AUTUMN | FEATURE
Wimbledon set for greener future
The AELTC is working toward ambitious sustainability targets for the Wimbledon Championships , with the most visible progress at this year ’ s event being the players drinking from reusable bottles . Sustainability manager Hattie Park tells Access about the key steps being taken
Words : Christopher Barrett
Numerous measures were implemented behind the scenes to reduce the environmental impact of the Wimbledon Championships this year but the most apparent was the move to provide players with re-usable water bottles for their on-court refreshment .
Footage of players drinking from single-use plastic Evian bottles has been synonymous with the Wimbledon Championships since the deal was struck in 2008 . The Danoneowned brand ’ s business is centred on selling single-use plastic bottles and so to see them being replaced in front of an audience of 25 million BBC TV viewers was a significant step .
“ It was something very visible and hugely symbolic ,” says Wimbledon Championships sustainability manager Hattie Park . “ While the Evian bottles the players were previously using were produced using recycled plastic and were recycled , it didn ’ t fit the brief in terms of what we want to try and achieve , which is a move away from single-use and to
Hattie Park promote re-use . “ I think it ’ s a great example of partnership in action in that we and Evian really worked hard to deliver it for this year . It was driven by our commercial team , our operational team , the Danone team , and the players were really happy to get involved . It was about enabling the players to be role models for a re-use culture .”
For years water bottle refill points have been available for the 100 or so players and 40,000 guests on site during the Championships , and the move to get hugely influential tennis stars to drink from reusable bottles was very much in line with the All England Club ’ s stated aim of ‘ using influence to inspire wider action ’.
Among its other aims is reducing emissions from Wimbledon Championships operations to net zero , and contributing to a net gain in biodiversity , by 2030 . Measures already taken include the use of renewable electricity to power operations , the installation of LED lights , the use of 20 electric iPace vehicles , electric buggies for the transportation of guests , installation of solar panels , a move away from generators to grid power , low carbon options being highlighted on menus , and the promotion of plantbased dishes .
Park says that while the 2030 net zero target relates to Wimbledon ’ s operational activity , the AELTC has a goal to be net zero across every aspect of the event by 2040 as part of its participation in the Sports for Climate Action framework .
“ The 2030 goal is still a real challenge for us , essentially that is about
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