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PureGym’s Carbon Emissions Reporting Journey

Category: Resources

Upload Date: 9/10/2024

Curious about our projects? Check out our case study featuring our collaboration with Pure Gym, the UK’s largest private gym group

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Case Study: PureGym’s Carbon Emissions Reporting Journey

 

Client: PureGym

 

Sector: Health and Fitness

 

Services Provided: Carbon emissions reporting (SECR)

 

Engagement Period: FY21 to FY23.

 

Background: 

 

PureGym is the UK’s largest private gym group, with operations expanding into Denmark, Switzerland and the USA. In 2021, PureGym engaged Carbon Responsible to begin formal reporting of their emissions, aiming to comply with the UK’s Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) regulations. Over the course of three years, PureGym and Carbon Responsible worked closely to develop a more detailed understanding of the company’s carbon footprint and improve their reporting processes, covering Scope 1, 2, and relevant Scope 3 emissions. 

 

Challenges: 

 

At the onset, PureGym required an effective strategy to measure and manage their emissions while aligning with SECR regulations. The company’s rapidly expanding international operations further complicated reporting, as they needed to integrate emissions from new markets, refine data collection processes, and incorporate more robust Scope 3 emissions categories.

 

Key challenges included:

 

  • Setting an accurate emissions baseline.
  • Expanding emissions reporting to include all relevant Scope 3 categories using actual activity-based data rather than spend-based assumptions.
  • Managing the complexity of different regulatory landscapes across multiple regions.
  • Improving the quality and granularity of emissions data across a growing network of gym sites.

Approach: 

 

Carbon Responsible provided a structured approach to guide PureGym through their emissions reporting journey:

 

Initial Baseline and Reporting (FY21):

 

Carbon Responsible conducted an initial assessment of PureGym’s UK operations, setting a baseline for Scope 1 and 2 emissions. We ensured that PureGym’s reporting met SECR guidelines and started to identify and map out potential Scope 3 emissions sources.

 

Scope Expansion and Refinement (FY22):

In the second year, Carbon Responsible expanded the reporting scope to include additional Scope 3 categories, such as upstream fuel-related emissions and business travel. We also enhanced data quality and accuracy by refining data collection processes, which allowed PureGym to report with greater precision.

 

Global Integration (FY23):

 

In FY23, PureGym’s reporting was further expanded to incorporate emissions from their international operations in Denmark and Switzerland. The shift from leased to owned assets in some regions required adjustments in reporting, especially for Scope 1 and 2 emissions.

 

Outcomes

 

Through our collaboration, PureGym successfully improved their emissions reporting capabilities while simultaneously making significant strides in reducing their carbon footprint:

 

1.Emissions Tracking and Reductions:

 

  • By FY23, PureGym reported emissions across all global operations, including new categories like mobile fuel combustion in Denmark and Switzerland. In the UK, they reduced electricity use by 21% and gas consumption by 14% through energy efficiency measures.
  • While global expansion increased their overall emissions, key metrics improved: emissions per member dropped by 6%, and emissions per revenue decreased by 9

 

2. Data Quality Improvements:

 

  • The percentage of emissions calculated based on estimations dropped significantly, with only 11% of emissions estimated by FY23, down from higher levels in earlier years.
  • This marked a significant improvement in data accuracy and transparency.

 

3. Scope 3 Inclusion:

  • Pure Gym’s FY23 report included key Scope 3 categories, such as well-to-tank emissions and upstream fuel impacts. This expansion in Scope 3 reporting provided a more complete view of their environmental impact.

 

Next Steps: 

 

  • Moving forward, PureGym is committed to setting emissions reduction targets for FY24, with a focus on adopting renewable energy sources, including plans to install solar power across select sites. Carbon Responsible will continue to support PureGym in refining their sustainability strategy, improving emissions data collection, and enhancing their overall climate resilience.

 

  • As PureGym continues to expand into other markets, their approach to reporting progress will play a crucial role. By leveraging the same centralised data collection systems that have helped establish solid baselines in the UK, Denmark, and Switzerland, they will ensure consistent and accurate tracking of their sustainability efforts across all markets.