The Champions Hockey League presented its new sustainability strategy and the related website at the club information meeting on Tuesday in Prague.
Over the course of the past few months, the CHL Office, together with an external sustainability expert and the operations team of the CHL’s media & marketing partner Infront, has carried out an analysis on current and future sustainability efforts within the pan-European club ice hockey competition. As a result, a sustainability strategy was developed based on the Global Sustainable Sports (GSS) 7 pillars framework.
“We understand that the CHL has a responsibility for its social impacts, its environmental footprint and its economic behaviour. We are committed to taking that responsibility and doing everything in our power to be an industry leader, even though the circumstances may not make it an easy task,” CHL COO Monika Reinhard said. “The CHL is an international sports competition, one whose unique value proposition also lies in the fact that different countries and cultures travel and compete and one whose aim is to entertain as many people as possible. But that doesn’t mean that we can’t look at everything we do and consider the options we have to improve and also use our public awareness to create an impact.”
As a first step, the CHL’s own sustainability website was launched. It explains the CHL’s sustainability approach based on the 7 pillars framework and displays the outcome of the current state analysis, split into evaluated key metrics and explanations about actions already taken. It further highlights the CHL’s efforts in being an innovation leader in the area of digitalisation which also has a major impact on some sustainability aspects.
Furthermore, past and future sustainability milestones are outlined. As a first new action, in line with the launch of the sustainability website, two sustainability Playbooks have been introduced as tools and inspiration for participating clubs interested in being active in improving their sustainability efforts. Also part of the website is an area for the CHL’s sustainability success stories which will display some of our own actions as well as initiatives brought to us by Infront – who also launched its sustainability report last year – and other partners and will serve as inspiration for other organisations.
“Our efforts to become a more sustainable and responsible organisation have just begun, but at the same time they merge seamlessly into our general aim to continuously develop the CHL ever since its launch in 2014,” said Reinhard. “We are excited to take on this journey and are committed to continuously review and improve our practices in close collaboration with clubs, leagues and other partners. Sustainability is up to all of us!”