Ethics and sustainability
Sustainability: a long-standing commitment:
For many years, the Concours Hippique International de Genève has been aware of its impact and has been working to improve it. The Sustainable Development Commission, established in 2007, evolved in 2024 into the Ethics and Sustainability Commission, with an action strategy focused on three key areas:
- Animal welfare
- Environmental preservation
- People
We invite you to read our impact report, available HERE.
It provides a detailed overview of the efforts and actions undertaken, as well as our strategic vision and objectives.
In 2025, the CHIG achieved the first level of Swisstainable certification, recognising its commitment to sustainability.
Our actions
As highlighted in the impact report, the CHIG has reached a strong level of maturity in its approach to people (employees, spectators and athletes) and equine welfare. In terms of environmental preservation, it performs well in waste management. However, a more in-depth analysis was found to be necessary to better measure its overall impact and implement relevant measures.
A comprehensive assessment of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions was carried out using data collected during the 2024 edition.
The majority of emissions (49%) come from mobility, which is unsurprising for an event that attracts more than 49,000 visitors each year, even though most spectators, the 700 volunteers and service providers come from the surrounding region. The remaining emissions are distributed as follows: transport of infrastructure, equipment and horses (35%); catering (7%); materials consumed and waste (7%); and heating and electricity (2%).
The CHIG has therefore decided to make mobility a priority in its efforts to reduce emissions, with the following initiatives implemented for the 2026 edition:
- A carpooling platform dedicated exclusively to CHIG visitors
- An in-depth mobility survey to better understand barriers and identify relevant future initiatives
- The development of partnerships with public authorities and local mobility stakeholders
Other initiatives focus on the responsible use of resources and waste reduction, particularly:
- Free drinking water fountains and the distribution of reusable water bottles to the 700 volunteers
- Washable and reusable tableware in the stables’ restaurant, which is directly managed by the CHIG
How can you help us reduce our impact?
Every individual action makes a difference when combined with others. We therefore encourage you to adopt the following good practices:
- Carpool with friends
- Use public transport
All the information you need is available HERE. - Sort your waste using the designated bins
