Icon Twitter Icon Facebook Icon Linkedin Icon Arrow Icon Calendar Icon Location Icon Phone Icon Mail Icon Person Icon Close Icon Download Icon Folder Icon Dashboard Black Icon Dashboard Blue Icon Download Black Icon Download Blue Icon Info Black Icon Info Blue Icon Book Black Icon Book Blue Icon Logout Black Icon Logout Blue Icon Network Black Icon Network Blue Icon Secured Black Icon Secured Blue Icon Person Black Icon Person Blue Icon Group Blue Icon Group Black Icon Library Blue Icon Library Black Icon Graduate_cap black Icon Graduate_cap blue Icon eu_flag Blue Icon eu_flag Black Icon Email Icon Play Icon Play icon Icon download-big Icon updated
Our mission

EL Environmental Initiative

Background information on the proposal

The environmental challenges have reached a central position in the public debate. On February 28, 2022, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)[1] published a report on the effects of climate change on human societies and biodiversity. On April 4, 2022 the IPCC published a report detailing a range of solutions to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The group of experts estimates that humankind has 3 years left to reverse the curve of GHG emissions, if we want to avoid the worst effects of future climate change. In this context, efforts and initiatives are expected at all levels of society, including the political sphere, public society, and the private sector. Thus, many economic sectors are making concrete commitments to protect the environment, and this is the case in the gambling sector.

[1] The United Nation Intergovernmental body responsible for advancing knowledge on human-induced climate change.

EL IDs 22

In the CSR Resolution adopted in General Assembly in 2021, The European Lotteries and its Members recognized the importance of environmental challenges and committed to “carry out their operations taking full consideration of the necessary respect and safeguard of the interest of its stakeholders, society as a whole and operate with respect towards the environment”, as established in the 2023 EL Sustainability Guidelines.

Building on this first important step endorsed by the EL General Assembly in June 2021, and in continuation of the work of the Sustainability/RG Working Group, the EL Environmental Initiative is taken as an initiative which objectives are for EL Members to connect on this subject, work together towards the implementation of concrete actions and allow them, and the Association, to be industry leaders in this field. Through this initiative, EL and its Members can promote and initiate future sustainable business for the benefit of the environment and society.

sustainability2.png

The objective is for EL and its Members to take an active part in the transition of the lottery sector towards more sustainable models, respectful of the environment, consistent with new consumption patterns and taking into account the potential challenges of future restrictive measures that could be put in place at European level to preserve natural resources and limit GHG emissions.

Main objective of the initiative

The main objective is to create a collective dynamic among EL Members around concrete commitments in the environmental field. This initiative, coordinated by the Sustainability subgroup, is proposed on a voluntary basis, and is open to all EL Members. Its goal is to bring together a substantial proportion of Members who would commit to initially 1 to 3 specific environmental actions. As such, the initiative is not striving for another certification; it is a future oriented voluntary commitment.

As the EL Members do not all have the same means and maturity in the field of environment, a step-by-step as well as flexible approach is necessary. A third commitment has been added to the initiative in 2024, in order to create a natural progression from the original focus on reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This new commitment aims to further expand the initiative’s impact by building on the momentum of the first commitment. By addressing not just the reduction of emissions but also broader sustainability goals, this addition allows EL Members to continue their efforts in a more holistic way. It ensures that the initiative evolves to meet new challenges, while reinforcing its role in fostering long-term environmental responsibility and impactful actions.

The three proposed environmental initiatives are identified as: 

  • Use of paper coming from certified sustainable forests (FSC, PEFC) for gaming material (including scratch tickets): using paper that is harvested responsibly is a natural commitment, considering the impact that lotteries’ scratch ticket activities have on forests and the environment.           
  • Monitoring of greenhouse gas emissions: the monitoring by participating EL Members of their carbon emissions associated to their gaming activity, with the goal of quantifying their impact on the environment, and further, define individually goals for their reduction, is also a natural step to address climate change issues. 
  • Decreasing greenhouse gas emissions: the effort made by participating EL Members to reduce the amount of carbon emissions associated to their gaming activity. These emissions are primary contributors to climate change and global warming. This commitment involves disclosing their 2030 emissions reduction targets, implementing sustainable practices (such as energy efficiency, renewable energy, etc.), and adopting policies that aim to lower the carbon footprint over time.

Support Programme

To support those lotteries with less resources to reach those initiatives, EL has put in place, together with its partner DigitalRG, a support programme including e-modules, access to the DigitalRG platform, free use of a carbon emissions measurement tool and individual support on request. For more information, please contact Mélissa Jacquérioz (melissa.jacquerioz@european-lotteries.org)

Timetable

  • September 26, 2024 – official announcement of the new commitment in Dublin and through EL comms channels
  • September 2024 – June 2025: Confirmation by EL Members of their voluntary commitments (3 existing ones) in the initiative
  • September 2024 – June 2025: SUPPORT PACKAGE / Members who need it will benefit from the support package
  • September 2024, March and June 2025: Publication of EL Dashboard to show progress
  • June 2025: Deadline for fulfilment of third commitment and discussion on possible addition of new commitments

Annex

This commitment form allows each lottery to commit to (a) specific environmental action(s)

EL Environmental Initiative