News article
Sustainability round-up: World Sailing Trust, Green Gazelles Rugby Club…
Also in the news: Audi, Surrey County Cricket Club and more…
World Sailing Trust and RYA Green Blue have collaborated with Sustainable Sailing, a company that specialises in sail recycling, to launch a UK water sport survey to understand the use and recycling of marine sports equipment, and clothing. Over a million tonnes of used textiles are generated each year in the UK, and it can be even more tricky to recycle sports clothing and equipment. Recycling composite materials, such as glass fibre which is used to build water sports equipment, can be even harder still. There are more than 1.5 million composite yachts and one million composite dinghies globally, with between 1% and 2% reaching end of life annually.
Sports clubs in Ireland are set to benefit from an official guide supported by the Federation of Irish Sport to help manage waste. The MyWaste Sports Club Toolkit will offer guidance on waste segregation and the elimination of single-use plastics, as well as ideas to introduce gear-swapping initiatives, help with creating a strategy to set and track goals, and engage with the local community around sustainability.
‘The Big Green Clash’ is set to take place at Richmond Athletic Ground on September 8, shining a spotlight on how sport can inspire a more eco-friendly future. Spearheading the event is earth-friendly and plant-powered rugby team, Green Gazelles Rugby Club, an invitational organisation with more than 250 players. The event will not only feature a match between the Green Gazelles and Richmond Rugby, but there will also be an Eco Village featuring food and beverages, sustainable items, information stands, artisan treats and more. The winner of the clash will receive the Earth Shield.
Professional golfers from DP World Tour and PGA Tour walked with local organisations and residents in North Berwick during the recent Scottish Open, gaining an education around the current state of coastlines, seas and oceans. The walk was delivered by locally based GEO Sustainable Golf Foundation, in partnership with Scottish Seabird Centre, North Berwick Golf Club and East Lothian Council Ranger Service.
Surrey County Cricket Club has linked up with sustainable energy supplier SSE Energy Solutions for the upcoming year, with the collaboration leading to engagement with fans around sustainability. SSE Energy Solutions provides renewable electricity for businesses from its UK wind farms and is the shop-front of the SSE Group. The partnership will aid Surrey CCC and its home, the Kia Oval, in its journey to net zero by 2030.
Amer Sports, a manufacturer of sporting goods, has joined the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, an international charity that develops and promotes the circular economy. As a Network Member, Amer Sports will work to build a circular economy, which can tackle major issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss, waste and pollution.
The finale of Formula E Season 10 in London this weekend will place sustainability at the fore, with a range of initiatives around ecology all the way through to inclusion. Some 170 young women and girls aged 12-18 will be present at the race to gain an insight into opportunities in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). The Formula E Better Futures Fund will support Community Food Enterprise (CFE) in London with a donation of €25,000, to purchase an electric van to enhance its operations and run community workshops to educate families on food preparation and cooking. Additionally, the London race will be powered by 100% renewable energy.
The Green Sports Alliance has introduced two new guides around reusing and recycling, as well as transforming energy consumption, across sports and entertainment venues. The ‘Reuse Playbook’ will equip venue operators with the tools and insights to successfully implement a reuse system for food and beverage service ware. Meanwhile, the ‘Energy Decarbonisation Playbook’ will assist venues with ways to transform energy consumption, as well as decarbonisation strategies.
Audi, which is set to enter Formula 1 in 2026, has signed up oil and gas company BP in a new deal that will see a focus placed on the use of sustainable fuel. In 2026, FIA F1 Technical Regulations will feature enhanced electrification and use of Advanced Sustainable fuel. The collaboration will include the development of the FIA defined Advanced Sustainable fuel as required. To meet the regulations set out, the fuel must achieve greenhouse gas emissions savings relative to fossil-derived petrol of at least 65%.