Ascot Racecourse Shortlisted for the FEVO Sport Industry Awards 2024
Further recognition for Ascot Racecourse as they are shortlisted for another award.
In their own words, “We are ecstatic to be shortlisted for the Environmental Sustainability Award at the FEVO Sport Industry Group Awards 2024!”
Credit: www.sportindustry.biz/shortlist-2024 & Ascot Racecourse
About the Sport Industry Awards
The FEVO Sport Industry Awards celebrates the immense work done around the sector, whether it’s delivering world-leading events of all formats and scale, or using sport as a platform to drive social change, to those campaigns that have an ingenious creative spark which reverberates throughout the industry and beyond.
Ascot Racecourse has been shortlisted for the Environmental Sustainability Award for achieving net carbon zero in the Village Enclosure at Royal Ascot 2023. They are shortlisted alongside some excellent campaigns including; Renewaball, Liverpool FC, Aurora, Edgbaston Stadium and The IOC.
Achieving Net Zero Carbon
As part of the ambition to be at net zero carbon emissions by 2040, Ascot Racecourse operated the Village Enclosure at Royal Ascot 2023 as the first ever net zero enclosure at a racecourse.
Welcoming 20,310 customers across three days, the big focus was on reducing environmental impact across every element of the operations. Initiatives included:
using batteries to power the Enclosure instead of generators
generating green energy on site through solar power
using only recyclable or compostable packaging
moving staff and guests via bus and train
hiring used furniture and tents
offering a wide range of plant based food
local procurement for goods, food and drinks
metering and analysing utilities used
Recognition Ascot Racing To Zero
This isn’t the first time the great work behind this shortlisting has been recognised. The ‘Racing To Zero’ campaign has already been the proud winner of the Racing Foundation Green Award, in addition to winning a Green Apple award for environmental best practise, both being announced in late 2023.
The achievements and progress made at Ascot Racecourse comes as a result of total venue stakeholder collaboration, focusing on the goal of improving sustainability across the entire venue operation by Ascot Racecourse, Sodexo Live!, Grundon Waste Management and Rockvolt.
Working together, the following targets were set for 2023:
Achieve net zero within the Village Enclosure during Royal Ascot.
To achieve 50% recycling at Royal Ascot.
Develop an ongoing culture to identify opportunities and solutions to reduce waste and improve recycling.
To promote to racegoers the benefits of sustainable practices.
Increase sustainability education for employees and suppliers.
Provide data to demonstrate sustainability success and help set future goals.
Royal Ascot Village Enclosure 2023 Key Achievements
• The Village Enclosure welcomed 20,310 customers and the carbon calculations showed residual emissions of 132 tonnes CO2e, after the full effects of the reduction programme were actioned.
• The residual emissions were offset through certified programmes, which also included carbon removal, and this resulted in the first ever net zero enclosure at a racecourse in Britain.
• The Village Enclosure carbon emissions were 30% less in total when compared to the operational delivery of the Enclosure without the reduction programme initiatives.
• Recycling rose by 55.6% from 135,355 kgs in 2022 to 210,725 kgs in 2023 – equivalent to 167 racehorses.
• Glass recycling up 35.6% from 90,860 kgs to 123,220 kgs.
• Overall waste recycling rate 55% - up from 35% in 2022 - exceeding target set.
• Over 50% of all food on sale in the Village Enclosure was plant based.
• Food waste now segregated (previously sent to Energy from Waste) up from 2,800 kgs to 25,460 kgs – increase of 809%.
• General waste (non-recyclable) down 27.5% from 243,060 kgs to 176,250 kgs and sent to Energy from Waste.
• Road sweeper waste collections introduced for the first time = 12,265 kgs of mixed recycling waste collected.
• Electric vehicles used for bin collections, vehicles 100% powered at Grundon’s own Energy from Waste plant, meaning the electricity to power the vehicles is generated from customer waste.
• The waste programme alone meant 126,560 kgs of CO2 saved, equivalent to planting 641 trees.
• 2,089 MWh of non-fossil fuel power generated at the local EfW plant.
"I was delighted to once again see that the collaborative efforts of Ascot Racecourse, Sodexo Live, Grundon, and Rockvolt has culminated in the well-deserved recognition of the FEVO Sport Industry Awards 2024 shortlisting for Environmental Sustainability. Now we keep our fingers crossed for even more great news."
Peter Watts | Rockvolt
Related Links
RCA Showcase & Awards
Green Apple Award For Ascot
Our Work With Ascot
