Hardly any other topic dominates the media as permanently as the Fridays For Future movement. Whatever each individual may think of the movement itself - it is clear that the topics of "climate", "ecology" and "sustainability" have been firmly anchored in the consciousness of millions of people since this year at the latest. Hundreds of thousands are striving to improve their own ecological footprint, save plastic, reduce their own CO2 emissions and simply live more sustainably in general. And this is exactly where every studio owner can start and improve the world and the climate a bit with little cost in their own studio. Find out how you can make your studio a little "greener" here.
Even the longest way starts with just one step
It's not about trimming your gym to carbon neutrality and zero waste from one day to the next, or about pointing a finger at morals. However, your members' awareness of ecology, environmental and climate protection and sustainability is likely to grow in the coming years. And as a studio owner, you can make a big difference by taking very simple measures and making small changes.
Fit in the fall: tips for studio operators
Consumables
Consumables account for the largest share of waste generated in the gym, with the lion's share coming from the sanitary area. Toilet paper, paper towels and the like naturally generate a large amount of waste, both in terms of volume and weight.
One way to make environmentally conscious purchases here is to use products made from recycled paper. What 10 years ago was still a hard, uncomfortable, somehow musty-smelling hygiene product, especially in public buildings, is now so good in quality that the recycled articles can hardly be distinguished from conventional products. In addition, more and more manufacturers are establishing themselves that rely on fast-growing raw materials such as hemp or bamboo for the paper production of such purely disposable articles. The costs are kept within limits - a multi-ply premium toilet paper made from virgin material is usually even priced somewhat higher than a sustainable recycled product.
Even with trash bags, there are already various solutions for minimizing plastic mountains. Brands like Funny, for example, work with particularly thin yet durable low-density polyethylene (LDPE) made from 100% recycled material. In addition, there are variants made of biodegradable corn starch, in which not only organic waste is in good hands.
A big issue in the gym is, of course, cleanliness and hygiene. The devices and equipment must be cleaned and disinfected regularly, and the requirements for cleaning agents are correspondingly high. But even in this area, various manufacturers already offer clever, environmentally conscious solutions. The high-quality cleaners from Funny meet the highest standards for all hygienic requirements, while at the same time the manufacturer deliberately does not use microplastics in any of the products. The cleaners are available in bulk containers and can be decanted into suitable, reusable bottles - this saves a lot of waste in the long run, by purchasing the relatively large quantity from 10L you also save on costs.
The textile hygiene products from brezeasy® and the disinfectants and spray disinfectants from Dailynex® work on the same, sustainable principle. The effective cleaners are available as concentrates in bulk containers and can be decanted into practical, robust, reusable refill bottles made of recycled materials; at the same time, the cleaning agent itself is 100% biodegradable - and fully effective against bacteria, viruses, spores, yeasts, fungi, bad odors and even MRSA, the notorious hospital germ.
Small equipment and accessories for the training room
You can also opt for sustainable products when it comes to equipment for your gym and classrooms.
Yoga mats and yoga blocks, for example, are available in environmentally friendly cork , and yoga belts are also available in harmless organic cotton. But especially in the gym, the use of natural materials is not harmless. Due to the large number of different users, each piece must be easy to clean and hygienically disinfectable.
Here it is a good idea to pay attention to the material used. The pioneers here are clearly the fascia training devices: many manufacturers already rely on environmentally friendly EPP, a plastic that is 100% biodegradable, and many other small devices are also already available made of EPP.
Blackroll, Trendy Sport, ARTZT and Gymstick already offer excellent equipment for fascia training made of high-quality, environmentally friendly EPP.
ARTZT Vitality also relies on PVC-free, skin-friendly plastics for its small devices and resistance trainers, among other things, and thus dispenses with environmentally harmful and skin-hazardous plasticizers in the plastic.
In the field of massage equipment and massage tools, there is now also a wide range of products made from renewable raw materials such as cork or wood, ranging from massage rollers and balls made of cork to trigger tools made of various woods. Here, too, hygiene must of course be taken into account; for massage rollers, for example, there are reusable, washable sleeves, while wood as such is completely unproblematic from a hygienic point of view and, thanks to appropriate surface sealants, just as good and easy to clean as any other smooth material.
Conclusion
Sustainability starts with the small stuff, especially when it comes to consumables like trash bags, toilet paper and paper towels , it often pays to take a second look when shopping. Sustainable, environmentally friendly solutions are also already available for gym equipment. A lot can be accomplished with very little effort and minimal cost. Be sure to point out innovations to your members - the majority will be grateful for your awareness and reward your sustainability with loyalty!
Find your right consumable at an unbeatable price in your fitnessmarkt.de central shopping now!
Editors fitnessmarkt.de (DG)
Photo credit: #136386207 Alen Ajan AdobeStock
Published on: 21 October 2019