Applying Doughnut Economics to Nonprofit Sport

Introduction

This study is part of a broader research project of the think tank sportainable, which applies Doughnut Economics to the sports sector. Within the project three master’s theses are focusing on one of Germany’s sport sub-sectors: nonprofit, public, and commercial sports. This study examines sustainability in nonprofit sports by analysing ecological and social challenges within the Doughnut Economics framework.

Methods

A qualitative multi-method approach was employed, combining experimental hermeneutics to adapt the Doughnut framework with expert interviews to refine the findings. Additionally, the expert interviews contributed to identifying sportainable development fields and goals.

Results

The “sportainable DOUGHNUT” highlights three primary challenges: (1) income and work, (2) energy, and (3) climate change and sources of emissions. Expert interviews confirmed these issues while also emphasizing the nonprofit sector’s potential to advance sustainability through its community-based structures and intrinsic social mission.

Discussion

Building on these insights, six sportainable development fields were derived: (1) Climate Adaptation and Decarbonization, (2) Sustainable Mobility and Infrastructure, (3) Circular Economy and Environmental Management, (4) Social Participation and Inclusion, (5) Volunteering and Club Structures, and (6) Health and Education as a Social Responsibility. These fields serve as the foundation for sportainable development goals, offering strategic guidance for sustainability in nonprofit sports. The study highlights not only ecological impacts (footprint) but also the sector’s potential to create positive social and environmental change (handprint). These findings underscore the role of nonprofit sports as a driver of sustainable transformation, emphasizing the need for stronger sectoral cooperation and targeted governance strategies.

Conclusions

By providing a comprehensive framework, this research contributes to the understanding of sustainability in nonprofit sports. The “sportainable DOUGHNUT” serves as a diagnostic tool, while the development fields and goals outline actionable pathways. Future research should focus on the scalability and quantitative measurement of sustainability progress in the sports sector.