Exeter Racecourse rewarded for its commitment to a green future

Exeter Racecourse is delighted to have been awarded a Bronze Green Tourism Award, awarded by the Green Tourism Business Scheme which is the leading sustainable tourism certification scheme in the UK, after it primary inspection and will be working towards achieving a Gold Award to ensure it is increasingly sustainable.

Exeter is owned by The Jockey Club and at each of its 14 racecourses a Green Champion works with the group’s sustainability executive so that steps are implemented to reduce its impact on the environment.

The sustainability strategy is constantly evolving with a mixture of short and longer-term goals to help achieve its aims.

At Exeter, practises in place include switching to LED bulbs, PV panels, monitoring systems for energy consumption, recycling of 80 per cent of waste and using biodegradable plastic bottles.

General manager Jack Parkinson said: “This is the first step towards attaining a Gold Award and part of a long term plan where will continue with our commitment to sustainability.

“As a team we are all passionate about the effect our habits as a consumer have on the planet, and we are working hard to reduce our footprint. One idea in the future is to introduce a raceday themed around sustainably so that we can really help get the message out there.

“The advice we have received from Green Tourism is invaluable and will help us make large savings on our utility bills and reduce our waste to landfill.

Being part of the scheme also reassures our customers that we are not just saying we are green, we actually have proof of our commitment.”

Other measures in place at the racecourse include printing racecards on recycled paper, sourcing food products locally as far as possible, offering a dedicated bus from Exeter bus and train stations on racedays and harvesting water for the race track from its own reservoir.

“We are always looking ways to reduce the impact Exeter Racecourse has on the local and wider environment and are always open to suggestions. This year we have stopped the use of plastic straws and we are currently sourcing an alternative to the plastic knives and forks that are used in some of our catering areas on racedays. It’s part of our ongoing commitment to a green future and achieving this Bronze Awards reflects this,” said Jack.

Businesses opting to join the Green Tourism Business Scheme are assessed by a qualified grading advisor against a rigorous set of criteria, covering a range of areas, like energy and water efficiency, waste management, biodiversity and more.

Businesses that meet the required standard, receive a Bronze, Silver, or Gold award based on their level of achievement. The current network of members is comprised of a wide range of business types, including accommodation providers, visitor attractions, corporate of ces and others.