RS Sailing joint winners of the Green Blue Environmental Award at the 2019 Southampton International Boat Show

RS Sailing is jointly awarded British Marine’s Environmental Award for its sustainability efforts alongside Spirit Yachts at the Southampton International Boat Show 2019. This British Marine award recognises exhibitors who have embraced environmentally responsible behaviour and sustainable work practices at the Boat Show.

Alex Newton-Southon, CEO Technical of RS Sailing comments: “We’re honoured to receive this award. As market leaders, we view this as an ongoing programme, the job will never be done. We aim to continually improve and to set the sustainability standard within our part of the sailing industry which we hope others will follow.”

The Green Blue Environmental Award is a new addition to the show but sustainability has been a long-term commitment for RS Sailing. They have been implementing a Sustainability Programme for a number of years, analysing, improving and publicising recyclable aspects of its boats, recyclable packaging, clean energy sources, almost paperless offices, boat show functions, events, its operations and waste recycling.

With this in mind, the RS team sat down for its initial Southampton Boat Show planning meeting with a focus on sustainability. From greener transport, reusing equipment for its stand, fuelling the team with food and drinks not wrapped single use plastic, curbing nonessential paper and ditching giveaways, the company made a conscientious effort to really limit the environmental impact.

Riki Hooker, RS Sailing Director says: “All it takes is a few small changes, some extra effort and planning and you can really quickly make a considerable difference. It’s a challenge that the team and I have enjoyed and embraced, everyone should give it a go.”

Inspired by the work of the small volunteer charity Sea-Changers that fundraises to provide grants for projects that have a positive impact on the marine environment, RS Sailing has been taking on new ideas from the experienced team at Sea-Changers to further its efforts. At event level, the RS Aero Class Association has partnered with the RYA Green Blue to create a sustainability charter to drive real change in the impact of its regattas across clubs.

George Purchon, RS Sailing UK Sales comments: “It’s been a big culture change for the team to move away from big glossy brochures and giveaways to just small postcards but our customers have been really supportive when we explain why we have made the change. It ultimately ends up in the bin so it’s great to know that even these small changes make a difference.”

Outside of the show environment, sustainability is a key mission throughout the build and supply process for RS. As a pioneering business on the MarineShift360 scheme, the entire brand lifecycle is currently being evaluated to make improvements to the efficiency and sustainability of every aspect of production and delivery in an attempt to create improvements at every level. Changes already implemented include the use of recycled materials in the build process, use of bio resins and packaging in plant derived content materials prior to delivery.