Larisa Kiss explains: "I am excited to confirm the first two IJF Certified Green Dojos! From a sustainability point of view, judo is not necessarily a sport with a high direct impact on nature or the climate, as we are an indoor sport and we do not use so many resources during a judo practice or competition. However, we do leave a carbon footprint from our activities and the most prominent part is played by travelling. While we cannot organise a global sport and calendar without travelling, on the IJF side we try to be very conscious about our carbon footprint and improve where we can. I still believe sport can contribute to the cause best by raising awareness and mobilising the sports community. This is exactly the objective of the Green Dojo initiative: to raise awareness, motivate judo clubs to make a change and hopefully, at the end of this year, we will have a world map with many green logos, showing that more and more judo clubs are choosing ecological options. I can only encourage all national federations to spread the word and have their clubs join this healthy global initiative."
Jean-Jacques Melotte, head coach of the Judoteam Agglorex Lommel (BEL) and a 6th Dan, explains why this label is important.
"On the 60th anniversary of our judo club and my 60th year as an active judoka, it is an incredible honour and a source of great pride for our club, the city of Lommel and Belgium to be the first Green Dojo. Being the first to receive this label worldwide reflects our strong commitment to sustainability and our responsibility as a sports club to lead by example. It also motivates us to continue improving and inspiring others to follow suit.
This label is important because it recognises a concrete effort to reduce our environmental impact. We got involved because we believe that sports organisations should not only promote physical and mental wellbeing but also environmental responsibility. Judo teaches respect for our opponents, for discipline and for our surroundings; extending that respect to the planet is a natural step. Judo is more than sport! From the moment we began planning our new dojo, we immediately had good collaboration with our architect, Mr Luc Schepens, to ensure the most efficient and sustainable approach. Our dedication to these principles ultimately led to a remarkable final result.
Being sustainable is a key part of our club’s philosophy. We want to show that sustainability and sports can go hand in hand. By promoting this concept, we hope to encourage other clubs and organisations to take action, demonstrating that even small changes can make a big difference.
To other clubs, I would tell them that it’s easier than they might think. Sustainability doesn’t require major sacrifices but consistent steps can already have a significant impact. Plus, embracing eco-friendly practices can strengthen a club’s identity, attract new members and create a more conscious and engaged community.
This approach teaches our students that judo is more than just a sport, it’s a way of life that includes responsibility and respect beyond the tatami. By integrating sustainability with our dojo, we are instilling values that they can carry into their daily lives.
Our judoka are very receptive! Many of them, especially among younger generations, are already aware of environmental issues and appreciate being part of a club that aligns with their values. They take pride in contributing to a greener dojo and often come up with their own ideas to improve our impact. Sustainability was always a key principle in our city, Lommel, as well. With numerous wind turbines, a solar park featuring 345,000 solar panels, and bioenergy, we are fully committed to a green future.
So far, we have received positive feedback from both our institutional and private partners. Many see it as a forward-thinking initiative and are excited to be associated with a club that prioritises sustainability. It strengthens our relationships with local authorities and potential sponsors who share similar values.
To be concrete, we have implemented several initiatives, such as using eco-friendly cleaning products, reducing energy and water consumption, recycling and composting waste, and encouraging members to carpool to travel to training and competitions. Minimising the use of single-use plastics by encouraging reusable bottles and containers is also important."
Congratulations to Jean-Jacques Melotte and his team for the great effort and the commitment to a cleaner, safer environment. For more information about the Green Dojo label, CLICK HERE and HERE