Research impact is often described as a journey. In our Sustainable Nutrition in Sport research programme at the University of Limerick, that journey began with undergraduate student projects and has since evolved into postgraduate research, community engagement, and a growing international collaboration.
Over recent years, undergraduate researchers in Sport & Exercise Sciences have explored how athletes, coaches, and support staff understand and engage with sustainable nutrition practices. These student-led projects examined issues such as food waste, single-use plastics, sports catering environments, and sustainable protein choices within Gaelic Games and university sport settings.
A clear finding emerged across the studies. Athletes generally demonstrated strong awareness of sustainability issues and positive attitudes towards environmentally responsible practices. However, translating awareness into action was often more challenging. While simple behaviours such as recycling and using refillable bottles were commonly reported, more complex food-related decisions, including reducing packaging waste or incorporating more sustainable protein sources, were less consistently adopted.
Importantly, the research highlighted that performance remains the primary driver of dietary decision-making in sport. Athletes were most receptive to sustainable practices when these were presented as supporting, rather than competing with, performance, training, and recovery goals. Team culture, coaching support, and organisational environments also emerged as powerful influences on behaviour.
One of the most exciting outcomes of this work has been seeing undergraduate research projects serve as a springboard for further inquiry. Questions originally explored through final-year dissertations are now being developed through postgraduate research examining athlete behaviour change, sustainable sport systems, food environments, and practical strategies to reduce the environmental impact of sport while maintaining athlete health and performance.
The programme has also contributed to the development of CROSS-PRO, an international research collaboration bringing together researchers, practitioners, and sporting stakeholders interested in the intersection of nutrition, sustainability, and health. Through CROSS-PRO, collaborators are working to advance comparative international research, share expertise, and co-create practical solutions that can be implemented across diverse contexts.
For me, one of the most rewarding aspects of this work has been observing how student curiosity and inquiry can catalyse wider change. Undergraduate projects are often viewed as the final step in a degree programme. In reality, they can be the first step in a much larger research journey, generating evidence that informs postgraduate study, international collaboration, and meaningful conversations about the future of sport.
As sustainability becomes an increasingly important consideration for sporting organisations worldwide, the next phase of our work will focus on identifying realistic, evidence-informed strategies that support both athlete performance and environmental responsibility. The message emerging from our research is encouraging: athletes are willing to engage with sustainability, but supportive systems, accessible options, and performance-aligned approaches are essential to turning good intentions into lasting action.
Dr. Catherine Norton is a registered dietitian, accredited performance nutritionist, and Associate Professor in Sport and Exercise Nutrition at PESS, UL.
Contact: catherine.norton@ul.ie. Follow: @NortonNutrition ORCID Linked-In PURE
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