PureGym’s carbon emissions reporting journey
PureGym, the UK’s largest private gym group, has expanded its operations across the UK, Denmark, Switzerland and the USA. As the business continued to grow, it recognised the need to establish a robust carbon emissions reporting framework that would support compliance with the UK’s Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) regulations while providing greater visibility of its environmental impact across an increasingly international operation.
This project was originally delivered by Carbon Responsible, now part of Simply Sustainable. Beginning in 2021, our team partnered with PureGym to establish its carbon emissions reporting, progressively expanding the scope of reporting over three years to include Scope 1, Scope 2 and relevant Scope 3 emissions, while improving data quality and reporting processes across its operations.
Impacts and benefits
- Robust emissions reporting framework: PureGym established a structured carbon emissions reporting process aligned with the UK’s Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) regulations, creating a strong foundation for ongoing reporting across its operations.
- Improved emissions data quality: Over the three-year engagement, reporting processes and data collection methods were refined, significantly reducing the proportion of estimated emissions. By FY23, only 11% of reported emissions were based on estimations, representing a substantial improvement in data accuracy and transparency.
- Expanded reporting scope: The reporting boundary evolved from an initial focus on Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions to include relevant Scope 3 categories, such as upstream fuel-related emissions, business travel, well-to-tank emissions and upstream fuel impacts, providing a more complete understanding of PureGym’s carbon footprint.
- Supporting international growth: As PureGym expanded into Denmark and Switzerland, emissions reporting evolved alongside the business, incorporating international operations while adapting to changing reporting requirements associated with leased and owned assets.
The story
PureGym engaged Carbon Responsible in 2021 to begin formal reporting of its carbon emissions and comply with the UK’s Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) regulations. Over the course of three years, Carbon Responsible worked closely with PureGym to develop a more detailed understanding of the company’s carbon footprint while improving reporting processes across Scope 1, Scope 2 and relevant Scope 3 emissions.
At the outset, PureGym required an effective strategy to measure and manage its emissions while aligning with SECR regulations. The company’s expanding international operations added further complexity, requiring emissions reporting to incorporate new markets, improve data collection processes and expand Scope 3 reporting.
Key challenges included:
- Setting an accurate emissions baseline.
- Expanding emissions reporting to include all relevant Scope 3 categories using actual activity-based data rather than spend-based assumptions.
- Managing the complexity of different regulatory landscapes across multiple regions.
- Improving the quality and granularity of emissions data across a growing network of gym sites.
Carbon Responsible adopted a phased approach throughout the engagement.
Initial baseline and reporting (FY21)
Carbon Responsible conducted an initial assessment of PureGym’s UK operations, establishing a baseline for Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions. Reporting was aligned with SECR requirements while potential Scope 3 emissions sources were identified and mapped.
Scope expansion and refinement (FY22)
Reporting was expanded to include additional Scope 3 categories, including upstream fuel-related emissions and business travel. Data collection processes were further refined to improve reporting accuracy and precision.
Global integration (FY23)
Reporting was extended to include PureGym’s operations in Denmark and Switzerland. Changes from leased to owned assets in certain regions also required updates to Scope 1 and Scope 2 reporting.
Outcome
Through the three-year collaboration, PureGym significantly strengthened its carbon emissions reporting capabilities while improving visibility of its environmental impact.
By FY23, emissions reporting covered all global operations, including new categories such as mobile fuel combustion in Denmark and Switzerland. Within the UK, PureGym reduced electricity use by 21% and gas consumption by 14% through energy efficiency measures. Although international expansion increased overall emissions, emissions per member reduced by 6% and emissions per revenue decreased by 9%.
The quality of reporting also improved substantially, with only 11% of reported emissions estimated by FY23, alongside the inclusion of key Scope 3 categories such as well-to-tank emissions and upstream fuel impacts, providing a more comprehensive understanding of PureGym’s environmental impact.
Moving forward, PureGym is committed to setting emissions reduction targets for FY24, with a focus on renewable energy adoption, including plans to install solar power across selected sites. Simply Sustainable will continue to support PureGym in refining its sustainability strategy, improving emissions data collection and strengthening its approach to carbon reporting as the business expands into additional markets.
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