World Sailing’s first Olympic-wide project to measure environmental impact
Paris 2024 Olympic sailing in Marseille, France on 31 July 2024. Image courtesy of World Sailing / Sander van der Borch
World Sailing has launched the first Olympic-wide project aimed at measuring and reducing the environmental impact of sailing equipment.
The 12-month initiative will see all six Olympic sailing classes undertake comprehensive life-cycle assessments (LCAs) to evaluate the full environmental footprint of their equipment, covering production, use and end-of-life stages.
Billed as the first programme of its kind across any Olympic sport, the project forms part of World Sailing’s Sustainability Agenda 2030 and Olympic Vision, which commit the group to integrating sustainability into technical standards, equipment regulations and evidence-based decision-making.
The assessments will be delivered using MarineShift360, an LCA tool developed by Marine Futures and supported by 11th Hour Racing. Participating classes and manufacturers will be provided with a shared methodology, alongside the necessary tools and training to ensure consistent data collection and analysis.
Alexandra Rickham, director of sustainability at World Sailing, says the project is designed to turn ambition into action.
“Sailing depends on a healthy ocean, and that gives us both a privilege and a duty to lead. This project provides the evidence we need to make smarter choices and shape the future of Olympic equipment. By working with our classes and manufacturers on a shared LCA framework, we can balance performance with environmental responsibility and help the whole sport move forward,” comments Rickham.
The initiative has also been welcomed by the International Olympic Committee. Julie Duffus, head of sustainability, comments: “As expectations on sport continue to evolve, sustainability has to be built into decision-making. By integrating life-cycle assessment into its equipment rules, World Sailing is setting an important precedent, demonstrating how environmental impact can be considered alongside performance when shaping the future of the sport.”
Ollie Taylor (who was appointed director of Marine Futures in July 2022) adds: “World Sailing is showing what true climate leadership in sport looks like. Our role is to turn data into insight that helps the industry act, showing where improvements will have the greatest impact and how collaboration can accelerate change.”
Two Olympic classes – iQFOiL and ILCA – have already completed individual LCAs and will contribute their experience to the wider programme. Mark Lyttle, president of ILCA, notes: “This project with World Sailing and Marine Futures on life-cycle assessment provides the foundations for responsible technical decisions, ensuring performance, fairness and environmental responsibility evolve together within Olympic sailing.”
World Sailing also highlights that many of the manufacturers involved in Olympic equipment also supply boats and components to thousands of non-elite sailors, meaning they expect innovation driven by the project to filter through to the wider marine industry.
