Chris Allen, Sustainability Leader at Decathlon UK, shares insights on circular design in the sporting goods industry. He reveals Decathlon's innovative initiatives like their repair programs and Second Life project, promoting sustainability. Allen discusses the shift towards durable and repairable products, driven by consumer interest in secondhand options. He emphasizes the importance of collaboration and data in transforming waste into resources. With a focus on accessible eco-conscious practices, Decathlon leads the way in fostering a circular economy.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Post-Lockdown Returns Surge
Decathlon saw a surge in returns after the COVID-19 lockdown, particularly bikes.
This prompted them to launch a refurbishment program, spearheaded by Chris Allen's colleague, Nick.
insights INSIGHT
Shift from Ownership to Usage
Decathlon shifted its focus from product ownership to product usage.
This change in perspective led to the exploration and implementation of various circular economy initiatives.
question_answer ANECDOTE
No Tent Left Behind Initiative
Decathlon piloted "No Left Tent Behind," allowing festival-goers to return used tents for gift cards.
This initiative aimed to reduce waste and promote reuse after festivals.
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Chris Allen, Sustainability Leader and Head of Circular Business Development at Decathlon UK. You’ve probably heard of Decathlon, which is the world’s largest sporting goods retailer, with over 1,700 stores in more than 70 countries. It’s a family-owned company, founded in 1976, and inspired by the belief that the best sports products should be accessible to everyone.
Chris Allen has 15 Years experience in Decathlon spanning various retail management roles, including several years in Category Management and Head of Outdoor before being appointed to his Sustainability role in 2022. Chris has a degree in Sports Engineering and is an advocate of all things outdoors, and loves being out on his bike or at the local climbing wall.
Decathlon describes itself as specialising in the creation and production of innovative sporting goods designed to delight and move people through the wonders of sport, including cycling, hiking, running, swimming and football.
Decathlon sees its mission as ever-evolving and high-performance design, the best quality at the lowest possible price, and expert advice that customers of all ages, backgrounds and skill levels can access in-store or online, from anywhere, at any time.
Decathlon has an integrated business model, with over twenty in-house brands as well as supplying well-known brands including Asics, Adidas, Garmin, Puma, Quiksilver, Reebok, Salomon, and many others.
In the UK, Decathlon offers a 2-year warranty on its own brand products, has buy-back programme so customers can save money and trade in their old gear. It sells through it’s retail stores and online, and offers a 365-day returns policy, giving customers a whole year to decide if something is right for them.
Chris will talk us through Decathlon’s approach, including how the buy-back, second-life and repair programmes work in practice, and how he’s working with the in-house and external product and design teams to implement a whole-systems approach to sustainability.
Circular Economy Podcast 