The Semaine du Golfe du Morbihan is part of a sustainable development approach that has been integrated into the design of the event:

• By being organised outside the summer season, during a period of lower attendance (Ascension week), thus limiting the pressure of tourism on the Gulf of Morbihan.
• By dedicating the event to ships from the international maritime heritage, almost 99% of which are powered by boats and people.
• By dividing the boats into 13 separate flotillas, which sail separately and call at different ports or shelters each day to avoid excessive concentrations (except during the grand opening and closing parades, when all the boats sail together for a short time).
• By issuing each crew with clear instructions on respect for the environment, drawn up in close collaboration with the relevant associations and authorities.

In this way, a wide range of eco-responsible practices are deployed at each edition, before, during and after the event.

 

Waste management

Waste sorting is an essential priority for any event, especially in such a sensitive area as the Golfe du Morbihan. With the support of the agglomerations concerned (Golfe du Morbihan Vannes agglomération, Auray Quiberon Terre Atlantique) and the SYndicat de traitement des déchets du Sud-Est Morbihan (Sysem), we are deploying all the means necessary to optimise this management and move towards zero waste, both on land and at sea. This includes the installation of additional bins, specific communication campaigns, educational information on sorting waste given to crews in their kits, and raising awareness among the crews of major foreign yachts.

In addition to an appropriate system in each commune, we are setting up a barge to collect waste from the tall ships between Port Blanc and Ile aux Moines.

Making waste management fun! I SORT at sea too!

Find out more about the 2025 edition of the sorting memo for the communes of Golfe du Morbihan Vannes agglomération 
Find the sorting memo, as well as the guide to reducing waste on holiday for the communes of Auray Quiberon Terre Atlantique 
 

Recyclage des coquilles d'huitres

Since 2023, oyster shells have been sorted in the communes of Golfe du Morbihan Vannes agglomération and Auray Quiberon Terre Atlantique for recycling: to enrich agricultural soils, for animal nutrition or for parapharmacy. 

For the 2025 event, separate collection of oyster shells for recycling will take place in the municipalities of Locmariaquer and Auray / Saint-Goustan (Auray Quiberon Terre Atlantique).

Download the ‘Oyster shells can be sorted too’ infographic!

 

Reusable cups and dishes

Since 2011, the Semaine du Golfe du Morbihan has been giving priority to reusable cups, thus ruling out disposable plastic cups. This ambitious choice has involved setting up a collection network covering 18 communes at fully open sites for a whole week.

Thanks to the commitment of the volunteers and the collaboration with Ecocup by Reuz, over 100,000 reusable cups were put into circulation during the event. Of these, a third are generic, a third bear the logo of the current edition, and the final third come from previous editions. These cups, which are subject to a €1 deposit, are returned after use, cleaned and then put back into service in another town the next day. 

With the ban on single-use plastic crockery, local authorities organising catering outlets are now exploring sustainable alternatives. Depending on local possibilities, they are opting for crockery that can be hired out, lent between associations or composted. For the year 2025, Ecocup by Reuz is also offering local authorities a service for hiring reusable crockery for their meals.

Transport

As part of our sustainable commitment to the Semaine du Golfe, and to make it easier for crews to get around, we have set up special shuttles. They transport crews between their reception area in the evening and their flotilla campsite, as well as in the opposite direction in the morning. Over 1,200 crews benefit from these morning and evening transfers every day.

For spectators, we are also encouraging alternatives to the private car in order to promote sustainable mobility. We give priority to soft transport solutions and car-pooling, supplemented by local shuttles and park-and-ride facilities close to the sites.

For more information about means of transport, visit the Access page.