DP World Tour Championship Highlights Sustainability Achievements in Global Golf Awards Expansion

The European Tour Group Sustainability Awards will return in 2025, transitioning from a regional to a global spotlight to honor sustainable innovations across international golf tours. Launched in 2024 to commend suppliers for their commitment to sustainable practices, the awards will now celebrate achievements in three geographic regions: Europe, the Middle East, and the Rest of the World. Entries are open until midnight on October 2, 2025, with five key categories: Venues, Staging, Operations, Tech & Innovation, and Catering. To qualify, projects or initiatives must have been undertaken between September 1, 2024, and October 1, 2025.

In the Middle East, the 2025 Hero Dubai Desert Classic, the 2024 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, and the 2024 DP World Tour Championship are noteworthy contenders seeking recognition. Notably, the Hero Dubai Desert Classic secured the GEO Certified® Tournament status again in 2025, marking it as the first golf event in the Middle East to achieve this sustainability accolade within the DP World Tour Rolex Series for three consecutive years. The certification underscores the tournament's dedication to responsible golf practices, evaluated by the GEO Foundation for Sustainable Golf, which emphasizes event staging, awareness, and legacy.

The Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship introduced a range of sustainability initiatives in its 2024 edition. The event demonstrated an active commitment to environmental stewardship under the Golf for Good program, the European Tour Group's initiative to advance golf sustainably. Key among its projects is the Green Drive, aiming to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2040.

Similarly, the 2024 DP World Tour Championship in Dubai highlighted its most sustainable year to date. Innovations included a significant focus on reducing direct carbon emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieving net zero by 2040, alongside initiatives like banning plastic water bottles for the fourth consecutive year and collaborating with official waste management company Averda to ensure zero waste is sent to landfill—a tournament first. Furthermore, spectators this past year could track and offset their travel emissions through a fan emissions offsetting tool launched in May 2024.

The European Tour Group is resolute in its aspiration to be the most sustainable professional golf circuit worldwide. A core component of its Sustainability Strategy involves suppliers adhering to robust sustainable procurement standards while delivering best-in-class solutions at events. The Awards seek to highlight and incentivize innovation and best practices among these suppliers.

Maria Grandinetti-Milton, Director of Sustainability at the European Tour Group, emphasized the collective effort required to deliver sustainable golf tournaments, involving a wide network of suppliers dedicated to reducing resource use, waste, and emissions. The global expansion of the Awards in 2025 is a testament to the positive reception of its inaugural focus on the Middle East, offering an opportunity to spur innovation further and share sustainable practices.

Jonathan Smith, Executive Director of the GEO Sustainable Golf Foundation, acknowledged the European Tour Group's dedication to sustainability across their operations, championships, and partnerships. He praised the Awards for highlighting the role of suppliers in making events more sustainable while also serving as demonstration platforms for innovation and new technologies.

The winners will be announced on November 12, 2025, at a ceremony during the DP World Tour Championship's concluding event in Dubai, which will also crown the Race to Dubai season champion.