Sailors for the Sea has awarded the bronze certificate to the Allianz Regatta as part of the Clean Regattas program. In doing so, Sailors for the Sea, affiliated with World Sailing, acknowledges the commitment of the Watersportverbond, TIG Sports, and the Municipality of Almere, in collaboration with the Province of Flevoland, to meet the sustainability criteria of the Clean Regattas program.
The Clean Regattas program, associated with Sailors for the Sea, aims to promote sustainability and environmentally conscious initiatives in sailing events worldwide. For certain events, such as the World Sailing Championships, achieving a specific certification status is mandatory.
The Allianz Regatta has implemented a multitude of best practices that are also part of the Clean Regattas program’s criteria. Some of these practices include:
- All mobile power points and generators running on hydrogen.
- No use of water bottles, with the provision of water stations.
- No plastic straws.
- Use of plastic-free tableware for food service.
- Engagement with the local community.
- Use of educational and reusable plates.
- Serving local food and sustainable seafood sources.
- Responsible waste management.
- Employment of paperless event management.
- Promotion of alternative transportation methods.
- Offering vegetarian or vegan alternatives.
- Use of eco-smart management techniques.
Arno van Gerven, Director of the Watersportverbond, is naturally delighted with the certification, but that was not the primary goal. Van Gerven explains, “The Allianz Regatta continues to prioritize sustainability and is determined to implement further initiatives in the future to protect the environment. We are honored to receive the bronze certification from Sailors for the Sea, but we will continue our efforts to pursue a greener future for all our events, with or without a certificate.”