Sustainability Initiatives in Cycling

Overview of Sustainability Initiatives

Professional cycling faces the challenge of reducing its ecological footprint and acting as a pioneer for sustainable sporting events. In recent years, organizers, teams and associations have developed numerous initiatives to make the sport more environmentally friendly.

The sustainability movement in cycling encompasses three main areas: organizing green races, implementing recycling programs, and promoting cycling as a sustainable means of transport. This holistic approach aims to decarbonize the entire lifecycle of the sport.

Key Players in Sustainability

UCI Sustainability Program

The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) launched its comprehensive sustainability program in 2020. The program pursues concrete goals by 2030:

• CO2 Neutrality of all UCI World Championships by 2030
• 50% Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions at all UCI events
• Mandatory Environmental Certification for WorldTour races from 2025
• Sustainability Clause in all contracts with organizers

The UCI has developed a detailed catalog of measures that sets binding standards for all race organizers. This includes energy supply, waste management, transport logistics and catering.

ASO Green Cycling Initiative

The French race organizer ASO (Amaury Sport Organisation) launched the "Green Cycling Initiative" in 2019. As organizer of the Tour de France and other major races, ASO sets standards for sustainable sporting events:

Core Initiatives:

• 100% Electric vehicles in the race caravan by 2025
• Plastic-free feeding zones since 2021
• Composting of all organic waste
• Solar power for mobile infrastructure
• Regional and organic catering

ASO invests over 5 million euros annually in sustainability measures and has developed a CO2 reduction plan that covers all aspects of race organization.

Teams as Pioneers

Several WorldTour teams have developed their own sustainability programs and are implementing innovative measures:

INEOS Grenadiers Team:

• 100% CO2 neutral since 2022
• Compensation of all travel emissions through certified climate projects
• Electric team vehicles for all European races
• Recyclable team clothing made from ocean plastic

EF Education-EasyPost:

• Pioneering work in sustainable means of travel
• Train travel instead of flights where possible (up to 800 km distance)
• Completely plastic-free packaging for team equipment
• Partnership with environmental organizations

Jumbo-Visma:

• Sustainable team clothing made from recycled materials
• Electric support vehicles
• Zero-waste strategy at training camps
• Education program for riders on environmental issues

Innovative Sustainability Measures

Energy and Mobility

Electrification of Vehicle Fleets:

The race caravans of modern cycling races include hundreds of vehicles. Many organizers are now focusing on electric mobility:

• Support Vehicles: Hybrid and fully electric cars for team staff and race jury
• Logistics Vehicles: Electric trucks for material transport on short distances
• VIP Shuttles: Exclusively electric buses and minibuses
• Press Mobility: E-bikes and e-scooters for journalists

Challenges exist on long distances and in mountain regions, where charging infrastructure still needs to be expanded.

Alternative Means of Transport:

Some races specifically focus on rail and alternative means of transport:

• Rail logistics for materials between stages (Tour de Suisse)
• Ship transport instead of trucks along coasts (Giro d'Italia)
• Bicycle caravans for local spectator transport
• Cable cars for mountain finishes instead of car convoys

Resource Management

Water and Energy Management:

Circular Economy in Materials:

• Team Clothing: Take-back programs for old jerseys, recycling into new products
• Tires: Special recycling programs for racing tires (over 10,000 tires per Grand Tour)
• Electronics: Refurbishment of GPS devices and power meters
• Packaging: 100% recyclable or compostable materials

Green Certifications for Cycling Events

ISO 20121 Standard

The international standard ISO 20121 defines requirements for sustainable event management systems. More and more major cycling races are striving for this certification:

Certified Races (as of 2025):

• Tour de France (since 2023)
• Giro d'Italia (since 2024)
• World Championships (mandatory since 2024)
• Olympic Games Cycling Events

Requirements for ISO 20121:

1. Environmental Management: Systematic recording and reduction of all environmental impacts
2. Stakeholder Engagement: Involvement of all stakeholders in sustainability goals
3. Supply Chains: Sustainability criteria for all suppliers and partners
4. Monitoring: Continuous measurement and improvement of sustainability performance
5. Transparency: Public reporting on environmental impacts

Climate Neutral Event Standard

Specific certification for climate-neutral events:

Criteria:

• Complete CO2 accounting (Scope 1, 2 and 3)
• Maximum avoidance of emissions
• Reduction plan with measurable goals
• High-quality CO2 compensation only for unavoidable emissions
• Annual re-certification required

Partnership Programs and Sponsoring

Green Sponsoring Initiative

New generation of main sponsors with sustainability focus:

Energy Companies:

Renewable energy companies as main sponsors promote environmentally friendly technologies in cycling. Examples: Vattenfall (sponsor of several teams), EDF (Tour de France).

Sustainable Mobility:

Automotive manufacturers use cycling sponsorship to promote electric mobility. E-vehicles are gradually replacing traditional combustion engine support vehicles.

Environmental Technology:

Cleantech companies sponsor teams and events to present their technologies: solar energy, battery storage, hydrogen solutions.

NGO Cooperations

Cooperation between cycling and environmental organizations:

Protect Our Winters (POW):

Partnership with several teams and riders to raise awareness for climate protection. Education programs and advocacy campaigns during the racing season.

WWF Partnership:

Cooperation at the Giro d'Italia to promote biodiversity along the race routes. Special stages through nature reserves with educational focus.

Ocean Conservancy:

Programs to prevent plastic and marine pollution. Use of ocean plastic for team clothing and equipment.

Measurable Successes and Impact

CO2 Reduction in Numbers

Tour de France Example:

• 2019 (Baseline): 16,500 Tons CO2 Equivalent
• 2022: 12,800 Tons (-22%)
• 2024: 9,200 Tons (-44%)
• Goal 2030: 4,900 Tons (-70%)

Main Reduction Sources:

1. Electrification of vehicle fleet: -35%
2. Local production and catering: -25%
3. Efficient logistics and route planning: -20%
4. Reduction of single-use plastic: -10%
5. Renewable energy: -10%

Waste Prevention

Best Practice Examples

Tour de Suisse - Pioneer of Rail Travel

The Tour de Suisse was the first WorldTour race to implement a complete rail logistics concept:

Concept:

• All teams travel with special charter trains between stages
• Material transport by rail instead of trucks
• 78% reduction in transport emissions
• Additional benefits: Punctuality, comfort for riders

Challenges Overcome:

• Coordination with Swiss Railways (SBB)
• Special bicycle wagons for team vehicles
• Synchronization with race schedule
• Investment in infrastructure at start/finish locations

Result:

The innovation was awarded the "Green Sports Award" in 2023 and serves as a model for other stage races in Europe.

BinckBank Tour - Zero Waste Event

The BinckBank Tour (now Renewi Tour) was the first to implement a complete zero-waste concept:

Measures:

• Deposit system for all beverages
• Composting of all organic waste
• Recycling stations every 100m along the route
• Reusable catering dishes for VIP areas

Numbers:

• Recycling Rate: 94%
• Residual Waste per Spectator: 12g (Average: 180g)
• Cost Savings: €40,000 through reduced waste disposal

Challenges and Criticism

Greenwashing Allegations

Critics warn of symbolic measures without real impact:

Problem Areas:

• CO2 compensation as a substitute for real reduction
• Focus on visible measures (e.g. plastic bottles) while neglecting larger emission sources
• Marketing-driven sustainability communication without substantial changes
• Lack of transparency in CO2 balances

Demands from Environmental Organizations:

1. Mandatory, independently verified CO2 balances for all WorldTour races
2. Prioritization of avoidance and reduction over compensation
3. Inclusion of Scope 3 emissions (indirect emissions from the supply chain)
4. Concrete, measurable reduction goals with timeline

Tension Between Internationality and Sustainability

The global race calendar conflicts with sustainability goals:

Problem Statement:

• Intercontinental flights for Asian and American races
• Short time windows between distant races
• Logistical effort for material transport worldwide

Solution Approaches:

• Regional race blocks in the calendar (e.g. Asia block in March)
• Longer stays in regions with multiple races
• Development of regional race series instead of global individual races
• Virtual races as a supplement to physical presence

Financial Hurdles

Sustainability measures often require high initial investments:

Financing Models:

• EU funding programs for sustainable sports events
• Sustainability surcharges in sponsorship contracts
• Crowdfunding for specific green-tech projects
• Public-private partnerships for infrastructure investments

Future Vision: Cycling 2030

Roadmap to Climate Neutrality

Phase 1 (2025-2027): Infrastructure Transformation

• Comprehensive charging infrastructure for e-vehicles
• Solar panels on all permanent cycling venues
• Digitalization of all communication and information systems
• Establishment of rail logistics standards for European races

Phase 2 (2028-2030): Complete Decarbonization

• Climate-neutral value chain from material production to disposal
• Biodiversity-positive race organization (more benefit than harm for nature)
• Integration of carbon-capture technologies for unavoidable emissions
• Regenerative agriculture in all event catering

Innovative Technologies in the Pipeline

Hydrogen Mobility:

Development of hydrogen vehicles specifically for race caravans. First pilot projects planned for 2026 at Tour de France.

Synthetic Fuels:

For heavy logistics vehicles, climate-neutral e-fuels are being tested. Production from renewable energy and CO2 capture.

Bio-based Materials:

Frames from flax fibers, tires from dandelion rubber, jerseys from algae fibers. Several manufacturers are already testing prototypes.

AI-Supported Logistics:

Artificial intelligence optimizes transport routes and resource use in real-time to minimize emissions and costs.

Education and Awareness Building

Rider Ambassador Programs

Professional riders as ambassadors for sustainability:

Active Ambassadors:

• Mathieu van der Poel: Campaigns for electric mobility
• Annemiek van Vleuten: Partnership with Protect Our Winters
• Primož Roglič: Reforestation projects in Slovenia

Activities:

• Social media campaigns to raise awareness
• School visits and education programs
• Participation in climate conferences
• Personal engagement in environmental projects

Fan Engagement

Involvement of spectators in sustainability initiatives:

Programs:

• "Green Fan Zones" with education stations
• Rewards for sustainable travel (public transport use)
• Litter collection actions with fan clubs
• Digital challenges and competitions on sustainability topics

Impact:

A study of the Tour de France 2024 showed that 42% of spectators switched their travel to public transport due to sustainability campaigns.

International Examples from Other Sports

Cycling can learn from sustainability initiatives in other sports:

Formula E:

• Fully electric racing series as a blueprint
• Transport containers by sea freight instead of air freight
• Reusable infrastructure modules

Olympic Games:

• Paris 2024 as first climate-positive games
• Legacy concepts for temporary infrastructure
• Strict sustainability standards for all suppliers

Football for Future:

• Fan projects for CO2 compensation
• Sustainability ratings for clubs and stadiums
• Integration of climate protection into training curricula

Summary and Outlook

Sustainability initiatives in cycling have evolved from nice-to-have to must-have. The combination of regulatory requirements, economic pressure and societal expectations is driving a fundamental transformation.

Key Success Factors:

1. Binding standards and certifications
2. Long-term investments in sustainable infrastructure
3. Cooperation of all stakeholders (UCI, organizers, teams, sponsors)
4. Transparent reporting and independent control
5. Continuous innovation and technology development
6. Involvement of fans and the public

The path to complete climate neutrality by 2030 is challenging, but realistically achievable with the measures already implemented and planned initiatives. Cycling has the potential to serve as a pioneer for sustainable sporting events and inspire other sports.

Last Update: November 12, 2025