These teams fund climate action
It might look like any other team, but there's a lot going on behind the scenes to help reduce their impact on our home planet. Discover Decolef's Climate Journey below.
Label renewed in March 2024.
The five step Climate Journey
To earn the label, 5 steps must be taken to reduce the climate impact of the three teams. For each of these steps, the label defines best practice- and minimum requirements. Meeting best practice is awarded with a trophy. Continuous improvement and striving for best practice is a prerequisite for label renewal.
Measuring the teams’ emissions.
Setting targets and identifying actions to reduce the impact.
Putting the plan into action and reducing emissions.
Investing in climate projects to fund global climate action
Providing transparency about the climate action taken and encouraging others to follow.
So far, the teams have earned 3/5 best practice trophies.
Let's have a closer look. Click on each step below to see how the climate impact is reduced.
Achievement: The teams meet the best practice requirement for Step 1
- Footprint: In 2022, Decolef (comprising Soudal Quick-Step, AG-Insurance Soudal and Soudal Quick-Step Devo) was producing 4,383 tons of greenhouse gas emissions.
- Scope: This includes emissions Decolef creates in its own operations and in its wider value chain (its suppliers and customers). This is also called scope 1, 2 & 3.
- Calculation methodology: The methodology used to calculate the emissions is the GHG Protocol.
To give you an idea of the teams' emissions, here are two examples:
- Driving an average diesel truck from Portugal to the Netherlands (2300 km) - 0.5t
- Taking a long distance flight (3500 km) - 0.92t
| The label requirements for Step 1 | |
|---|---|
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Best practice requirement: Calculate scope 1-3 emissions, using a methodology in line with ISO 14064-1 or the GHG protocol. |
Minimum requirement: Only best practice acceptable. |
For more information, read the 'Where does all this data come from' section at the bottom of the page.
Achievement: The teams meet the minimum requirement for Step 2
Target: Decolef (comprising Soudal Quick-Step, AG-Insurance Soudal and Soudal Quick-Step Devo) has set an emission reduction target for its scope 1 & 2 emissions in line with the SBTi near-term criteria, and aims for an annual linear reduction of its scope 3 emissions in line with its current means and capabilities. The target states to reduce absolute scope 1 & 2 emissions 42% by 2030 from a 2022 baseline, and to achieve an annual linear reduction of absolute scope 3 emissions of at least 0.5%.
SBTi stands for Science Based Targets initiative. The goal of SBTi is to support organisations in setting emission reduction targets and reducing these emissions over time. To that end, the initiative defines best practice and develops standards (including certain criteria) in line with the latest climate science.
| The label requirements for Step 2 | |
|---|---|
|
Best practice requirement: To have a target and an emission reduction plan for the organisation in line with SBTi near-term criteria. To set up a target in line with SBTi long-term criteria within 2 years. |
Minimum requirement: To set up a target and an emission reduction plan for the organisation within a year (in line with the organisation's means and capabilities). |
For more information, read the 'Where does all this data come from' section at the bottom of the page.
Achievement: The teams meet the minimum requirement for Step 3
- Emmission reductions: Emission reductions cannot yet be recorded. Decolef (comprising Soudal Quick-Step, AG-Insurance Soudal and Soudal Quick-Step Devo) has set emission reduction targets in February 2024. Emission reductions in line with these targets will be reviewed in the following year (latest by March 2025).
Key steps taken to reduce emissions include:
- Gradually electrify the teams' car fleet
- Gradual shift from diesel to biodiesel for the teams' bus
- Reducing short & medium haul flights
- Leverage the teams' network and engage with sponsors to adopt more sustainable practices
| The label requirements for Step 3 | |
|---|---|
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Best practice requirement: To be on track of the science-based target and to show progress in line with the reduction plan. |
Minimum requirement: To show ambition and reduce what is possible in line with the organisation's means and capabilities (annual linear reduction of scope 1 & 2 of at least 1%, and of scope 3 of at least 0.5%). |
For more information, read the 'Where does all this data come from' section at the bottom of the page.
Achievement: The teams meet the best practice requirement for Step 4
As Decolef's official Funding Climate Action partner, South Pole has invested in climate action projects that help reduce or remove emissions from the atmosphere. In this case, the reduction or removal is equal to Decolef's scope 1-3 emissions. This includes emissions Decolef creates in its own operations and in its wider value chain.
This funding is made on top of emission reduction efforts within Decolef's value chain. This is called “beyond value chain mitigation" and supports climate action and sustainable development around the world.
See the high-integrity certified climate action projects that have been funded:
Efficient Cookstoves in Burkina FasoImproving household health conditions and tackling climate change. Learn more here. Project Certification Standard: Gold Standard Type of credit: GS VER |
| The label requirements for Step 4 | |
|---|---|
|
Best practice requirement:
To fund climate action in line with the organisation's scope 1-3 emissions.
|
Minimum requirement: To fund climate action in line with the organisation's scope 1 & 2 emissions. |
For more information, read the 'Where does all this data come from' section at the bottom of the page.
Achievement: The teams meet the best practice requirement for Step 5
Communication is important:
While it doesn't do anything to reduce the teams' emissions, it does encourage people like you to vote with your wallet for the world you want, and for other riders to join in and improve their climate impact too.
So thanks for choosing these teams, and thanks for following their Climate Journey. We all need to play our part, big or small, because all actions lead to change.
| The label requirements for Step 5 | |
|---|---|
|
Best practice requirement: To allow the publication of all relevant information (accessible to the wider public via the label's QR code) to inform interested parties about the organisation's Climate Journey and to empower them to make purchasing decisions with their own values in mind |
Minimum requirement: Only best practice acceptable. |
For more information, read the 'Where does all this data come from' section at the bottom of the page.
Find out more
Where does all this data come from? Information provided above is collected from various sources:
Still here? Let’s summarise…
Every organisation creates greenhouse gas emissions. With good planning and action, these can be reduced over time.
The teams are taking action to measure, set targets and reduce emissions. On top of that, climate action projects have been funded that support climate action and sustainable development around the world. Decolef still has an impact on the climate, but that impact has been lessened and plans are in place to lessen it more over time.
The South Pole Funding Climate Action label rewards those that are working to help solve the climate crisis, something that is already affecting humanity now and will have an even bigger impact on future generations.