With Toolbox, Sustainable Development is accessible to ALL

The famous "toolbox" is now available in French. The Toolbox allows you to create your own sustainability programme in an easy, understandable and free way.

The tool that supports companies in their transformation has been successful and is proudly brought to you in a French version by 11th Hour Racing Team .

Revealed in June 2021, this resource packs practical guides, case studies, and specially designed tools and templates to get an in-house Sustainability programme off the ground.

Comprising eight sections, supported by case studies, The Toolbox covers a number of different topics, from identifying issues, to communicating with stakeholders, to measuring progress. It also includes tools to help measure an organisation's social impact, waste management, water consumption and carbon footprint.

Thanks to the IMOCA Class, a supporter from the start and key member of the Toolbox community, this toolbox is now available for all projects and has been adapted by the Class to meet the specific needs of the skippers, for example by refining the carbon calculator to match the day-to-day life of the teams.

"Today, many people realise the plight of our planet and the urgency to act; but few know where and how to start", "For small businesses and organisations, it is particularly difficult to find the resources, means and know-how to launch a transformation in their own environment. For this reason, we have created The Toolbox, an open source platform that can help implement a business model based on green and visionary values, without the need to bring in external experts or invest financial resources that may not be available. Says Damian Foxall, Sustainability Director at 11th Hour Racing Team.

The Toolbox was initiated by the international team and has been developed and tested in collaboration with established organisations in the maritime and sporting world, such as the IMOCA Class, The Ocean Race, the Vendée Globe and the Transat Jacques Vabre. Many teams, associations and manufacturers, who are keen to improve their operating methods, have implemented it in recent months, with the aim of being economically viable, socially equitable and having a positive impact on the environment.

Claire Vayer, co-responsible for sustainable development and partnerships within the IMOCA Class, says: "When the 11th Hour Racing team proposed that we collaborate with them on the development and optimisation of The Toolbox, the project was perfectly in line with the implementation of the IMOCA Class' sustainable development objectives. We are proud to have contributed to the implementation of this great collaborative project", "In early 2021, we adopted the IMOCA Teams Charter. The platform and tools offered by The Toolbox support and reinforce the objectives required from the teams. The toolbox is versatile and perfectly adapted to the diversity of our projects. Indeed, the teams have different financial and human resources, which influences their capacity to invest internally on these subjects. Finally, it was important to also have a French version to allow everyone to appropriate The Toolbox."

It should be noted that The Toolbox is not only aimed at the nautical industry, it is designed to be a starting point for any type of organisation wishing to make the transition. From start-ups to multinationals, from concept stores to sports teams, each user and employee has their own sustainable development needs. The Toolbox allows everyone to create their own tailor-made programme.

"Our goal is to create a collaborative community moving together towards a new way of working", "Following the philosophy of 'when you share, everyone wins', we have created a tool that is both understandable and versatile. In addition, we proactively encourage exchange so that we can learn from each other and constantly improve our resources. This also includes regular working sessions open to all, to answer questions, find solutions to difficulties and share good practice. Climate change, pollution and waste of resources is a global problem that affects us all and we can only tackle it by joining forces. Says Amy Munro, who is coordinating the project with the 11th Hour Racing Team.

11th Hour Racing Team is offering several training courses and seminars to the teams involved and to the public on the occasion of the start of the Transat Jacques Vabre (Le Havre-La Martinique). In line with the race's ambition to set up a platform forsustainable commitment around an eco-responsible event, these meetings are part of a programme of activities designed to highlight positive initiatives throughout the start village.

"We are using The Toolbox to collaborate and share information with teams to measure their carbon footprint for the Transat Jacques Vabre 2021. The Toolbox's comprehensive and easy-to-use content allows all organisations to be able to recognise themselves and move forward by implementing simple measures." Explains Emilie Llorens, Sustainability Coordinator within the Transat Jacques Vabre.

More information on the Transat Jacques Vabre village programme, open from 29 October to 7 November at www.transatjacquesvabre.org.

To get free access to 'The Toolbox', register at www.sustainabilitytoolbox.com/fr