Decathlon Malaysia’s Inaugural Solar PV System Installation, as well as other sustainability projects

One of their largest stores, Decathlon Shah Alam, is getting rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) facilities installed by Decathlon Malaysia.

Arnaud Sauret, CEO of Decathlon Malaysia asserts Decathlon Malaysia’s commitment wherein “Our conviction in the potency of sports to propel our sustainability ambitions is unwavering. By empowering people to embrace sports on their own terms, we champion the cause of cultivating a robust and joyful present and future for generations to come. This entails not only cherishing our invaluable playground, but also fostering the creation of a sustainable value of humanity.”

This reflects Decathlon’s efforts in strengthening environmental and sustainability efforts, aligning with their goals: 100% renewable energy in all their stores & warehouses by 2026 (complying to RE100 guidelines), and a global net zero emissions goal by 2050.

According to Atul Gupta, Decathlon Malaysia Expansion Leader: “With this initiative, we will be cutting the carbon emissions of Shah Alam store by 38% per annum. Moving forward all of our new standalone stores will have solar panels on the rooftop.”

This initiative is made possible through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Malaysian-based clean energy expert, Solarvest Holdings Berhad (Solarvest). With Solarvest’s vision to energise a regenerative world, the company engages across the clean energy value chain encompassing the development, financing, engineering, construction, operation, and maintenance of solar PV assets. It also embarked on a strategic roadmap to venture into new sustainable solutions across the clean energy ecosystem, such as energy storage systems (ESS), renewable energy certificates (REC), green hydrogen, and green data centres.

Solarvest will work closely with Decathlon Malaysia with the supply of renewable energy installation at the future standalone stores, Virtual Power Purchase Agreement (VPPA or CGPP in Malaysia) and Renewable energy certificates (I-REC or TIGRs) which we require to achieve the 100% renewable energy goal by 2026 and achieve a key milestone in Decathlon Malaysia’s transition plan.

CGPP (Corporate Green Power Programme) is a programme that uses VPPA to allow corporate consumers to virtually purchase renewable energy from clean energy developers. This is one of the great options for companies who want to achieve 100% renewable electricity without having to install solar PV systems on their own property.

Executive Director and Group Chief Executive Officer of Solarvest, Mr. Davis Chong Chun Shiong said, “We are delighted to be entrusted by Decathlon Malaysia as its key sustainability partner in Malaysia, working together to enhance environmental responsibility. Through our solar financing programme, Powervest, we are pleased to facilitate Decathlon Malaysia’s seamless transition to clean energy adoption, without the burden of initial capital outlays.”

“Apart from the installation of a 311.85kWp rooftop solar PV system at Decathlon Malaysia’s flagship outlet in Malaysia, Solarvest is excited to play a pivotal role in supporting Decathlon Malaysia’s commitment to the RE100 global corporate renewable energy initiative. This underscores Decathlon Malaysia’s determination to integrate clean energy into their upcoming stores. Furthermore, this partnership extends the opportunity to engage in VPPA arrangements with Decathlon, enabling them to enjoy stable long-term energy pricing, while promoting sustainable and eco-conscious practices in pursuit of their 100% renewable energy goal. ”

Mr Gupta continues: “In Decathlon Malaysia, our real estate sustainability strategy is built on the concept of Reduce – Replace – Rebuild, through 5 strategic pillars:

1. Energy Management – to reduce wastage and improve energy efficiency by investing in controls technology and behavior change. For our latest store, Decathlon Gurney Paragon, we installed schedulable & dimmable LED lights which yielded 28% savings in lighting consumption.
2. Green Building –  to reduce our carbon footprint in all new stores, where all our new stores are EDGE Certified, a green building certification offered by the International Finance Corporation (IFC). EDGE certified buildings use 20% less energy, water and building materials to construct and operate.
3. Renewable energy – to replace carbon intensive energy to less carbon intensive energy.
4. Green Mobility – to assist in rebuilding the transportation sector by providing EV charging points for electric vehicles.
5. Biodiversity – to rebuild the natural habitat inside the city.”

As stated in the Decathlon Group’s 2020-2026 Transition Plan, their commitment to environmental sustainability goes beyond renewable energy and sustainability in real estate.

Because it is a fully integrated business, Decathlon Group can concretely act at each stage of the product life cycle, putting Circular Economy at the heart of their sustainable business model transformation.

Decathlon Group designs its products with a focus on reducing raw materials, using recycled components and integrating new approaches during the manufacturing process to reduce consumption of energy and water. You can easily recognize these products by the ECODESIGN signature on the price tag and the product itself. By 2026, 100% of their sportive products will be eco-designed with environmental labeling.

By launching their “Made in Malaysia” Production 20 years back in 2003, Decathlon Malaysia started to contribute to the local economy and reduced CO2 emission by producing in Malaysia for the local market. Company works with responsible suppliers (covering different processes: PVC welding, rubber & latex products, foam, plastic injection, cashier bags & packaging…) who share their value and support sustainable efforts, for example more than 50% of their energy consumption comes from renewable resources. 

“Our Decathlon products are designed for longevity, owing to their durability, reparability and recyclable materials. Our goal is to introduce new services that extend the lifespan of our products by promoting reuse and recycling. Currently, we are focusing our efforts on two key services: Repair and Second Life. Our aim is to successfully repair every product that can be repaired. More than 1,000 items have been refurbished since the beginning of this year. Among them, 750 items have already been resold through our Second Life initiative. Looking ahead, we are excited to forge ahead with the development of Rental and Recycling services, both internally and in collaboration with external partners” – Nadia Kopeikina, Sustainability Leader of Decathlon Malaysia

These emerging services (Second Life, Repair, Rental, Recycling) represent pivotal strides toward a profoundly sustainable future. They exemplify a shift towards astute, responsible and conscientious patterns of consumption.

Aligned with the adage, “Be the change you want to see in the world,” Decathlon teammates are actively engaged in daily endeavors across a spectrum of subjects: advocating ecomobility in urban settings, enhancing awareness of climate dynamics through The Climate Fresk, curbing waste generation, and engaging in sustainable events. In unison with teammates, partners, suppliers, and clients, the company remains steadfast in its dedication to construct a robust and sustainable future.