Sustainable fitness, sports and recreation refers to activities promoting physical health and well-being without adversely impacting the environment. Conserving the environment while engaging in these activities promotes environmentally friendly, socially responsible, and economically viable living spaces for everyone. Some of the first things that come to mind while discussing sustainable fitness include biking, hiking, and swimming. However, this doesn't mean only outdoor sports activities or those requiring little equipment are environmentally friendly. Sustainable fitness, sports, and recreation activities also include activities and exercise programs that use eco-friendly equipment. So, for example, using stationary bicycles and treadmills that generate electricity is still a more environmentally friendly option than using regular ones.  

Sustainability in fitness is also associated with reducing waste and carbon emissions while staying active. For example, you can make your gym routine more sustainable by walking or biking instead of driving and using reusable water bottles. The key here is contributing to an environmentally friendly planet while maintaining a healthy lifestyle. 

It is possible to make any sports practice more sustainable by adopting environmentally friendly habits that minimize the negative impact on the environment. Practicing sports sustainably also promotes conscious and responsible physical activity by raising awareness of the importance of sustainability in sports within your community. Here are some practices to adopt while practicing any sports activity: 

• Opt for sports activities with low environmental impact, such as running, walking, cycling, or water sports. These activities require less infrastructure and resources so they will have less environmental impact than extensive facilities. However, respect the natural areas and follow local rules for any outdoor activity. 
• Look for sports equipment made of sustainable and durable materials and avoid disposable products.
• Choose sportswear made with recycled or sustainable materials, from ethical and environmentally responsible brands.
• Choose sustainable means of transport as much as possible, such as walking or cycling, to reach your training venues. 
• Carry reusable bottles and bags with you during your sporting activities to minimize waste.
• Support competitions and events that adopt sustainable practices in the organization.
• Recycle your gym equipment when it is no longer what you need but a great option for someone else.

An eco-gym is about understanding sustainability's core values and shaping a workout space accordingly. The eco-gym concept promotes sustainability in the fitness industry by adopting innovative technologies and data-driven solutions. These solutions aim to enhance the indoor air quality in the built environment, creating spaces that are not only energy-efficient but also contribute to the health and well-being of gym members. 

To make a gym more sustainable, businesses need a comprehensive sustainability strategy that addresses fundamental factors such as energy efficiency, water management, waste efficiency, and sustainable interior design. By addressing these factors, the eco gyms concept is a great way to implement a sustainable approach to fitness.

Although actions to make sporting events and sports activities more sustainable differ depending on the type of sport or scale of the sporting event, some basics serve as the baseline for the concept of eco-sports. The fundamental principles of eco-sports center around promoting sustainability in any area where people are involved in sporting activities either as viewers or active participants. It includes adopting eco-friendly product innovation and data-driven solutions to enhance energy efficiency and practising water and waste management. Innovative technologies lead in eco-sports by creating forward-thinking solutions that allow sports to be more socially and environmentally responsible.

You can easily take small steps to make your fitness routine more eco-friendly. These steps will align your routine with eco-fitness by reducing your carbon footprint and allowing you to make long-term changes in your fitness habits to be more sustainable. Some of the changes you can make include the following:

• Choose sustainably: This could mean buying products from eco-friendly brands, using second-hand workout equipment instead of new equipment, and eating sustainably. It is essential to ensure your clothing is made from eco-friendly materials such as recycled plastic organic cotton. The key to eating sustainably is to choose local and seasonal produce. 
• Reduce waste: Bringing your reusable water bottle or bags to the gym goes without saying. However, bringing your food to the gym also reduces your waste by avoiding processed food high in packaging waste.
• Be conscious of energy use: If possible, walk, bike, or take public transport to your gym. If this is not possible, think of carpooling with other gym goers - making community essential. Also, ensuring the lights, equipment, and electronics are off when not in use is good practice to reduce energy consumption, and you can always opt for eco-gyms that prioritize energy-efficient practices.

With the increasing environmental awareness and popularity of the eco-gym concept, you can find many eco-friendly sports equipment alternatives in the market. To make your exercise routine more sustainable, you can opt for sports equipment made from recycled materials. If you are aiming to create a sustainable gym environment for your members, you can choose energy-efficient machines or equipment that utilize human power or energy-capturing technologies. There are many brands in the market prioritizing sustainability in their equipment design. 

Also, consider using second-hand equipment, given that it is still constructive to sustainability efforts, decreasing the amount of waste produced.

There are different certification systems for sustainable sports facilities, and most focus on either a single country or region. For instance, BASIS (The British Association for Sustainable Sport) is a sustainability hub only for the UK sports sector.

These certifications evaluate the sustainability of facilities from different perspectives. For example, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification focuses on the general sustainability of the building by investigating water conservation, indoor air quality, and energy efficiency of the facility or building. On the other hand, Green Sports Alliance certification focuses specifically on sustainability in sports facilities and events, whereas ISO 20121 certification provides a standard for event sustainability management systems.

Which certifications would be the best for you and your business depends entirely on your facility’s function and the type of business you run. Business category and the services offered should be kept in mind while evaluating a sports facility based on their certifications. You can always check details of the sustainability certifications worldwide on Intengine's website. 

Getting involved with sports proves to be one of the greatest ways to improve overall personal health. Whether you’re a supporter or an athlete, you must know the environmental impact of the sporting activities you are involved in. Huge events such as football matches, tournaments, and marathons have an impressive effect on the planet's health. It is not only up to you to change the system, supporting sustainable practices is an excellent way to start. You can always keep your effect to a minimum by opting for sustainable solutions while exercising. If you are not sure where to begin, use Intengine's directory as your guide to sustainable fitness, sports and recreation.