Congratulations to Oxted based business, Simply Sports, which has just been given Carbon Neutral Plus status for the second year.
Simply Sports, an Oxted fixture since 1997, is leading the way in local business, dedicated to providing an unrivalled shoe fitting service, as well as leading by example in sustainability as a Carbon Neutral Plus business.
Simply Sports, owned by Adrian Pointer, was founded back in 1986, with its first store in Beckenham, with stores following on in Oxted, Tunbridge, Tunbridge Wells and Reigate.
Adrian is a huge supporter of sustainability in business and is doing all he can to ensure Simply Sports is leader in its field in both sports equipment, but also sustainability. As a director of the Oxted BID, has made it his mission to try to help other Oxted businesses with their sustainability goals.
Certified Carbon Neutral Plus for two years and Carbon Neutral for 5 years, Simply Sports takes sustainability very seriously, measuring all their energy use, fuel and travel for the business. This may seem complicated but MD/Owner, Adrian Pointer says that once you set it up, it’s actually quite simple to do. They use a Carbon Calculator from Carbon Footprint Ltd www.carbonfootprint.com, who verify all their data and give option as to how to offset the carbon.
“We now offset more than our emissions, hence the “Plus” element and our energy contract is with Pozitive Energy, who supply us 100% renewable energy,” says Adrian.
The shop also now stocks the first Carbon Neutral running Shoe – Brooks Ghost 14, which claims 57 % Recycled materials in the upper with 6.58 Plastic bottles diverted from landfill for each shoe. With all measured emissions offset, the goal for both this shoe for Simply Sports as a business, is to achieve a fully circular supply chain.
Running is an essential part of the Simply Sports business, and with a belief that running shoes have to be correctly fitted, not just sold, they do not sell running shoes online, but offer a full gait assessment in their stores and expert help by their running specialists.
“We opened in 1997 in Oxted, a town I knew well from playing sport in the local area. All our stores specialise in running footwear, both the gait analysis and fitting of shoes, while also catering for most other active sports. We are able to assist those new to sport, to those that take their sport very seriously, fulfilling all needs and to suit all budgets.”
Simply Sports is therefore the go-to around Oxted for runners of all levels, as well as for equipment and apparel for pretty much all other sports played in and around Oxted and does a roaring trade in back to school sports equipment!
The correct fitting of footwear, from running shoes to football boots, tennis shoes, in fact shoes for most sports, remains their absolute focus.
Despite being an small independent chain, they are premier partners with many international brands and therefore able to get access to products that are relatively exclusive. They often undertake trial launches for new groundbreaking technical products from some of the world’s best known brands.
Adrian is a Director of Love Oxted (The Oxted BID), and helping other Oxted businesses to achieve their Net Zero and other sustainability or recycling goals is his personal focus. He is certainly leading by example with his own business’s Carbon Neutral Plus status, as well as a contract with SITA that means all their cardboard and paper is sent for recycling, as well as all plastic bottles, containers and packaging.
Simply Sports offers shoe re-cycling through the European Recycling Company where shoes can be either sent for re-use or parts used for recycling within new materials. It is hoping to become a drop-off point for used swimming goggles soon.
“With every decision, we undertake to improve the sustainability of the business”, says Adrian. “From our choice of energy provider to the choice of carpet tiles (now made with 50% recycled materials), we aim to reduce our carbon footprint. This includes the suppliers we choose to deal with and the products that we sell. We’ve also switched to a Hybrid van, helping further reduce emissions – next stop fully electric!”
Simply Sports really is an inspiration to other businesses and Adrian is happy to share his knowledge and research with other businesses. Please feel free to contact him at adrian.pointer@simplysports.co.uk.
60 Station Rd E, Oxted RH8 0PG
Monday to Friday 9.00am-6pm; Saturday 8.30am-5.30pm
