The IBU Female Mentorship Programme (IBUFMP), launched in 2021, exemplifies the International Biathlon Union's (IBU) dedication to gender equality. In partnership with SHESKILLZ GLOBAL, the program aims to break gender barriers in biathlon by mentoring women in management positions and aiding former female athletes' transitions to roles such as coaches and officials. The second edition (2023-2024) builds on the success of the first, which increased female representation on the IBU Executive Board and Technical Committee by 20%. The initiative involves National Federations, the IBU, and SHESKILLZ GLOBAL, striving for at least 30% female representation in decision-making bodies. The program's success relies on IBU's commitment to leadership diversity, equal access opportunities, and a supportive network, underscoring that consistent daily efforts toward gender equality are essential for long-term cultural transformation.

To read the full case study see: Case Study Empowering Women in Biathlon

The IBU is dedicated to ensuring its operations are sustainable across environmental, social, and economic dimensions, given biathlon's vulnerability to climate change. At the 2023 IBU Biathlon World Championships in Oberhof, Germany, the IBU implemented innovative measures to reduce carbon emissions, offering free public transport within a 50km radius for ticket holders and a mandatory park & ride service for car arrivals. This initiative, crucial in managing Oberhof's logistical challenges, resulted in 15% of the 150,000 attendees using public transport, significantly reducing traffic and emissions. The IBU's successful collaboration with transport providers showcases a replicable model for sustainable mobility at major sports events, highlighting the importance of strategic planning and cooperative efforts in reducing environmental impacts and promoting climate action.

To read the full case study see: Case Study Decarbonising Fan Mobility

In partnership with long-term sponsor Viessmann, the IBU launched the Viessmann IBU Climate Club Trophy in January 2023 to recognize biathlon clubs' sustainability efforts. The initiative rewarded clubs with exemplary sustainability practices, with the winning club receiving a EUR 24,000 voucher for climate and energy solutions, determined by athletes' performance in the World Championships. Key examples include the Craftsbury Outdoor Center in the USA, which uses solar panels and EV charging stations, Slovakia's Sport Club Biathlon Mania, which employs laser rifles for training, UKS Kamieńczyk in Poland, which engages in reforestation and recycling, and Germany's DAV Ulm, which focuses on roller skiing and energy-efficient infrastructure. This initiative not only honored outstanding sustainability efforts but also encourages and promotes sustainable practices within the biathlon community, fostering a sense of unity and collaboration while sharing best practices and inspiring others to take concrete sustainability actions.

To read the full case study see: Case Study Climate Club Trophy

The International Biathlon Union (IBU) is committed to addressing climate change and sustainability on three fronts: environmental, social, and economic. Through its Sustainability Strategy 2020-2030, the IBU focuses on five key areas: Climate, Sport, People, Venue & Event, and Awareness & Communication. The IBU is a signatory of the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework and the Race to Zero campaign, aiming to reduce its carbon footprint by 50% by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2040. They have undertaken actions such as electrifying their corporate fleet, implementing sustainable travel policies, and launching the Biathlon Climate Challenge (BCC) to engage stakeholders in climate action. The BCC encourages fans to join teams led by biathlon athletes, track their exercise, and convert their physical activity into contributions to reforestation projects. This initiative aims to raise awareness about individual contributions to climate action and inspire fans to make positive environmental impacts through physical activity. Additionally, the IBU seeks to set an example for other sports organizations and event organizers in adopting climate-friendly practices.

To read the full case study see: Case Study Biathlon Climate Challenge

The carbon emissions generated by digital services, including streaming and data processing, are a growing concern, contributing to 1.4% - 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The IBU, in partnership with digital ecosystem developer Vincit, calculated that its digital ecosystem, encompassing its mobile app, website, data center, and streaming services, produced an estimated 88 tons of CO2 during the 2021/2022 winter season. To address this impact, the IBU purchased offsets from the UN Carbon Offset Platform, aiming to make its digital ecosystem climate-neutral. Moving forward, the IBU plans to collaborate with partners to reduce data transfer and processing, transition to renewable energy sources, and engage with the digital supply chain to enhance energy efficiency and reduce emissions. The IBU encourages both sports organizations and fans to take actions like using Wi-Fi or LAN instead of mobile data, powering devices with renewable energy, prolonging device lifespan, and proper recycling to reduce their digital carbon footprint and contribute to climate action. This initiative aims to inspire other organizations to adopt similar practices and reduce their digital carbon emissions.

To read the full case study see: Case Study Sustainable Ecosystem

IBU's sustainability strategy focuses on five key areas: climate, venue & event, sport, people, and communication & awareness. Among its objectives are reducing the organization's carbon footprint, ensuring positive community impacts, promoting gender equality, and advocating for climate action and sustainable development. By engaging both internal and external participants in the strategy development process, the IBU seeks to align its vision and enhance long-term stakeholder buy-in while allowing flexibility for individual member National Federations to tailor sustainability efforts to their specific contexts. This comprehensive strategy aims to guide the sport of biathlon towards greater sustainability and environmental neutrality while promoting active participation and advocacy for climate action.

To read the full case study see: Case Study Sustainability Strategy

The Carbon Fibre Circular Demonstration Project, led by the World Sailing Trust and supported by the International Biathlon Union (IBU), the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), seeks to address the challenge of end-of-life carbon fibre from sporting goods. Carbon fibre is widely used in sports equipment, but its lack of a sustainable end-of-life solution results in 95% of it ending up in landfills. The project, involving aerospace, automotive, wind turbine industries, and sports, is developing a disruptive process to realign carbon fibres into tapes using Aligned Formable Fibre Technology (AFFT). Early results have shown the potential for even better quality than virgin fibre, and prototypes, including a tennis racket and ski, with 50% recycled carbon fibre, have been successfully tested. The project aims to significantly reduce waste from sports equipment, promote carbon circularity, and inspire sustainability in the sports and commercial sectors.

To read the full case study see: Case Study Carbon Fibre Circular Alliance