This study aimed to provide a descriptive market picture of the Asia-Pacific region, specifically, the professional sport industry and its environmental sustainability engagement.
114 teams were examined in seven countries across the Asia-Pacific region; of them, 17 (14.9 %) publicised sustainability efforts. In a similar study of 122 teams in North America, over 90% publicised sustainability efforts.
17 themes emerged: facilities management, energy, climate change, water, packaging, transportation, marketing communications, team community engagement, player philanthropy, food, sustainable agriculture, paper, green cleaning supplies, green procurement, merchandise, green sponsorship, and air quality.
Team Community Engagement was the most commonly reported environmental sustainability category (n = 6, 21.4 %). Overall, 1 out of the 17 categories was reported on. No league or team reported on energy, climate change, water, packaging, paper, green cleaning supplies and green procurement.
The authors advance explanations for the lack of reporting on sustainability, including lack of resources and lack of external support (from institutions and governments, particularly in the form of environmental policies).
CITE: Wall-Tweedie, J., & Nguyen, S. N. (2016). Is the grass greener on the other side? A review of the Asia-Pacific sport industry’s environmental sustainability practices. Journal of Business Ethics.
