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Platform for the management and construction of sports and golf courses
“A concrete action plan puts sustainability within every sports club’s reach”
Sustainability is no longer a question sports clubs can defer. Prospective sponsors want to know what initiatives are being taken, local authorities factor it in when allocating subsidies and granting permits, international federations take this into account when bidding for a tournament, and members are increasingly navigating towards clubs that take their environmental responsibilities seriously. The trouble is, many clubs have little clarity on where they actually stand, let alone what to do next. The Kompas Duurzaamheid Sport or Sustainability Compass Sport is here to change that.
Launched in late April at the Royal Yacht Club in Antwerp, the Sustainability Compass Sport gives clubs a clear, accessible way to benchmark their sustainability performance through a concise online scan. The tool builds on the Sustainability Compass Golf (Kompas Duurzaamheid Golf), originally developed by Golf Vlaanderen and Route 2030 a few years ago. Since then, it has grown into a shared initiative supported by six federations. Hockey Vlaanderen, Rugby Vlaanderen, Sneeuwsport Vlaanderen, Triatlon Vlaanderen and the Vlaamse Wind- en Watersportfederatie have all come on board. It’s a testament to just how versatile the compass is across disciplines, and how effectively it has evolved from an internal instrument into a sector-wide reference.
Like the Sustainability Compass Golf, the Sustainability Compass Sport is built around the seventeen United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Based on a club’s responses, it generates a star rating along with a set of concrete tips and recommendations for future improvement. “Running a modern sports federation means far more than simply organising events,” says Marc Verneirt, initiator and general director of Golf Vlaanderen. “If we want to develop our sports professionally, sustainability isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s a core responsibility. The compass allows you to move away from vague aspirations and create a practical roadmap instead. One where every club, whatever its size or setting, can start seeing real results quickly.”
According to Verneirt, the actions in question can take many forms. “In golf, switching to electric mowing has proven to have a significant positive impact,” Verneirt notes. “But something as simple as providing secure storage facilities, so that members can cycle to the club instead of driving, also makes a difference.” Kris Van Ingelgem of Antwerp Golf School has plenty more examples. “At AGS, balls are collected by robots. They are entirely solar powered and cause less compaction of the soil, thus reducing the need for both fossil fuels and extra maintenance. Using recycled rainwater, the balls are also automatically washed. Rainwater is our preferred water source for irrigation as well. We only use groundwater when there isn’t enough rainwater in our tanks.”
Van Ingelgem emphasises that sustainability isn’t just about ecology and nature. “Inclusion and accessibility are also important factors. Since 2017, for example, Antwerp Golf School has a dedicated G-Golf programme, but initiatives such as the 1000 Strokes by Kom op tegen Kanker also contribute to a more sustainable sporting ecosystem. These are all factors that are taken into account in the Sustainability Compass.”
Sustainability, by its very nature, requires a long-term perspective. That’s why the Sustainability Compass Sport has been designed with continuous improvement in mind. Clubs can build on their earlier responses year after year, gaining insight into their own progress and assessing the real-world impact of the steps they’ve taken. As such, sustainability becomes tangible, measurable and firmly embedded in the day-to-day operations of the club.
