Isle of Man TT Races set to be completely carbon neutral for the first time

The Department for Enterprise is making steps to reduce the carbon footprint of this year’s Isle of Man TT Races with the recent appointment of strategic partner, Pozitive Group.

The partnership will result in the first carbon neutral TT as Pozitive Group have committed to funding a carbon offsetting programme that will cover the total emissions created by the Isle of Man TT Races including international visitor travel.

The full carbon impact is estimated to be around 5000 tonnes of carbon based on data from 2019, however the total 2022 emissions will be calculated post-event using a number of verified data sources, including the official race reports to capture racing emissions and the statistics from the 2022 TT Visitor Survey to calculate the impact of attendees, including travel data. Pozitive Group will also carry out a broader on-event assessment of any additional factors that may contribute to the final carbon emissions calculation.

As a global event, this year’s carbon offsetting programme will use internationally based schemes to assess the impact and calculate emissions.

Driving sustainable solutions is a key strategic pillar for the Isle of Man TT Races, and the carbon offsetting programme is just one element in the overarching sustainability strategy. In addition, the department continues to undertake a holistic review of every aspect of the event from logistics to infrastructure and energy consumption, continuing to look for ways to make more environmentally conscious decisions.

Other sustainable developments include:

• Banning the use of single-use plastic water bottles by all caterers and hospitality suppliers. Instead    Isle of Man based AB Project will be supply reusable aluminium bottles that will be retailed in the paddock and supplied free of charge to hospitality guests

• Reducing the official programme down to one publication that also includes the race guide, removing the need for additional plastic shrink wrapping. This year’s publication has been created using sustainably sourced paper certified by the WorldLand Trust (that has also been carbon offset), as well as using eco-friendly printing techniques such as vegetable based inks.

Dr Alex Allinson MHK, Minister for the Department for Enterprise commented:

“The Island Plan set out our Government’s overarching vision to build an Island which is secure, vibrant and sustainable. As the only country to be a UNESCO Biosphere, the Isle of Man has already demonstrated a clear commitment to preserving the world around us, and we’re now forming strategic partnerships that will ensure this commitment to sustainability extends to the Island’s world famous TT Races. In addition to the positive actions taken to make the delivery of this year’s races more sustainable, we also have a commitment to encourage visitors to make environmentally positive decisions and act responsibly when on Island.”

Jaime Amoedo, CFO, Pozitive Group:

“We’re delighted to be working in partnership with the Department for Enterprise and helping the Isle of Man TT Races become Carbon Neutral. The TT is a deeply integrated part of the Isle of Man’s heritage and as a business based on the Island we’re passionate about working with the department to build a sustainable future for the event.”