52 Super Series

11th Hour Racing partnered with the 52 SUPER SERIES to integrate practices and processes that minimize its events’ environmental impact. The organization used its global platform to showcase ocean health and climate change issues. The sustainability plan focused on water supply, waste policies, food provision, fuel usage, materials, and transport.

 

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Social

  • The Series employed local race committee and local race office where feasible.
  • 440 local school children were educated about plastic pollution through site visits and beach cleanups, with more than 350kg of rubbish removed from beaches.
  • All competing teams signed a team Charter committing to sustainability, and each team has a sustainability ambassador, with dedicated meetings at every event.
  • A food collection program in Puerto Portals, Spain, fed more than 100 people in need.
  • The sustainability program captured 1,029,023 social media impressions.
  • Developed education and outreach goals for event organizers, sailing teams, owners, and local delivery organizations such as yacht clubs.

Economical

  • Delivered sustainability workshops for all host venues.
  • The Series hired local catering with locally sourced food and implemented a sustainable food policy and strategy.
  • Powerboats were rented locally when possible.
  • The Series was awarded ISO 20121 certification, with continued refinement to procedures from race management.
  • Worked with suppliers and sponsors on sustainable packaging choices and developed a strategy to embed sustainability into the supply chain and procurement processes.

Ecological

Ecological

  • The Series’ carbon footprint was tracked and offset through an independent assessor, ClimateCare.
  • The Series mandated recycling on-site, which helped create a complete transformation of the Puerto Portals recycling policy, along with legislative support from the local council.
  • Reusable branding reduced waste from year to year.
  • Oil and fuel spill kits were placed on motorboats and provided to teams.
  • Ecoworks Marine provided eco-friendly cleaning products.
  • The elimination of single-use plastics resulted in 116,000 single-use plastic bottles not being used and more than 2,000 lunches without plastic packaging and utensils.
  • 10% fuel reduction by support boats was achieved through a monitoring program.
  • 85% of waste from office operations was diverted from landfill.

Background

Learn more about the 52 SUPER SERIES Sustainability program in the 2015-17 52 Sustainability Report, the 2018 Sustainability Report, and the 2019 Sustainability Report.

The 52 SUPER SERIES is a highly successful international racing circuit that draws the best sailors from all over the world. With close competition and a wide audience, it is the perfect platform to raise awareness of the environmental issues affecting our ocean and showcase the impact major sailing events can have by adopting sustainable operations.