Sustainability & CSR

In 2024  Little Britain  was awarded the Gold Certificate –  Sailors for the Sea – for their work and commitment towards making their Little Britain Challenge Cup regatta more sustainable. 

LBCC Sustainability & CSR 

The Little Britain Challenge Cup strives to be a sustainable regatta. The aim we seek is to continually improve in reducing the environmental impact of the event, eliminating waste and having a much wider positive impact on the environment, particularly the sea.

Our intention is to ensure that by participating in the race you will be actively benefiting both environmental and social sustainability.

The key areas of focus are:

• Overall impact reduction in terms of water, energy, and resources use during the regatta
• Pursuit of circular economy principles
• Education on wider issues and greater community involvement

[Find out how to win the Greenest Boat Trophy – here ]

The story so far…

It started 2022, with the help industry sustainability specialist JAW Sustainability led by Jess James, we achieved Silver Certified Clean Regatta status in 2023, following the Sailors for the Sea program.  We delivered a range of measures, with support from the Little Britain sailing crews and guests.

In addition to this, we had a specific focus on the reduction of waste and the promotion of re-use. We actively promoted the re-use of flags, wrist bands, etc., by both minimising the need for bow stickers (for racing purposes) and the removal of dates to make items re-usable year after year. If wasn’t re-useable or recyclable then we stop buying the item.

Plans for this year and beyond

We aim to achieve Gold Certification by 2024. This will be achieved through more intelligent waste management and more responsible sourcing of food provided as part of hospitality. We are working to achieve these three aims, as follows:

Impact reduction

• Active measurement of energy, water and resource use throughout the regatta
• Target setting to reduce this year on year
• NEW greenest boat trophy for the most sustainable crew on the water

Circular Economy

• Continued focus on promoting re-use of anything issued annually to crews
• Active promotion of these principles to teams – re-use of clothing, bottles, cups etc, year on year
• Wider exploration of CE principles in the sailing industry promoted to all participants throughout the year
• Route-map to achieving closer to a circular regatta

Education

• Community involvement, both in terms of local organisations, and the LBCC community as a whole
• Greater promotion of Green Boating practices over the year
• Encouraging participants to implement better practice in their wider sailing exploits and share the message with the whole community.

 YOUR GUIDE to a sustainable regatta

Let’s all work hard to ensure we maximise re-use, minimise waste and minimise carbon emissions and water use associated with all the onshore activities. 

We need you to:

1. Re-use – bottles and cups

Please bring your own re-useable bottles to fill up with water on the marina to reduce use of single use ones

At the pontoon parties, Gunners will be providing complementary cocktails in their recyclable cans. When finished it needs to be put in the recycling bin. A paper straw can be provided for those who don’t like to drink from can, or a re-useable washable glass will be available from the bar.

2. Transport

Can you take public transport to the regatta instead of driving? There are lots of options on trains and ferries. If driving is the only option can you car share with people in your crew (or even other crews) to reduce trips?

3. Waste

Separate your waste, please:

~general waste to landfill (use the Black bin liners),
~mixed recycling (Green bin liners)
~and glass (Blue bin liners),

please separate out recyclables and put in the marked recycling bins on the marina.

4. Green boating

Become a Sailors for the Sea Green Boater at www.sailorsforthesea.org/greenboater and receive a free, digital Green Boating Guide with tips on how to boat in an environmentally responsible manner

Use less, waste less, recycle more, pollute less & be fully aware of our ecological impact – we can do our bit towards a healthier sustainable world. 

From everyone at Little Britain

Thank you.