OM: A First Carbon Footprint Assessment and a Roadmap for More Sustainable Football
Olympique de Marseille (OM) is much more than just a football club; it is an iconic institution that embodies the soul and passion of the city of Marseille. Founded in 1899, OM has established itself as one of the most prestigious clubs in France and Europe, attracting millions of supporters thanks to its impressive track record and strong commitment to its values. Its deep local roots and the popular fervor surrounding it also make it a key player in social and environmental development.
A Structured CSR Approach
In this dynamic, OM stands out through its commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). As the only professional football club in France to be ISO 20121 certified, it has implemented innovative initiatives such as the “Treizième Homme” organization, which leads projects with positive impact across the region. This proactive approach reflects OM’s determination to play a leading role in sustainable transformation while strengthening its connection with the people of Marseille.
As part of its CSR policy, OM has undertaken a carbon footprint assessment—a key initiative to measure and effectively reduce its environmental impact. As a forward-thinking club, OM is committed to following a low-carbon trajectory, thus contributing to the global effort to combat climate change and ensure the long-term sustainability of professional sports.
Onepoint, Partner of Treizième Homme
With strong local ties, Olympique de Marseille and Treizième Homme chose to collaborate with Onepoint, a local expert in sustainable transformation and carbon footprint assessment. Our holistic approach to CSR goes beyond eco-responsibility; it considers the overall impact of activities across economic, social, ecological, and technological dimensions. With an integrated “by design” approach, we help organizations fundamentally rethink their models rather than simply adding a layer of environmental responsibility.
A Rigorous Methodology
The Bilan Carbone, developed by ADEME, is an internationally recognized method for calculating greenhouse gas emissions. The French Professional Football League (LFP), which already integrates environmental criteria into its Club License system, encourages clubs to further invest in ecological transition. This assessment is not just an evaluation—it’s a true tool for continuous improvement, helping to structure an effective low-carbon strategy.
Defining the carbon footprint’s scope is a crucial step. Onepoint aimed to provide the most comprehensive view of OM’s impact by considering all areas of responsibility. This is essential given that indirect emissions (scope 3) can account for more than 90% of a carbon footprint.
Completing a full carbon assessment requires cross-functional organization and close coordination between multiple stakeholders to ensure optimal data collection. It’s essential to identify the person responsible for each emission source (facilities, food services, travel, etc.), a phase that typically spans several weeks. Sometimes, external data research is also needed to create a more accurate picture.
For OM, this analysis included licensing and catering activities, team travel, as well as commuting by staff and supporters. Together, we co-designed a survey for each of these groups to collect the necessary data and build a precise carbon footprint evaluation model.
We are very pleased to have benefited from Onepoint’s support and expertise in carrying out our first carbon footprint assessment. As a forward-thinking partner, they helped us develop a concrete roadmap for the upcoming seasons.
Concrete Results and a Realistic Roadmap
The analysis of the results made it possible to identify the most emission-intensive activities. Based on this, Onepoint supported the club—via Treizième Homme—in defining a low-carbon trajectory. Through a collaborative workshop bringing together all contributors to the Carbon Footprint assessment, our recommendations helped anticipate potential obstacles and ease the implementation of solutions. Each identified action was paired with a clear framework of responsibility to ensure effective and measurable follow-through.
The involvement of all stakeholders—from data collection to the definition of the low-carbon roadmap—was crucial in reaching a consensus and ensuring the success of this initiative. Thanks to this partnership with Treizième Homme, OM positions itself as a key player in the sustainable transformation of professional football in France.