Ecology and sustainability have been in the spotlight for some time now, especially among Gen Z and millennials who love to stay fit and healthy.
A recent UNiDAYS survey showed that 93% of the Gen Z population believes brands have an obligation to take a stand on environmental issues. Millennials are not far behind – 75% of them are willing to pay extra for sustainable products.
As today is Earth Day, the topic is hotter than ever. So, you can use the momentum to green up your fitness business and advise your clients on how to do more eco-friendly workouts.
You’ll help them do their part in protecting the environment, and they’ll love you for it!
Focus on sustainable equipment
When offering online fitness programs, you’re aware that most people don’t own expensive workout equipment.
So instead, focus on workouts that can be done with pieces of furniture or items we all have at home.
For example, you can use a sturdy chair for tricep dips, the wall for wall push-ups, or milk gallons filled with water or sand as weights.
Another option is to focus on exercises that require only the client’s bodyweight. This can be anything from push-ups, squats and lunges, to burpees and stair-stepping.
If your training program does require some equipment, try to find manufacturers that are eco-friendly. You can even collaborate with them in a mutual promotion.
Let your clients know they can use second-hand and sustainable gear
There are many sustainable alternatives in fitness, even when your clients use minimum equipment.
From time to time, you can remind them in a video or newsletter to seek out those alternatives, such as:
- Clothing – when your clients buy fitness clothes, advise them to choose sustainable fabrics, or brands that use sustainable production processes. For example, cotton T-shirts aren’t that great even though they’re made of natural material. Believe it or not, it takes 2,700 liters of water to make one cotton T-shirt.
- Mats – Yoga mats can be greener, too. Natural rubber or jute yoga mats are more sustainable than those we can usually find at stores.
- Second-hand gear – Instead of buying all-new gear, your clients can check out their local second-hand shops to find quality workout clothes and sneakers. Likewise, instead of throwing away their old workout gear, they can donate it to their local Goodwill or Salvation Army. That way, the workout gear and exercise equipment won’t end up in landfills.
Healthy and green eating
Making green food choices can make a big difference in the amount of food waste, but also gas emissions and cold storage energy consumption.
Advise your clients to buy greens, fruits, nuts and seeds at their local farmer’s markets. They will both eat more sustainably and support their local small business economy.
You can even create seasonal meal plans, which include fruits and vegetables that are available at different times of the year.
If your clients like to take supplements and protein powder, advise them to look for healthy ones.
Organically produced powders can be found at almost any supplement store. Quality supplements usually don’t have any fillers, added sugars, or unhealthy additives.
For example, hemp powder is quite healthy – it’s full of protein and has a flavor similar to nuts. This type of powder also requires less water to produce than other sources of protein.
Avoid or completely ditch plastics
As you know, plastic is one of the biggest enemies of the environment. To this day, the world has produced over 8 billion metric tons of plastic, half of which is for single use.
So, instead of using plastic water bottles, your clients can use reusable water bottles or tin canisters.
Remind them that companies that sell bottled water only produce plastic bottles, and not water. Most people have drinking-quality tap water at home and don’t have to pay much for it anyway.
If your clients still want to buy water, there are bad plastic bottles and ones that are a bit better. PET plastic bottles are recyclable and thinner, saving a lot of PET resin. The average weight of a 16.9-ounce PET bottle was reduced by 51% from 2000 to 2014, according to the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA).
Plogging
There is a new trend called ‘plogging’ – picking up litter while jogging. It’s a great way to combine fitness workouts with earth-friendly endeavors.
The idea came from the Swedish running group Plogga, but quickly spread across Europe and the US. It has been adopted by various running groups, athletes, and fitness enthusiasts.
To prepare for plogging, runners only need:
- Gloves
- Trash bags
You can even organize a challenge for your clients to see who can pick up the most trash and award those who did best.
You can treat them to a personal session, a one-month free subscription, or something small and symbolic like reusable bags.
Working out at home is already greener!
By giving your clients a home workout program, you’re already giving them an eco-alternative to going to the gym.
They save gas and reduce fuel emissions, as well as conserve electricity by not using gym equipment such as treadmills.
Applaud your clients for making more eco-friendly fitness choices and encourage them to continue doing so.
If you haven’t taken your business online yet, check out our blog on how to transition your fitness business to a hybrid model. You’ll learn about all the tools and platforms available for running your online fitness business.
Motivate and support your clients’ green efforts
When you start making greener business decisions, trust us – you’ll feel great. And so will your clients!
Keep in mind that learning about green alternatives but not making any changes can actually make your clients feel bad.
So, let them know that every small change in their everyday behavior adds up if enough people make them. Compounded efforts can make a huge difference in preserving the Earth.
Motivate them to continue on their green fitness path by offering them eco badges, discounts, or similar.
A virtual hive-five is always a cool way to start!