Currently, there is no universal framework for guiding or expressing the sustainability efforts of sports organisations.
As a result, many organisations are working hard to embed sustainability — but struggle to articulate the true social, environmental, and economic value they create. Without a clear and standardised framework, sport cannot fully demonstrate its impact or lead global change.
That’s why Global Sustainable Sport (GSS), in collaboration with leading academics and practitioners, has developed a robust framework designed to help sports organisations assess, develop, and communicate their sustainability performance and their positive impacts on society and the planet.
The GSS Positive Impact Assessment Programme provides sports organisations with a structured, evidence-based way to evaluate and improve their sustainability across the 7 Sustainable Pillars of Sport: Partnerships, Participation, Planet, People, Power, Profile, and Prosperity.
We have developed a sport-specific framework called the 7 Sustainable Pillars of Sport and we use this framework to understand what areas of sustainability an organisation is aware of; what actions and activities it has in these areas; and how it is measuring and reporting on its achievements and impacts in these areas. We call it the PIA programme, the Positive Impact Assessment programme. We want to understand how your organisation positively contributes to society and the planet across the 7 Pillars.
Each organisation is assessed using this PIA programme and receives a tailored sustainability rating across each pillar and an overall Positive Impact (Pi) rating.
The programme offers:
Organisations are assessed annually, encouraging long-term improvement and leadership in sustainable sport.
Whether you’re just starting your sustainability journey or looking to lead the sector, the GSS Positive Impact Assessment Programme can support your organisation with a tailored, scalable approach.
Join the growing community of sports organisations committed to making a real impact through the GSS Network. Be recognised and benchmark your progress. Become a Champion of Sustainability.
We offer three levels of assessment:
We call it the PIA programme. The Positive Impact Assessment programme.