Volvo China Open commits to building a sustainable tournament
The Volvo China Open’s move from Hidden Grace Golf Club in Shenzhen to Shanghai’s Enhance Anting Golf Club is a geographical shift and a significant opportunity to deepen its commitment to sustainability. Guided by the European Tour Group’s ‘Green Drive’ Initiative, the tournament will implement systematic measures to create a green, eco-friendly, and sustainable event.
The ‘Green Drive’ Initiative was launched in June 2021. A subsequent update to the strategy was issued in October 2022, announcing the Tour’s signature to the United Nations Sports for Climate Action pledge to reach Net Zero by 2040. This resulted in an increased drive to reduce carbon emissions, and at selected events, credibly offset via the Gold Standard.
Some of the key areas for consideration and targets are: locally sourced suppliers, cleaner energy to power our events - renewable grid power, solar, HVO and hydrogen, zero waste to landfill, free drinking water for all, reducing single use plastics at our events, venues to be GEO Certified, ethical procurement code, tournament collateral to be repurposed (wood, carpet, food, and signage), cleaner transportation, use of Electric Vehicles into shuttles, paperless ticketing and raising awareness.
This year marks the second consecutive year that the Volvo China Open has been guided by the ‘Green Drive’ Initiative. After rejoining the DP World Tour schedule last year, the tournament partnered with ‘Green Drive’ and ultimately received the ‘Green Drive’ certification from the European Tour Group. The tournament began exploring sustainability as early as 2019 and has integrated green and sustainable practices into every aspect of event preparation, organisation, and post-event utilisation since 2021.
Building on initiatives such as paperless operations, plastic reduction, and low-carbon transportation, this year’s tournament will further innovate its practices. Volvo Cars will collaborate with the event to launch two public welfare initiatives – the “Volvo Cars AED Road Messenger Alliance” and the “Volvo Cars Xiao Hong Ma Safety Education”. These programs will integrate road safety awareness and environmental awareness into the tournament through first-aid training and interactive safety workshops.
In the Public Village, Volvo Cars will showcase sustainable products: the Norico collection, made from natural pine resin from sustainably managed forests in Finland and Sweden combined with recycled PET bottles, and the Kaka travel mug, which reduces the use of non-degradable materials by incorporating coffee grounds. These sustainable products combine personal well-being with social sustainability, embodying Volvo Cars’ core values of “safety, environmental protection, and quality”, and have earned international recognition, including the 2024 London Design Award.
This year’s ‘Green Drive’ Initiative faces dual challenges: Enhance Anting Golf Club is hosting a DP World Tour event for the first time and must simultaneously implement the Volvo China Open’s sustainability standards, adhering to strict requirements across all dimensions.
