As part of their curriculum, students from the Mastère Spécialisé® International Environmental Management (EnvIM) program at ISIGE – MINES Paris – PSL took part in a hands-on project exploring a key topic in ecological transition: shifting from a traditional sales model to a Product-Service System (PSS) in collaboration with Decathlon France.
Rethinking Ownership to Reduce Environmental Impact
The Product-Service System model promotes access over ownership, offering rental or subscription-based alternatives to purchasing. The goal is clear: produce fewer goods, extend product lifespans, and ultimately reduce environmental impacts.
Working alongside Decathlon experts, students focused on two specific product lines :
Climbing crash pads (Simond brand)
Equestrian protective vests (Fouganza brand)
The students examined the feasibility of transitioning these products to a service-oriented model, addressing environmental benefits, organizational requirements, and current technical, economic, and logistical constraints.
From Analysis to Action : Recommendations and Exchange
In early May, the students presented their findings and strategic recommendations to the Decathlon teams, including:
Ways to improve product lifespan
Conditions needed to develop an effective rental service
Required organizational and logistical adjustments
Current challenges and limitations, such as maintenance, user perception, and reuse potential
The final session led to a constructive discussion between the students and professionals from the Simond and Fouganza teams, offering a valuable cross-perspective on circular economy strategies in the sports industry.
A Collaborative Learning Experience
ISIGE Mines Paris -PSL warmly thanks Lucile Cazaux, project manager at Decathlon France, as well as Corentin Cuvelier, Giorgio Leonardi, and Éponine Bottineau from the Fouganza team, and Jean-Charles Laugt and Alice de La Fabergue from Simond, for their generous time and insightful contributions.
Special thanks to Dr. Rémi Beulque for co-designing and coordinating this engaging project with the EnvIM students.
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