Sustainability
Our commitment to minimising our impact
The water is our playground – that’s why the Formula Kite European Championships will be promoting all that is green with a range of sustainable actions and education initiatives.
The event venue at Eastney Beach, Portsmouth, is designated as a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation, supporting important plant habitats.
Leaving the site as we find it and using the event as a platform to inspire local communities around marine conservation are crucial to the success of the Championships.
You can read our environmental policy below, and read on for some of the measures we’re putting in place to minimise our impact.
Clean Regatta
The event is seeking to be recognised as a Platinum Level Clean Regatta by conservation group Sailors for the Sea for its commitment to minimising its environmental impact.
The industry-respected award expects organisers to respect their surroundings and deliver an event that leaves as little trace as possible.
The total carbon footprint of the event – including all travel to the event, fuel used by coach and support boats and waste generated – will be measured, with a commitment by the event team to invest in a local seagrass restoration project for the value of the associated carbon emissions from RIB fuel.
Working in partnership
The RYA, Portsmouth City Council and fellow event partners have been working with The Green Blue to weave sustainability and environmentally responsible operations throughout the event’s planning.
Actions and initiatives include
- Beach cleans
- Encouraging use of active travel or public transport to the venue
- Eliminating single-use plastic from the event, wherever possible
- Ensuring water refill points are available and encouraging spectators to bring reusable bottles and cups
- Using renewable energy on site to power some of the facilities
- Encouraging coaches and safety boat crew to use engines efficiently
The Green Blue and the Marine Conservation Society have also teamed up to deliver on site environmental challenges and STEM activities at the event’s bespoke Beach Club – an initiative which will welcome around 400 young people from local schools and youth groups to connect with their marine environment, watersports participation and potential water-based careers.
