21.7 kg is the amount of CO2 emitted during the manufacture of a tennis racket. That is, the equivalent of 13,000 km traveled by the TGV. Frequent changes of equipment, car trips to training, the accumulation of tracksuits: playing sports, and not necessarily suspecting it, can have an impact on the environment.
For this third Ma Terre challenge, we lend a hand to the Zero Waste France association, which works to raise awareness about waste reduction. The opportunity to participate in a sports and ecological treasure hunt in the capital. Alone, with family or friends, the appointment takes place at 2 pm, Saturday, June 25, at the Maison du Zero Déchet in Paris (12th arrondissement). The event is open to everyone: beginning athletes, weekend runners and experienced athletes. “The goal is to show that it’s easy to become an eco-athlete,” says Laura Frouin, a member of the Zero Waste France team. On the program: discovery of waste-free sites, puzzles to solve and team sports challenges.
Dresses made from petroleum-derived materials
Playing a sport is good for your health, but it has a hidden environmental cost. “Our equipment and our clothes require the extraction of non-renewable resources,” says Laura Frouin. Sportswear is often made of synthetic fibers such as polyester, elastane or even polyamide. These artificial materials derived from oil have many properties: elasticity, strength, impermeability … But when these clothes go through the washing machine, they release synthetic microfibers into the water. Not all are intercepted by sewage treatment plants. As a result, “500,000 tons of plastic microparticles are released into the ocean each year, the equivalent of more than 50 billion plastic bottles,” estimates the Ademe (Environment and Energy Control Agency). ).
How to avoid accumulating sportswear? With this operation to which you are invited, Zero Waste France wants to show that there are solutions to overconsumption. “First, we can ask ourselves if we really need this item before we buy it,” explains Laura Frouin, “and more than nine, we can turn to other options.” »
Repair, rental, second hand purchase: extending the life of your computer allows you to spend money without breaking the bank! In full swing, the second-hand market is gaining ground in the big sports brands. Like Decathlon, which offers second-hand material on its shelves at discounted prices. Another solution: “When you only go on one trip a year, you can ask your neighbor to ask for your equipment,” says Laura Frouin.
Less polluting sporting events
To take part in this new city challenge, the environmental association team encourages you to come up with your own reusable water bottle. A small gesture, however, beneficial to the planet. Because by gathering a lot of fans, sporting events are often far from zero waste. Plastic bottles, disposable bibs, and packaging end up in the hundreds of thousands in the trash (sometimes on the streets, in stadiums, etc.). Added to this is the pollution generated during the journey: “More than 80% of the greenhouse gas emissions attributed to a sporting event are due to the transport of people (organization and supporters),” reports Ademe.
Limiting this impact is possible by encouraging public transport, cycling or car sharing. Zero Waste France has also published a practical guide to conducting a “zero waste sporting event”. This gives advice on how to use tap water or to avoid single-use equipment, and highlights a key principle: To find out what these solutions are and how to implement them at your level, don’t hesitate to join us to take on the challenge!
Meeting on Saturday 25 June at 2 pm at the Zero Waste House (1, Passage Emma-Calvé, 12th arrondissement of Paris). Duration: 2 hours. Registrations requested via form online at the Zero Waste House website.