The Volvo China Open is breaking new ground with its commitment to sustainability on the DP World Tour in 2026.
Earlier this month, the tournament’s organising committee signed the Sustainable Championships Charter – designed by the European Tour group as part of its commitment to the environment through the award-winning Green Drive programme.
With DP World Tour-owned events such as the BMW PGA Championship and Genesis Scottish Open leaders in taking responsibility for their carbon footprint, the Volvo China Open is continuing its own commitment to utilise sustainability best practices.
Having first explored the benefits to tournaments of sustainable development, China’s national open began to integrate the concepts of green activities into tournament planning, operations and legacies in 2021.
In recent years, it has continued on that pathway by implementing paperless operations, plastic reduction, and low-carbon measures to achieve significant goals.
What was done in 2025?
Among tournament highlights at the Volvo China Open in 2025:
• A fully paperless operation, eliminating the use of paper programs, promotional brochures, and daily scorecards, saved about 50,000 sheets of paper. Spectators could obtain information by scanning a QR code to follow the event's WeChat official account.
• Partner Bluewater provided 160,000 litres of safe drinking water via water dispensers, avoiding 320,000 single use 500ml plastic bottles
• Eight Volvo EM90 pure electric luxury multi-purpose vehicles served as shuttle vehicles, reducing fossil fuel mileage by 9,744 km.
• The event directly drove 1,895 hotel room night bookings, boosting the local economy. Partner hotels practised green concepts by reducing disposable items, adjusting the frequency of bed linen changes, purchasing local seasonal low-carbon ingredients, and preparing meals as needed.
This year, the tournament will continue to refine details, aiming to be a benchmark for sustainability in Chinese golf.
Michel Zhao, Chairperson of the Volvo China Open Board of Directors, said: "We will actively draw on international advanced experience, explore innovative practical solutions, and promote the sustainable development of the event to a new level."
What will be done in 2026?
• Wooden materials such as advertising boards, signage, leaderboards and yardage markers will be recycled and refurbished for use in future tournaments. Knitted materials such as pin flags, caddie vests and photographer vests will be cleaned and reused. Spectator ropes, media center desks and tent frames will be dismantled and reassembled for reuse.
• A minimum of 18 dual-bin waste sorting stations are placed throughout the venue. These bins are rented and the waste is carefully sorted into categories such as harmful waste, recyclable materials, kitchen waste, and general refuse. After the event, all waste is processed and recycled, and the disposal process is continuously monitored and tracked to ensure compliance with environmental standards.
• The tournament will use certified, locally sourced and seasonal ingredients. Vegetarian options will be available, with a focus on low-carbon ingredients. Meal planning will prioritise reducing food waste, such as reusing buffet leftovers. Disposable containers, such as volunteer meal boxes, will be made from recyclable and biodegradable materials.
• Interactive experiences will be held for students, offering an introduction into environment protection.
To learn more about the European Tour group's Sustainable Championships Charter, click here.
