The Gym Group has become the first fitness operator in the world to have its Net-Zero targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative.

Sustainability is one of the operator’s founding principles and it has been a sector leader in this regard. Having chosen gold standard carbon offset projects, it is already the UK’s first carbon neutral gym chain and has committed to achieve net zero by 2045.

David Melhuish, TGG’schief development and sustainability officer says: “Having our targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative is a hugely important milestone in our journey to Net-Zero.”

TGG’s sustainability director, Cornelia Woschek, speaks alongside other operators in issue 10 HCM about Environmental, Social, Governance. “Not only does energy reduction make commercial sense, but it’s our responsibility to play our part in addressing climate change,” she says. “Often what’s right for the planet is also right for business.”

The operator has already progressed significant carbon-reducing commitments, including purchasing 100 per cent renewable energy, introducing air-source heat pumps to generate hot water, heat recovery in ventilation systems, high efficiency air conditioning, voltage optimisation and solar panels. Ninety five per cent of its waste was diverted from landfill in 2021 and 2022.

By 2030 – from a base year of 2019 – TGG has committed to a 50 per cent reduction in scope 1 (direct Green House Gas emissions) and scope 2 emissions (indirect emissions for example when energy is being produced on its behalf).

Also by 2030, the company aims to reduce scope 3 GHG emissions by 55 per cent per gym. Scope 3 emissions cover purchased goods and services, capital goods, fuel and energy related activities, upstream transportation and distribution, waste generated in operations, business travel, and employee commuting.

All electricity will be sourced from renewables by 2030 and by 2028, 25 per cent of TGG’s suppliers will have also science-based targets.

Read more about what TGG, Third Space, GLL and David Lloyd Leisure are doing to help the environment in issue 10 HCM.