Carbon Footprint and Contribution to Global Carbon Neutrality

At Decathlon Travel, we’re committed to informing you about the environmental impact of each trip. For every trip, we provide its carbon footprint—that is, the amount of CO₂e (CO₂ equivalent) emitted by one person during that trip. We do this to give our customers concrete benchmarks and help them travel more responsibly.

Understanding Carbon Emissions

What Is a Carbon Footprint?

A carbon footprint measures the climate impact of an activity by adding up greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions such as CO₂, methane, and nitrous oxide.

The IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) introduced the CO₂e unit to compare gases with different climate impacts on a single scale.

ℹ️ Note: 1 metric ton of methane has a global warming potential approximately 28 times greater than 1 metric ton of CO₂.

How do we calculate a trip’s CO₂e emissions?

We’ve developed a specialized carbon calculator. When you create a trip, its emissions are automatically estimated based on the information you provide:

✅ Number of kilometers driven,

✅ Type of lodging,

✅ Activities undertaken.

We only account for services sold directly by us (excluding added options).

For each element, we use the emission factors provided by ADEME (the French Agency for Ecological Transition), a recognized independent organization.

Example:

One night in a guesthouse = 7.97 kg CO₂e per person per night.

For a 4-night stay → 7.97 × 4 = 31.88 kg CO₂e.

And so on for the various emission sources during the stay. This gives us the total emissions.

We know this method can evolve: we’re committed to regularly improving it to make it even more accurate. 💪

Contributing to Global Carbon Neutrality

What is global carbon neutrality?

Global carbon neutrality refers to the balance between:

GHG emissions into the atmosphere,

and their absorption by carbon sinks (forests, oceans, soils).

This balance can only exist on a global scale: neither an individual nor a company can be “carbon neutral” on its own.

That is why we talk about contributing to this global goal.

How Do We Contribute?

At Decathlon Travel, we contribute to global carbon neutrality by offsetting 100% of the emissions generated by our low-carbon trips through funding projects that enhance nature’s ability to absorb CO₂ from the atmosphere.

Specifically, every month:

1️⃣ We calculate the emissions generated by our travelers,

2️⃣ We purchase carbon credits certified with the “Low-Carbon Label,” an official label recognized by the French Ministry of Ecological Transition.

These credits support projects that create new carbon sinks, thereby increasing the planet’s capacity to absorb CO₂.

ℹ️ Note: The “Label Bas-Carbone” is currently the only official regulatory framework for carbon offsetting in France.

The Projects We Support

🌳 Bois de la Menaudière (Saint Cyr le Gravelais, 53, Pays de la Loire)

5.9 hectares reforested on former farmland.

Expected carbon sequestration: 186 metric tons of CO₂ over 30 years.

🌲 Bois de Bayle (Mano, 40, Nouvelle-Aquitaine)

Restoration of a forest destroyed by the 2022 fires, including the installation of firebreaks.

Expected carbon sequestration: 3,371 metric tons of CO₂ over 30 years.

How do we calculate the contribution amount?

We multiply:

Total emissions from a trip (in kg CO₂e) × price per kg CO₂e offset by the funded projects.

In 2025, we purchase each kg CO₂e for €0.036 (including tax).

Real-world example:

For the Kilimanjaro trek via the Machame Route and lodge safaris → 4,060 kg CO₂e × €0.036 = €146.16 contribution.

Who Pays for What?

Since we believe in the need for a collective effort, we invite you to offset your emissions by funding two certified reforestation projects in France.

✅ For “low-carbon” trips, we cover 100% of the cost to encourage the most responsible choices!