Ben Ainslie Racing achieve major sustainability first

by Sarah Alexander on 20 Feb 2015 This week, Ben Ainslie Racing (BAR) was awarded the Olympic-inspired international standard, ISO 20121, that provides a framework for delivery of sustainable operations throughout the team's activities. BAR is the only sports team in the UK to achieve the certification across all its activities. Legendary football club, Manchester United have attained the standard for their operations at Old Trafford, while the London 2012 Olympic Games pioneered ISO 20121.

The news came on the day that the Rt Hon David Cameron, MP, the Prime Minister visited the team's new headquarters in Old Portsmouth. It was an appropriate venue for the announcement as the building is being built to Breeam Excellent standard. While energy efficient by clever design, it will also be powered by renewable energy through solar photovoltaic cells supplied by partner Low Carbon.

The Prime Minister said, 'I'd like to congratulate Ben Ainslie Racing on achieving their ISO 20121 status. I think when you are working at the high end of something like sport, proving that you can do that at the same time as meeting the highest standard in terms of sustainability is a great achievement.'

Also introduced to the Prime Minister were some apprentices who are building the team's docking ribs out of recycled material. 'To me it's about getting the next generation involved and engaged in it all,' continued the Prime Minister. 'Of course we all want Ben to win the America's Cup, we want Britain to triumph, but what I am interested in most of all, is inspiring young people to take up a skill, to get training, to get a job and something that can sustain them through their lives. I think it is great that this is all happening right here in Portsmouth.'

Sustainability Manager Dr Susie Tomson commented, 'We are striving to achieve major sustainability objectives, with a light environmental footprint, zero waste and minimal energy consumption. We also have significant opportunities for creating positive change through our community engagement, and building an innovative technical and design capacity and skills base. The America's Cup attracts more media and public attention than any other sailing contest, and we can use this spotlight to lead change.'

The team is working with their Sustainability Partner, 11th Hour Racing Inc. to achieve its goals in this field. Jeremy Pochman, 11th Hour Racing's President, commented, 'Sports teams have an unparalleled power to inspire and engage, and the leadership and initiative shown by Ben Ainslie Racing in achieving ISO 20121 is the reason we partnered with them.'

To achieve the goal of ISO 20121, BAR involved a range of sustainability experts; in particular Dan Reading, Sustainability Officer of The Green Blue, the joint environment programme created by the Royal Yachting Association and the British Marine Federation in 2005 to promote sustainability across the UK recreational boating sector.

Toni Jones, Head of Client Propositions at BSI, the business standards company, said: 'Achieving certification is a credit to everyone at Ben Ainsle Racing and clearly demonstrates their commitment to managing their events in a manner that can control their social, economic and environmental impacts. The team should be proud of the hard work that has gone into implementing this standard and instilling good practice in everything that they do.'