Latest News

Back to Latest News back

 

Sport Group achieve top Environmental, Social and Governance Risk Rating

Sport Group achieve top Environmental, Social and Governance Risk Rating
January 24, 2022

Sport Group, the world’s largest business dedicated to sport and recreation surfaces, has received an ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) Risk Rating Score of 11.2 from Sustainalytics and was assessed by the firm to be at low risk of experiencing material financial impacts from ESG factors.

Sustainalytics’ ESG Risk Ratings measure a company’s exposure to industry-specific material ESG risks and how well a company is managing those risks. Sport Group’s rating places it number one in the Building Products category and 318 out of 15,082 companies rated by Sustainalytics worldwide.

Welcoming the recognition, Sport Group Chief Executive, Frank Dittrich stated “we are committed to transforming the business of sport and space and we understand that we play an important leadership role in the industry with regards to environment, equality and good governance.

“Therefore, of course, we are pleased to be rated in the top 3% of companies globally, but this is not just today’s tip-of-the-tongue topic, this is an issue that is deep in the heartbeat of tomorrow. Our ESG commitment is about the future, and this is a never-ending process.”

Sustainalytics, a Morningstar company and a leading global provider of ESG research, ratings and data, recently evaluated the activities of all Sport Group manufacturing and installation companies, including AstroTurf, Polytan, Melos, SYNLawn and APT (Advanced Polymer Technologies) and examined the Group’s global product brands including LigaTurf, Rekortan, Poligras and Laykold.

Sport Group received low or negligible risk rating in all categories including Environmental and Sustainable Impact of Products and Services, Emissions, Effluents and Waste, Resource Use, Occupational Health & Safety and Corporate Governance.

Together this constituted an overall rating of 11.2 Low.

Sustainalytics, is one of the most preeminent ratings agencies and rates companies in all sectors. Other companies rated by Sustainlytics include Apple Inc, Allianz SE, Hugo Boss AG, Microsoft Corp and PepsiCo Inc.

Sport Group Chief Operating Officer, Dr Klaus Hauschulte noted “it is important for us to measure our progress against our own goals, our competitors and other leading businesses.

“We made this voluntary commitment because independent ratings keep us accountable and transparent, they are important for our customers, end users, staff, investors, and business partners.”

Sport Group’s flagship products include LigaTurf Cross GTR, made from green polyethylene and recycled raw materials, and Rekortan Gel tracks which are made from 88% renewable/recyclable content. While SYNLawn uses a combination of soy in the coating and sugarcane in fibers to achieve USDA certified products and systems with up to 88% bio-based content.

Stephen Niven, Chief Executive for Sport Group Asia Pacific, added “customers increasingly want sustainable products, but it can be hard to know what and who to trust.

“Independent ratings help customers compare so they can make informed and confident decisions, also it matches the values of end users who are making sustainable choices in their lives every day.”

The Group’s investment focus is on bio-based and renewable ingredients, carbon reduction, post-consumer raw materials, recycling and second life.

Images: Poligras by Sport Group brand Polytan has been the official hockey surface for seven Olympic Games including Tokyo 2020. Credit: Sport Group/Getty Images.

Related Articles

1st November 2021 - Sport Group and BASF partner to deliver sustainable sports flooring

1st November 2021 - Polytan all-weather multi-sport turf now open at Queenstown Events Centre

26th October 2021 - International Hockey Federation extends partnership with surfacing supplier Polytan

10th May 2021 - APT Asia Pacific adds new components to their playground rubber surfaces line

15th October 2020 - International Hockey Federation delivers quality standards for range of field equipment

10th July 2020 - Polytan upgrades Wellington’s Te Whaea sportsfield to international standard

20th May 2020 - Grassports installs Laykold Advantage courts at Melbourne’s Wesley College

21st February 2020 - SYNLawn Australia introduces new hybrid turf range

24th March 2020 - Sport Group’s Laykold chosen as new court surface for the US Open

11th February 2020 - APT Asia Pacific offers green surfacing solutions at Tokyo 2020 Olympics

10th February 2020 - Polytan launches cleaning and maintenance services for Australian athletics tracks

13th December 2019 - Sport Group backs new World Athletics brand

6th September 2019 - Tokyo 2020 summer Olympics looks to snow machines for event cooling

19th August 2019 - Polytan passes 50 year operational landmark

26th October 2016 - Sport Group acquires ProGrass from Rockwell

21st September 2016 - APT expands with Astroturf and Sportgrass acquisitions

12th July 2014 - Polytan owner the Sport Group acquires Team Sports

21st November 2012 - Poligras installation begins at Tasmania’s showcase football field

27th October 2010 - Rekortan to be installed at Melbourne’s Lakeside Oval

20th April 2010 - Deputy Prime Minister launches LigaTurf facility