Event Organiser educates local fans on ‘It all starts with you”

with simple and easy initiatives around the track

[Hong Kong, February 28, 2019]:  Fans with tickets to the 2019 HKT Hong Kong E-Prix will be able to take an active role in reducing their carbon footprint as they cheer on the 22 Formula E drivers racing around the Central Harbourfront street circuit on Sunday March 10.

With one of the lowest carbon footprints of all international sporting events, Formula E became the first category in motorsport in July 2018 to earn the highly-acclaimed ISO 20121 certification – the highest award in sustainable events. Formula E does its very best to keep things sustainable on and off the track, and at the 2019 HKT Hong Kong E-Prix, a number of easy to understand and simple to follow sustainable practices have been put in place so even the youngest of fans attending the race can learn about less wastage for a better tomorrow.

There will be a significant reduction in the usage of single use plastic cups for drinking water this year as free refillable and recyclable water pouches will be given out by volunteers at Allianz hydration stations at Tamar Park, Lung Wo Road and Observation Wheel. In partnership with Bluewater, drinkable water at the race will be processed through its purification system, delivering cleaner and healthier water you can trust.

Those visiting the Taste Zone will be offered only paper or recyclable cutlery, plates, or straws as they purchase refreshments to reduce single-use plastic, while XTC Gelato will serve all its gelato in cones to ensure their products are 100% edible. There will be an added incentive to participate at UTRON as a HKD10 discount will be offered for fruit or bubble tea refill if customers prepare his/her own cup or bring back the same cup for reuse.

Beer bought at Tamar Park will be served in reusable plastic cups with collection point at the Heineken booth and additional collection bins at event recycle station to return all used cups to the Heineken warehouse for reuse after wash.

Julia Palle, Senior Sustainability Consultant, said:

“Formula E believes electric vehicles represent the future of sustainable urban transportation, which will lead the fight against climate change. While leading companies in sustainability work with us on the technology and innovation developments, we want to let everyone know that each and every one of us can contribute, and create impact. It all starts right here, in our own homes, with our daily lives. At the 2019 HKT Hong Kong E-Prix, our message to our fans is clear – reduce waste, and say no to single use plastic by reusing!”

The sustainable practices at the 2019 HKT Hong Kong E-Prix are aligned with Formula E’s efforts to match UK recycling standards for event adaptation across the pillars of recycling, general waste, and organic waste. Signages in both Chinese and English with colour coding around the venue reiterate the importance of recycling to visitors of all ages.

Furthermore, a range of Corporate Social Responsibility and community-focused programmes such as university speeches, community tours, and FIA Smart Cities Forum are taking place across Formula E races around the world. In Hong Kong, 8,000 local school children have been invited to enjoy the activities at the Allianz E-Village on Saturday March 9 before it opens its doors for ticket holders the following day. To enhance their experience, a performance from the Music Children Foundation will provide additional entertainment at the Stage Zone at 2pm.  Formed by a group of professional musicians graduated from Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts, Hong Kong Baptist University and others overseas Music Academies, Music Children Foundation offers free training on music instruments to children aged below 12 and who do not get the chance to learn music due to their impoverishment.

Meanwhile, HKT Hong Kong E-Prix Platinum Sponsor FWD has specially arranged its corporate social responsibility partners, Hong Chi Association and the Hong Kong Special Olympics, totalling 200 intellectual disabilities and their families to take part in the Allianz E-Village, offering them an opportunity to experience such a great annual racing event.

Under the platform of the urban-based, future-focused ABB FIA Formula E Championship, the FIA Smart Cities Forum will come to Hong Kong on Saturday, March 9 to drive discussion around the topics of urban mobility and to promote the development of innovative mobility solutions.

The FIA Smart Cities Forum will gather an impressive array of mobility experts, city planners, metropolitan authorities, technology specialists, entrepreneurs, high-level political leaders and policy-makers to define the pathway for the future of mobility along the axes of sustainability and innovation.

The Forum will take place at the Formula E hospitality area, providing participants with an exclusive access to the Formula E track and innovations piloted by the racing teams.

On the track, the tyres on the futuristic Gen2 cars are hybrids suitable for all weather conditions, which means less number of tyres are needed, leading to the saving of CO2 emissions in transportation.

Earlier this month, Formula E announced a partnership with Belgian materials technology and recycling expert Umicore to recycle the lithium-ion battery cells used in the cars during the first two seasons of the Championship

The race map of ABB FIA Formula E Championship has been designed to have a cluster approach region by region to optimise freight in order to use more boat or road freight, while at each event, no public parking spaces are provided to encourage use of public transportation.

Formula E was created to work towards a solution to improve air quality in city centres and fight climate change. Beyond the races themselves, the championship series is a technological and sustainable development test bed to address mobility and environmental issues. It is the mission of Formula E to pioneer the transition towards smart cities and low carbon economies, societies, and transportation by bringing electric vehicles to the forefront of people’s minds.