ASCOT JOINS THE NET ZERO RACE WITH NEUTRO RESTAURANT

Ascot is in a race, a race with the goal of operating the whole racecourse at Net Zero by 2030. This will mean that over the coming weeks, months and years Ascot will work to reduce its impact on the environment and focus on mitigating carbon emissions created by its activities. Over half of our annual emissions are created during Royal Ascot and therefore this year we are launching a Net Zero Restaurant called Neutro.

Neutro will be the result of numerous teams and individuals across Ascot Racecourse coming together to build and operate a restaurant whilst producing minimal carbon emissions. Any residual emissions will be offset through working in partnership with a certified scheme that draws carbon out of the atmosphere.

The activity includes:

• Sourcing food supplies locally and developing a plant-based menu focused around pizza and pasta dishes • Generating electricity on site, off grid, through using recycled cooking oil, and supplementing with solar power production via a ‘Smartflower’.

This will supplement the power required by the restaurant via biofueled generators. The SmartFlower uses advanced robotics and automation to intelligently track the sun, making up to 40% more energy than traditional stationary solar panels. In addition, every day at sunset, Smartflower automatically folds up and cleans itself to maintain peak solar utilization. • Measuring water consumption and minimising the volume used • Dressing and fitting out the restaurant with used materials, such as refurnished pallets recycled with a view to reuse in future years • Hiring upcycled reusable furniture and chairs, creating a shabby chic vibe • Offering local UK based beverages • Pouring drinks into reusable cups, they are then washed and reused • Using plates and cutlery with no disposable items, crockery is washed up and reused • Minimising waste with effective segregation to allow recycling and anaerobic digestion to occur • Ensuring all cleaning materials are eco-friendly • Ensuring the staff team are local people who travel to work in a sustainable way Ascot will measure the emissions emitted by these various sources, documenting the impact the restaurant has on the environment. This will be the first of many such initiatives over the coming years, as Ascot Racecourse seeks to move all its operations in line with these principles. This initiative will be educational too, for the racecourse staff, the racegoers and the wider public. The findings of this project will be published to highlight the relationship between sporting events and the environment so that all of us in the sustainability race can gain a better understanding. Already it is noticeable how many different staff and skills are needed to reduce the carbon impact. Across the organisation many teams are involved from Estates, Maintenance, Cleaning, Operations, Food & Beverage, HR, Procurement to Waste Management. Their experience and expertise have helped to generate ideas and solutions to the climate change problem. Naturally the Neutro Restaurant must also provide a great customer experience. It’s not just about doing things in a different way, it’s also about a quality of service. We are investing in staff training, the sourcing of our food products, the vibe and atmosphere of the restaurant.