WorldSkills Lyon 2024 Advances Six-Pillar Sustainability Strategy

WorldSkills Lyon 2024 advances ambitious six-pillar sustainability strategy

How can an international skills competition inspire, educate, and advance sustainability, and contribute towards a fairer and more resilient world? This is the question that the WorldSkills Lyon 2024 Organizing Committee plans to answer with its ambitious sustainability strategy. Formed as part of its 2019 bid to host the 47th WorldSkills Competition, WorldSkills Lyon 2024 has made it a priority to build a strong relationship with local people and places, as well as minimize the impact on our planet. The hope is that these six sustainability pillars and their respective targets will help WorldSkills Lyon 2024 secure ISO 20121 certification – a global accreditation for sustainable event management and a new benchmark for WorldSkills International Members and future Competition Organizers to improve their own sustainable practices.

WorldSkills Lyon 2024 surveyed nearly 50 WorldSkills Partners and Sponsors in March 2024 to ensure the pillars also mirrored their needs. According to the survey results, 84 % said they were already committed to a sustainable development approach and 59 % said they already held a sustainable certification or were in the process of obtaining one.

“We know that skills development is a key driver of sustainability especially when it is at the heart of government, industry, and education strategies,” said Samuel Torikian, Head of Sustainability at WorldSkills Lyon 2024. “Our ambition is based on six pillars in which we develop tangible objectives for responsible management of our event and its impact, particularly with regard to the environment.”

The six pillars are:

• Pillar 1: Circular Economy and Waste

WorldSkills Lyon 2024 intends to reduce waste, promote reuse, and recover residual waste. Its first step will be to maximize the reuse of materials required for the Competition. The goal is to reuse an impressive 80 % of materials through donations, sales, loans, and rentals. By prioritizing reuse over recycling, WorldSkills Lyon 2024 is determined to significantly reduce the waste impact of the event and show the world what the circular economy looks like in action.

WorldSkills Lyon 2024 has also set a target to recycle 80 % of waste and transform it into new, usable materials. Crucially, this supports its mission to reduce the overall volume of materials used by at least 25 % compared to the previous Competition, WorldSkills Kazan 2019.

• Pillar 2: Carbon Footprint, Water, and Energy Consumption

Elsewhere, WorldSkills Lyon 2024 is embarking on a comprehensive carbon footprint assessment. This deep dive into the event’s emissions is designed to pinpoint areas where significant improvements can be made. Armed with this knowledge, it plans to reduce direct CO₂ emissions by at least 20 % compared to previously estimated levels. WorldSkills Lyon 2024 is also investing in CO₂ reduction projects in France itself and hopes to achieve a 2 % reduction in indirect emissions.

Sustainability involves managing not only carbon emissions but also other resources such as energy and water. That is why the organization is conducting a thorough provisional calculation and preparing a comprehensive consumption report. This report will provide a clear picture of the event’s current status and identify opportunities for optimization. The aim is to reduce consumption by at least 15 %.

• Pillar 3: Local and French Know-How

When it comes to delivering a truly sustainable event, who you work with is just as important as what you do. As a result, WorldSkills Lyon 2024 is putting a strong emphasis on promoting local and French stakeholders. Sourcing goods and services from nearby suppliers will significantly reduce the carbon footprint associated with transportation and logistics.

Supporting regional businesses also boosts the local economy, creating jobs and spurring innovation is why WorldSkills Lyon 2024 has committed to a target of ensuring 50 % of purchases are made locally or within France.