Promoting a Sustainable Gym Culture, is it easy? Yes.
Members of fitness facilities and spas are already looking critically to leadership to help them plan their lives to build a healthier future for themselves. It’s this same motivation that focuses the efforts of the sustainable lifestyle advocates. Fitness facility owners who have put this connection together are steps ahead, building a community of motivated action takers.
It is in gym culture we are often introduced to the importance of goal setting. It is not surprising that some gyms have looked to the future to visualize the society they want and found ways to contribute to this goal. Looking to Sustainable options in resource conservation, supply chain choices and member participation is easily what makes a gym stand apart.
Consumer behavior reports have confirmed that positive contributions toward sustainability draws out the loyalty of millennials. Eco-friendly gym experiences are driving a holistic approach to a lifestyle that our world is ready to embrace.
But how can a gym owner attract the attention of this important group? Well, many are already operating sustainably and just need to take the next step to market their meaningful impacts on the environment.
Are you aware of these ways to strengthen sustainable outcomes?
Are there ways for fitness studios to conserve energy and water? YES
With a little foresight, attention to conservation may not be specific to gyms, but the energy needs of equipment, AC units, and lighting are essential to a gym's operations. There is an opportunity to do good, by doing less. Here are a few ways gyms are reducing their environmental impact, as new members reoccupy their facilities.
Energy and Water Conservation:
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Insulate all hot water pipes and heaters.
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Install motion sensors for lights in changing rooms, bathrooms, hallways, etc.
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Program your thermostat or install programmable thermostats.
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Change to energy-efficient lightbulbs.
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Install skylight or Solatube.
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Add low-flow showerheads, toilets, and faucets.
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Create a greywater recycling system. Greywater or recycled water can be used in your laundry and bathroom facilities.
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Collect rainwater to use externally on gardens.
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Provide an energy-efficiency infrared sauna.
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Keep your air conditioning system maintained.
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Stay up-to-date with your HVAC maintenance.
Is it important for a fitness facility to think critically about materials awareness? YES
Fitness equipment wears out and needs to be replaced. The attention to cycling out yoga mats from toxic polyvinyl chloride (PVC) to sustainable or recycled options is a commitment to the future. Implementing paperless operation with the use of software and electronic communication or prohibiting non-essential packaging options is another way to focus on eliminating harm by choosing sustainability.
Conscious partnerships are yet another way to deliver impact. Promoting the purchase by members of high-performance eco-fashion clothing brands is a way to reach beyond the facility doors.
Attention to Material and Supply Chains
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Use reclaimed rubber floors.
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Have equipment made from recycled metal.
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Phase-out mats made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) to favor less toxic alternatives.
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Move to zero plastic packaging with no unnecessary bags, labels, or wrapping.
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Go paperless with email, instant messaging, and management software.
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Use a lower carbon footprint with flooring made of recycled rubber, bamboo, and cork.
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In your juice bar or cafe, try to opt for local, organic, and sustainable products.
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Partner or purchase from suppliers who think about their sustainability practices (workout gear, yoga mats, protein powder, or beauty products.)
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Partner with an eco-friendly clothing brand to supply clothing to your instructors or gym purchases.
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Seek Out Energy Rebate and Incentive Programs.
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Reach out to an accreditor for information about actions.
Can Members Help? YES
When looking for responsible gyms, policies are the easiest way to demonstrate to members a culture of care.
A member who is aware of how to act sustainably is much more likely to do so. Offering refill water stations or bottle rentals or water fountains to eliminate the need for one-use plastic bottles is one way.
Gym staff connect with members at many touchpoints. To educate members on how equipment has been chosen for its recycled metal or recommend green actions like organic meal plans enable a member to act consciously. Promoting a “do good” lifestyle is well aligned with the dedication of a fit life. We look to leaders like these facilities below to encourage a genuine commitment to acting for communities, and a goal we enjoy advertising.
Awareness Programs
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Ban single-use plastics at its facilities.
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Members can either bring their own bottles or rent a bottle.
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Ban plastic cups and plastic water bottles!
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Introduce recycling programs.
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Provide bottle re-fill stations.
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Post signs which make people aware of environmentally better choices when it comes to recycling.
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Provide reading material from magazines with a sustainability focus.
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Educate Instructors to inform members about the ways the location is acting sustainably.
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Publicly post a statement at reception on sustainable efforts.
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Point out which mats, barbells, and other types of equipment are made from recycled materials (brands like Precor and Life Fitness design, SportsArt, Verde.)
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Encourage organic and paleo meal plans.
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Separate wastes (recycle, compost, landfill.)
“Try new things, step out of your comfort zone, take risks, do things in ways you've never done them before, ask for help, surround yourself with self-actualized people, become obsessed with the fact that you have one go-round on this planet as the you that is you, and realize how precious and important it is not to squander that” - Jen Sincero
We look forward to seeing where your efforts will take us.
Tags: recycle, compost