OUR COMMITMENT TO ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

The Racing Foundation is committed to environmental sustainability and the 2024 conference will be delivered as a carbon-neutral event. We are addressing many aspects of our environmental impact in delivering the event from energy to water, food, resources and waste. After reducing our emissions and waste we will offset the remaining amount through a recommended, high quality carbon offset scheme.

Some of the steps we are taking to reduce our environmental impact are:

• Venue – The Racing Foundation has chosen Ascot Racecourse as the venue for its 2024 conference due to its commitment to environmental sustainability. As part of their mission to operate at Net Zero carbon emissions, Ascot have implemented a series of measurable and robust operational changes across the entire venue that focus on the three pillars of people, planet and community. These initiatives are benchmarked year-on-year to ensure they remain on track with their ambitions, as well as the UN Sustainable Development Goals, in accordance with the British Association for Sustainable Sport (BASIS). Ascot Racecourse was the winner of the 2023 Green Award at the Racecourse Association’s Showcase Awards, which is sponsored by the Racing Foundation. We are delighted that Ascot can meet the sustainability standards required by the Racing Foundation and support a carbon neutral conference.

• Locally Sourced Lunch – The hospitality team at Ascot Racecourse are developing a sustainably-sourced lunch for our delegates to ensure low food mileage and investment in local communities – a crucial pillar of sustainability.
• Digital brochures – We will be once again replacing physical brochures with digital brochures to reduce physical waste.

• Reusable Lanyards – Lanyards from the 2023 conference are being reused this year, after being used for other industry conferences throughout the year. The lanyards, that replace plastic name badges, are made from recycled plastic bottles and manufactured in the East Midlands, producing 61% less CO₂ in their manufacture and distribution than similar items imported from China.
  
• Travel – Feedback tells us that the conference is a valuable networking opportunity. Due to this and the Foundation’s aim to prompt collaboration, the event is delivered in-person. As such, delegates and keynote speakers will travel from across Britain to attend, including the keynote address Bob Langert travelling by air from the USA. The team discussed our commitment to sustainability in detail when deciding on the keynote address and took advice from the British Association of Sustainable Sport. It was decided that the value Langert would bring to delegates and the horseracing industry as a world-renowned expert in the conference subject justified the carbon emitted by taking a commercial flight which will form part of the carbon calculation. Speakers and delegates are encouraged to travel by train or electric vehicle rather than by petrol or diesel cars which drastically reduces the carbon footprint of the event. Data is being gathered from delegates during the ticket purchasing process regarding their travel to allow accurate carbon calculation for offset.
  
• Carbon Offset – Following efforts to reduce the conference’s emissions and waste, we will be offsetting the remaining carbon through a recommended, high quality carbon offset scheme.