Carbon Footprint — Operations: How does Sports Direct (Frasers Group plc) score?

Frasers Group reports Scope 1 (41,693t) and Scope 2 (39,163t) emissions in its FY2024 annual report, calculated from metered electricity and purchased fuel using published emission factors under the Companies Act 2006. However, no evidence of third-party verification or detailed granular breakdown by facility has been found. The data is publicly available but lacks independent assurance.

Carbon Footprint — Supply Chain: How does Sports Direct (Frasers Group plc) score?

The reported Scope 3 of ~15,457 tonnes is clearly incomplete for a £5.5B retailer sourcing goods globally — for context, CDP's 2024 analysis shows retail Scope 3 can be 25x Scope 1+2. Full value chain emissions including purchased goods and services, downstream transport, and use of sold products are not quantified. The company has an international supply chain spanning multiple countries with no evidence of meaningful supplier engagement on emissions. Good On You rates Sports Direct 'Very Poor'

Emissions Trajectory: How does Sports Direct (Frasers Group plc) score?

Reported emissions show a volatile pattern: ~92,071t in FY2022, rising to ~123,272t in FY2023, then falling to ~96,313t in FY2024. The company itself acknowledges that growth has increased absolute emissions. The Scope 3 near-term target uses intensity (per £m GBP value added) rather than absolute reductions, which is a red flag. While FY2024 shows a decrease from FY2023, the overall trajectory from FY2022 is upward. The Scope 3 intensity-based target caps this score at 4 maximum, and the absenc

Energy Source: How does Sports Direct (Frasers Group plc) score?

The company acknowledges electricity makes up 81% of its carbon footprint, indicating significant energy consumption across hundreds of stores, warehouses, and distribution centres. However, there is no data available on renewable energy procurement for Frasers Group (the retailer). Moneycare.io explicitly reports 'No data available for Frasers Group' on renewable energy. No evidence of RE100 membership, PPAs, or green tariffs for the retail operations. This is a major gap for a large energy con

Nature & Biodiversity Impact: How does Sports Direct (Frasers Group plc) score?

No evidence of any biodiversity or nature-related policy, assessment, or TNFD alignment from Frasers Group (the retailer). Good On You reports 'no evidence it's taking actions to protect biodiversity in its supply chain.' As a major retailer of apparel and sporting goods with a global supply chain, the company has material exposure to nature risks through raw material sourcing (cotton, rubber, synthetics), yet has disclosed nothing on this topic.

Resource Use & Waste: How does Sports Direct (Frasers Group plc) score?

The company states it is 'actively reducing the amount of waste we send to landfill' and segregates waste for recycling, with stores using recyclable carrier bags and promoting 'bag for life'. However, Good On You identifies Sports Direct as following 'an unsustainable fast fashion model due to its consistently low price points and regular heavy discounts'. There is no public data on waste volumes, recycling rates, or circular economy targets. No evidence of supplier sustainability requirements

Water Impact: How does Sports Direct (Frasers Group plc) score?

No water consumption data is disclosed by Frasers Group. Good On You reports 'no evidence it's taking meaningful action to reduce water use.' Moneycare.io shows no water or waste data available. The apparel supply chain is water-intensive (textile dyeing, cotton production), making this a material gap. The lack of any water strategy or disclosure for a company with a significant textile supply chain warrants a low score.

Targets & Commitments: How does Sports Direct (Frasers Group plc) score?

Frasers Group has set SBTi-aligned targets: 58.8% absolute reduction in Scope 1+2 by FY2034, net-zero by FY2050, and is auditing its carbon footprint to ISO 14064 standards. However, the Scope 3 near-term target is intensity-based (63.8% per £m GBP value added), not absolute, which is a significant weakness per SINK methodology (deduct 2 from what would otherwise be a 6). Furthermore, Good On You states 'there's no evidence it is on track' to meet its science-based target. The score is capped by

Transparency & Accountability: How does Sports Direct (Frasers Group plc) score?

ESG strategy is led by CFO Chris Wootton with a sustainability team, suggesting some governance structure. A global carbon footprint audit for FY24 is underway. However, there is no standalone sustainability report, no TCFD/CSRD disclosure, and the company's responsibility page on its website provides only basic, generic environmental statements. Good On You rates the brand 'Very Poor' on transparency indicators. The Fashion Transparency Index also reflects poor disclosure.

Controversies & Red Flags: How does Sports Direct (Frasers Group plc) score?

Starting at 8, significant deductions apply. The 2016 parliamentary inquiry into working conditions at the Shirebrook warehouse exposed zero-hour contracts and sub-minimum-wage payments (-2). Ongoing labour disputes continue as of December 2025 with Unite union branding Sports Direct 'UK's meanest employer' over warehouse pay refusals (-1). MoneyWeek notes the company has been 'slow to adopt sustainability initiatives that peers such as H&M or Next trumpet' and its reliance on fast fashion raise

Sports Direct (Frasers Group plc) Sustainability Score: 30/100

Recently scored: Dentsu, Omnicom, Publicis Groupe, WPP

507 companies scored·4 score updates this week

Sports Direct (Frasers Group plc)·Retail (non-fashion)·Shirebrook, United Kingdom·Founded 1976·Last verified 22 April 2026

out of 100

Significant gapsPending Review

Sports Direct has disclosed basic Scope 1 & 2 emissions but Scope 3 remains severely underestimated for a £5.5B global retailer. No renewable energy procurement, water data, or biodiversity strategy exists. Intensity-based targets mask absolute emissions growth. Labour controversies and fast-fashion model undermine credibility.

No challenges currently filed

The calculation

Every score shows its working.

Same formula for every company. No curve. No private weighting.

SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × Scale

Industry base impact

Retail (non-fashion) sector ceiling.

48 / 100

Performance score

Sum of the 10 rubric questions, scored 0–10 each.

25 / 100

Raw score

Weighted average before scale penalty.

(0.3 × 48) + (0.7 × 25) = 31.9

Scale penalty

Multiplier based on absolute emissions volume — physics-first.

× 0.95

Final score

Rounded. Significant gaps.

30 / 100

The ten questions

Where Sports Direct (Frasers Group plc) is strong, and where it isn't.

Strongest on Carbon Footprint — Operations and Controversies & Red Flags (5/10, 5/10). Weakest on Water Impact and Nature & Biodiversity Impact (1/10, 1/10).

Where the evidence comes from

Every document used, listed.

9 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which rubric questions it informed.

[1]Third-party verified

Ditch Carbon — Frasers Group Emissions Profile

Ongoing

Q1Q2Q8

View →

[2]Self-reported

Frasers Group Responsibility Page

Ongoing

Q1Q3Q4Q6

View →

[3]Third-party verified

Good On You — Sports Direct Brand Rating

Ongoing

Q2Q5Q6Q7Q8Q9

View →

[4]Third-party verified

Ditch Carbon — Company Profile 9426

Ongoing

View →

[5]Third-party verified

Moneycare.io — Frasers Group Sustainability Data

Ongoing

Q4Q7

View →

[6]Self-reported

Frasers Group Annual Report FY2024

2024

View →

[7]Public record

Wikipedia — Frasers Group History and Controversies

Ongoing

Q10

View →

[8]Public record

Unite Union — December 2025 Sports Direct Pay Dispute

2025

Q10

View →

[9]Public record

MoneyWeek — Frasers Group Sustainability Gap Analysis

Unknown

Q10

View →

If you believe a source has been misread or a newer version exists, submit a challenge.

Sports Direct (Frasers Group plc) in context

Where Sports Direct (Frasers Group plc) sits among retail (non-fashion) peers.

Among the 42 major retail (non-fashion) brands we've scored, Sports Direct (Frasers Group plc) sits 37th of 42.

37/42

Sports Direct (Frasers Group plc)'s rank

Industry average

Industry low

Industry high

6John Lewis Partnership

7ALDI SOUTH Group

8B&Q

9Argos

10Selfridges

11Lidl

12Currys

14Wickes

21IKEA

22TK Maxx

23Harrods

24Specsavers

25Superdrug Stores

26Wm Morrison Supermarkets

28Boots

31Target

33ASDA

37Sports Direct (Frasers Group plc)

40Walmart

How this score has moved

Sports Direct (Frasers Group plc)'s score over time.

Score history begins 4 April 2026.

As Sports Direct (Frasers Group plc)'s score updates, the trajectory will appear here.

We're backfilling historical scores for FTSE 100 and S&P 100 companies over the coming weeks.

What's being contested

This score is not currently being contested.

Every challenge is published. We'd rather be corrected than wrong — that's the whole point.

No challenges submitted yet. If you have evidence that contradicts this score, you can challenge any question above — cite a public source and we'll review it.

About Sports Direct (Frasers Group plc)

Sports Direct, operating under Frasers Group plc since 2020, is a UK-based sporting goods and casual fashion retailer with hundreds of stores across Europe and online channels. It competes in discount retail through low price points and high inventory turnover. The company is majority-owned by Mike Ashley.

Founded

1976

Headquarters

Shirebrook, United Kingdom

Employees

~30,000

Annual revenue

~£5.5B

Company website ↗

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