This Racing League Has Been Ranked As The Most Sustainable Sport In The World

The 2022 Global Sustainability Benchmark in Sports (GSBS) annual report named the all-electric Formula E series the best sustainable sport.

The GSBS is an independent, global non-profit organization that analyses and rates professional sports organizations’ sustainability performance using a science-driven and data-driven process.

Formula E was ranked first in four of the five categories: best total performance, best corporate performance, best environmental performance, and best governance performance, out of more than 50 major sports organizations asked to participate.

“Setting the global standard for sustainability in sport has been a core characteristic of Formula E since we began in 2014,” said Jamie Reigle, chief executive of Formula E.

“We welcome the top ranking by GSBS as recognition for the dedication of our employees, teams, and partners. We also acknowledge the efforts and achievements in sustainability by other major sports organizations worldwide and welcome that progress. Together, we have the potential to engage billions of fans in the mission to combat climate change and make a positive difference in the lives of future generations,” Reigle added.

Formula E, launched in 2014, is a single-seater motorsports championship for electric cars, which is a significant part of why they are sustainable — a motorsports league involving gas-powered cars would almost certainly not have made the GSBS list.

This is evident in the impending new Gen3 car for Formula E. The use of linen and recycled carbon fiber in bodywork construction for the first time has led the series to claim that the new car is the most sustainable in Formula E history, lowering the carbon footprint of production by more than 10%.

Furthermore, Gen3 batteries are among the most modern, sustainable batteries ever created, produced from sustainably sourced minerals, with battery cells that can be reused and recycled at the end of their useful life. The new Hankook tires are made of natural rubber, with recycled fibers accounting for 26% of their manufacture. After the race, all tires will be recycled entirely.

It is also the most efficient formula racing car ever, with regenerative braking producing more than 40% of the energy needed during a race. 

“Formula E impressed us at the GSBS on several levels. Overall, their corporate structure and processes reflect their commitment to sustainability. We assess various data points, environmental, social, governance, and business factors. In each area, both the amount of data available and annual trends lead the industry,” said Christian Hartmann, chief executive of GSBS.

“Sustainability is lived in Formula E, and the entire team’s dedication was felt throughout the audit process. In combination, this has resulted in Formula E receiving a GSBS Award in four out of five categories, and we are looking forward to documenting the development in the years to come.”