Our story
Ray Algar, Gymtopia founder speaking at a conference of European fitness industry leaders
As the founder of Gymtopia, my goal was to establish a digital platform that promotes Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives within the global health and fitness industry. ESG refers to the three central pillars used to measure a company’s performance and practices with the aim of promoting sustainable and responsible business operations.
The Birth of Gymtopia
The idea for Gymtopia came to me during a conference in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where I met Richard Bilton, President of Companhia Athletica, a successful Brazilian club chain. Richard shared their innovative shoe collection project, which asked members to donate old gym shoes upon upgrading. These shoes were cleaned, bagged, and donated to Symap, a Brazilian charity promoting sports among underprivileged children. Starting with 700 pairs, the project now collects around 4,000 pairs annually.
The Power of Clubs
Health and fitness clubs are influential communities with the potential to drive significant social impact. For example, Planet Fitness, a US-based budget gym operator, had over 17 million members by the end of 2022, equivalent to the Netherlands’ population. Engaging such communities in acts of giving or environmental pledges can lead to extraordinary results.
Gymtopia’s Industry Support
Inspired by Companhia Athletica’s project, I aimed to create a platform promoting similar Environmental, Social, and Governance initiatives. Gymtopia has since garnered support from five companies across four countries, including:
Companhia Athletica — Brazil
Gantner — Austria
Les Mills — UK
Fitronics / Retention Management — UK/ USA
The Gym Group – UK
Aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
There are 17 goals spanning the environment, society and the economy
Gymtopia now integrates the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into its platform, mapping projects against these 17 goals to showcase the industry’s commitment to global development. The SDGs, launched in 2015, address pressing social, economic, and environmental challenges and serve as a call to action for businesses, governments, and individuals to create a better, more sustainable future by 2030. Aligning Gymtopia’s projects with the SDGs highlights the health and fitness industry’s potential to contribute to a more sustainable world.
The global health and fitness industry, with over 185 million members and at least 205,000 clubs (The IHRSA Global Report 2019), can make a significant social impact. By sharing inspiring stories on Gymtopia and mapping them against the UN SDGs, we hope to motivate clubs, suppliers, and individuals to initiate projects, support ongoing efforts, and make a lasting difference in their communities. More action is now urgently required because the Covid-19 pandemic has set back progress.
Time to act
The Environmental, Social, and Governance agenda has gained momentum, becoming a crucial aspect of corporate strategy. It’s time to act. Let’s unite to transform the global health and fitness industry into a force for good. Support Gymtopia and be part of this movement to connect, engage, and empower communities in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Together, we can leave a lasting impact on the world.
Ways to get involved
- Use the self-publishing link to submit your organisation’s project. For a small fee, we can research, write and upload the entire project for you.
- Become a Gymtopia strategic partner to support the platform and drive further environmental and social change. Get in touch here.
- Mention Gymtopia to your community and stakeholders.