Sustainability in sport is no longer about isolated initiatives or one-off wins. It is about leadership, collaboration, and building systems that others can follow. In this episode of the Golf Sustainability Podcast, John Fahey reconnects with Maria Grandinetti Milton, Director of Sustainability for the DP World Tour, to explore how sustainability programs mature, scale, and begin to influence an entire ecosystem.

Maria shares updates on several major initiatives that have taken shape since their last conversation, including the rollout of the DP World Tour Championship Charter, the expansion of the Global Sustainability Awards, and the launch of sustainability forums in Scotland and Ireland. Together, these programs reveal a deliberate strategy focused not just on improving individual events, but on empowering partners, suppliers, federations, and governments to move forward together.

The conversation also looks ahead. Maria explains why the DP World Tour became the first professional golf tour to sign the United Nations Sports for Nature initiative, how storytelling around nature can deepen fan engagement, and why the next phase of sustainability leadership is about scaling impact while continuing to learn along the way.

Outline of This Episode

[00:00] Sustainability as a journey and why leadership requires constant learning
[02:00] Maria’s role at the DP World Tour and the evolution of its sustainability strategy
[04:00] The Championship Charter and creating a sustainability blueprint for events
[10:30] Global Sustainability Awards and recognizing innovation across the supply chain
[17:00] Sustainability forums in Scotland and Ireland and the power of collaboration
[23:00] Joining the UN Sports for Nature initiative and focusing on biodiversity
[27:00] Updating the DP World Tour sustainability strategy and looking ahead

Creating a sustainability blueprint through the Championship Charter

One of the central updates in this episode is the launch of the DP World Tour Championship Charter. Designed as a practical guide for staging events sustainably, the charter breaks sustainability down into clear, accessible steps across areas like water, waste, transport, and logistics. Rather than overwhelming promoters or operators, it offers entry-level actions, more advanced practices, and examples of best-in-class execution.

Maria explains that the charter serves both internal teams and external partners. With more than 40 events across 25 countries, consistency is challenging, but shared principles provide a foundation. The charter creates alignment, lowers barriers to entry, and sets expectations for how sustainability is embedded across global championships.

Recognizing leadership through Global Sustainability Awards

Recognition plays a powerful role in driving behavior change. Maria shares how the DP World Tour’s Global Sustainability Awards have grown from a regional initiative into a global program spanning Europe, the Middle East, and the rest of the world. The awards highlight excellence across categories such as innovation, technology, catering, venues, and operations.

By celebrating suppliers and partners who lead the way, the program creates positive momentum. Winners become case studies, role models, and inspiration for others across the tour’s extensive supplier network. The focus is not just on competition, but on sharing best practices that can be replicated and scaled.

Forums that connect golf, government, and communities

Another major development is the launch of sustainability forums in Scotland and Ireland. These events bring together national federations, government stakeholders, local golf clubs, and the professional game to discuss shared challenges and solutions. Topics range from climate resilience and biodiversity to community impact and land use.

Maria describes these forums as moments of triangulation, where collaboration unlocks progress that no single group could achieve alone. By leveraging the visibility of professional golf, the DP World Tour helps create space for meaningful dialogue and practical problem solving at a regional level.

Nature, storytelling, and the next phase of sustainability leadership

Looking ahead, Maria explains why joining the United Nations Sports for Nature initiative was a natural next step. Golf is inseparable from the natural environments in which it is played, and protecting those environments is both a responsibility and an opportunity. From peacocks in India to wildlife on Scottish links courses, nature offers powerful stories that can deepen fan connection and inspire future generations.

As the DP World Tour updates its sustainability strategy, the focus is shifting toward clearer targets, scalable solutions, and broader alignment across the global tour. The goal is not perfection, but progress, guided by leadership, collaboration, and a willingness to keep learning.

Resources & People Mentioned

DP World Tour
Geo Foundation for Sustainable Golf
United Nations Sports for Nature Initiative
United Nations Sports for Climate Action
Golf Ireland
VisitScotland

Connect With the Guest

Maria Grandinetti Milton
Director of Sustainability, DP World Tour

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