our areas of opportunity fall into these categories:

Figure 1 – Diagram showing how objectives and targets are set based on level of control, influence and impact. (Source: IOC, 2017)

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all UN Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet. At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries in a global partnership.

Due to WSF’s global positioning, we have used the SDG framework to anchor and inform our strategy. The SDGs highlighted are those we aim to contribute to through implementing our strategy. SDG 13 is our main focus as we commit to take action to combat climate change and its impacts.

---

Global Sports Sector Initiatives

Several initiatives designed to confederate sport offer credibility to sustainability programmes as well as the benefits of sharing innovation and challenges from the breadth of sport.

---

Operations

WSF do not manage or construct squash courts or other facilities. Day-to-day operations include our staff working in a variety of locations. To ensure the environmental sustainability strategy is delivered, we will seek strategic partners where needed and build on existing relationships with our partners.

To ensure aspects of this strategy are delivered we will

• Create a carbon action plan in order to reduce CO2 emissions which includes a reduction plan to 2030 targeting a 50% reduction in scope 1,2 and 3 emissions by 2024 (as defined by the Greenhouse Gas Protocol).
• Allocate roles and responsibilities by 2024 for implementation of this strategy.
• Allocate resources (where needed) by 2024 to deliver this strategy.
• Create a sustainable procurement code for key purchasing decisions and encourage our supply chain to be more sustainable. This will be guided by the IOC’s sustainable sourcing in sport guidelines by 2025.
• Eliminate single use plastics at our offices.
• Work with strategic partners and seek commercial partnerships that align with this strategy by 2024.

---

Events

WSF deliver tournaments and governance events internationally with a shared aim to grow and showcase the sport to existing and new followers. We also stage meetings and other events. As such, the event portfolio is delivered in various geographic locations to ensure inclusivity.

In acknowledging environmental impacts occur from our tournaments and other events, WSF will:

• For owned events, WSF will adopt the principles of ISO 20121 (Sustainable Event Management System) by 2026.
• Provide guidance for the global squash community by 2026 on how to deliver more sustainable events which will cover waste management, catering, sourcing/procurement, travel, branding and resource efficiency.
• Work with local organising committees to follow best practise for sustainable branding from the IOC’s Sustainable Sourcing Guidelines for Branding and Signage Materials by 2025.
• Work with broadcasters to ensure carbon literacy with the goal of achieving ALBERT certification by 2026.
• Request the Sustainability Working Group and WSF Championships Commission to develop sustainability guidelines and requirements for event hosts by 2024.
• Collectively create an event calendar by 2024 that reduces the need for travel to reduce emissions and ensure player welfare.
• Eliminate single use plastics at WSF events.

---

Courts & Equipment

WSF owns very little sports equipment. However, the federation maintains the rules and specifications for squash equipment to ensure longevity, safety and fairness. WSF provides accreditation to companies and suppliers of squash facilities and equipment. We appreciate that the lifecycle of equipment such as rackets, balls, strings and clothing – from manufacture, packaging and distribution to use and disposal – involves an embodied environmental impact.

Our Sustainability Working Group and WSF Courts and Equipment Commission will:

• Work with research institutions to explore and identify the environmental impact of squash equipment by 2026.
• Coordinate increased reuse and recycling of equipment where feasible by 2025.
• Integrate environmental considerations into technical specifications such as Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) wood used for flooring by 2025.
• Conduct an industry consultation of squash ball specifications integrating FSC rubber for balls working with WSF’s official partners by 2026.
• Conduct a review of court accredited companies to review environmental sustainability performance as well as review accreditation criteria to review sustainability opportunities for reducing environmental impact by 2027.

---

Membership & Governance

WSF has a structured governance model and this includes the Board, Executive team, Commissions, Working Groups and Task Groups all working in the best interests of the sport and to support the membership. The governance model results in multiple opportunities to engage with a broad audience to create positive impact.

To influence the sport to become more environmentally sustainable, WSF will:

• Create a permanent sustainability commission to guide and contribute to WSF’s environmental sustainability strategy by 2024.
• WSF to review their respective in-person meetings and travel policies by 2024.
• Introduce sustainability criteria for WSF annual general meetings, including making them paperless from 2024
• Create an environmental sustainability charter for its members to subscribe to outlining shared commitments to the sport and planet by 2025: to include resources for Sports for Nature signatories.
• Create guidance for members around environmental sustainability by 2026.
• Conduct research around membership to understanding sustainability ambitions and support needed by 2025.

---

Outreach & Engagement

WSF engages with millions of people globally who play and follow the sport. We recognise that we can engage with our followers on the topic of environmental sustainability through various channels to create positive impacts that far outweigh anticipated gains from reducing our organisations’ respective environmental footprints.

WSF will do this by:

• Ensuring relevant environmental sustainability considerations are integrated into coaching/development course programmes working with the WSF Coaching Commission by 2025.
• Working with the WSF Digital Commission to develop and distribute relevant environmental sustainability information to National Federation and squash players internationally by 2025.
• Acting as a resource hub for federations, promoters, players and clubs to host best practise on court maintenance, heating and cooling and other subjects relevant to facilities by 2025.
• Engaging Squash TV, worldsquash.tv, all broadcasters, commentators, Squash Player magazine and other channels to promote environmental sustainability commitments and achievements by the squash community consistent with our commitments under the Sports for Climate Action Framework and Sports for Nature initiative.

---

Monitoring & Evaluation

A WSF progress report will be presented at each WSF AGM under a standard agenda item on environmental sustainability. Continental and national federations will also be encouraged to report on their environmental initiatives.

We will meet our respective reporting commitments under the Sports for Climate Action Framework and Sports for Nature initiative.

---

World Squash are signatories to the following global sports sector environmental initiatives:

---

For more information: [email protected]