Calculating the carbon emissions of our trips

At Decathlon Travel, we are committed to measuring and making visible the environmental impact of our sports holidays. To achieve this, we have implemented a precise, transparent, and scalable calculation method to estimate the CO₂e (CO₂ equivalent) emissions generated by each trip.


How do we evaluate the footprint of our trips?

We rely on data from ADEME (the French Agency for Ecological Transition), an independent public body funded by the State.

This data guarantees the impartiality and accuracy of the emission factors we use.

It allows us to estimate the CO₂e impact of the activities, food, accommodation, and products used during a trip.


Here is our process:


  1. ✅ We start with the detailed itinerary of the trip,
  2. ✅ We identify the different emission categories,
  3. ✅ We apply ADEME coefficients to each category,
  4. ✅ We obtain the overall impact of the trip in terms of carbon emissions.


Please note: emissions related to sports equipment are specifically calculated based on production data from Decathlon products.

We account for all emissions generated by the services included in the trip.


What emissions are included in our calculations?

We have selected four main emission categories:


1️⃣ I travel

Emissions linked to the transportation used during the trip (minibus, bus, boat, etc.), calculated according to the number of kilometers and the mode of transport.

2️⃣ I stay

Emissions from accommodation and breakfasts, estimated based on the type of facility (hotel, gîte, campsite, etc.).

3️⃣ I eat

Emissions linked to meal consumption, depending on their type and origin. For example, a vegetarian picnic generates fewer emissions than a meat-based meal eaten at a restaurant.

4️⃣ I practice

Emissions generated by the sports activity itself and by the amortization of the necessary equipment (based on Decathlon data).


Examples of carbon impact

Here are a few examples to help you understand:


  1. 🚐 30 km by minibus → 2.54 kg CO₂e
  2. 🏨 2 nights in a 3-star hotel → 24.98 kg CO₂e
  3. 🍱 1 full chicken-based meal in a bistro → 2.23 kg CO₂e


Our trips hold no more secrets for you

The carbon footprint of our trips is displayed on each trip description page.

We have chosen to communicate it in a clear and accessible way, in order to provide you with concrete benchmarks and allow comparisons between trips.


🎯 Our goal: to help you more easily choose low-carbon trips and make informed decisions for more responsible tourism.


How to estimate the impact of your personal journey?

Whether you travel by train, car, or plane to reach the starting point, this journey also generates emissions.

Warning: these are not included in our calculations (with specific exceptions).

To give you an idea:


  1. ✈️ Lyon → Barcelona by plane (542 km) → 117 kg CO₂e
  2. 🚗 Lyon → Barcelona by car (639 km) → 160 kg CO₂e
  3. 🚄 Lyon → Barcelona by train (639 km) → 2.55 kg CO₂e


Our method is evolving

We are aware that this work is never "set in stone": tools, databases, and methodologies evolve, and we will evolve with them to guarantee increasingly accurate and useful estimates.