The report marks an important evolution in the club’s sustainability journey by bringing people and planet together within a single reporting framework. It is an approach that has earned international recognition. In the recently published GSS SPI Index, the Desert Vipers are ranked among the Top 100 most purposeful sports organisations globally, achieving a Purpose Established (C) SPI Rating and becoming the highest-ranked sports team in the UAE.

As CEO Phil Oliver explains, the latest report reflects a significant change in direction.

“This season, there has been a step change in our approach to sustainability by fully integrating people into our sustainability strategy, with the social impact results clear to see.”

Delivering measurable environmental progress

The environmental results are substantial. Since establishing its Season 1 baseline, the Desert Vipers have reduced their carbon footprint by 27.2%, while their plastic footprint has fallen by 77.6%. These reductions have been achieved through improvements across travel, hotels, stadium operations and kit production rather than relying on a single initiative.

Season 4 saw the introduction of new technologies and partnerships designed to reduce impact, including Fuelre4m’s fuel efficiency technology, Bluewater’s refill stations to eliminate single-use plastic bottles, Cleaner Seas Group’s microfibre filtration systems, and continued investment in recycled materials and more efficient kit production. The team’s travel policy has also continued to evolve, encouraging lower-carbon flying and helping deliver a 44% reduction in flight emissions compared with Season 1.

Rather than focusing solely on carbon accounting, the report demonstrates how operational decisions across an elite sporting organisation can combine to produce measurable environmental gains.

Putting people at the heart of performance

Perhaps the most significant development in Season 4 is the decision to measure social impact alongside environmental performance.

For the first time, the Desert Vipers have calculated the value created by their community programmes. During the season, 17,147 people participated in initiatives that generated an estimated AED13.74 million in social value, delivering a Social Return on Investment of 11.8:1.

The programmes span the Desert Vipers Schools Programme, Corporate Cricket, the Talent Pathway, the Sustainability Match and the expanding UAE–India BioBlitz, combining cricket participation with wellbeing, environmental education and community engagement.

Reflecting on the expanded report, Business Sustainability Lead Ben Hardy-Jones said:

“This season’s People and Planet Report brings together the best of our work into one sustainability report, including social impact valuation for the first time, and merging our plastic and carbon footprints into one umbrella of environmental impact.”

The Schools Programme alone has now reached more than 18,000 students since Season 2, using cricket as a platform to promote healthier lifestyles, confidence, teamwork and sustainability awareness among young people across the UAE.

Building a culture of accountability

Alongside the environmental and social progress, Season 4 also introduced a dedicated Sustainability Governance Board, providing stronger oversight and embedding sustainability across every department of the organisation. The board has established long-term objectives, including a target of reducing emissions by 50% by 2030, while strengthening governance and accountability throughout the franchise.

Oliver believes this stronger governance structure is helping accelerate progress across the organisation.

“Our planet work has continued at full speed, with new partners bringing energy and a fresh perspective to where we can make a positive difference. Finally, we have made our work more robust by setting up our Sustainability Governance Board… allowing all departments of the team to align on the same page and accelerate our impact.”

The Season 4 report demonstrates how sustainability is becoming embedded across every aspect of the Desert Vipers’ operation. By combining measurable environmental improvements with quantified social impact and stronger governance, the franchise is showing that sustainability is no longer an adjunct to sporting success but an integral part of how modern sports organisations create long-term value. Rather than simply reporting activity, the Desert Vipers are increasingly measuring outcomes – providing a model that others across professional sport will be watching closely.