SCA, a global hygiene and forest products company, announced that it will be the Official Sustainability and Sustainability Education Sponsor of the North American Volvo Ocean Race Stopover in Newport, R.I. The Newport Stopover is scheduled for May 5-17, 2015, and is the only North American port in the Volvo Ocean Race's nine-month voyage around the world. SCA is the sponsor of Team SCA, the first all-female team to sail the race in over a decade.
 
As the Official Sustainability and Sustainability Education Sponsor and Silver-level Corporate Partner, SCA will provide its expertise to support zero-waste and recycling efforts and will be the exclusive tissue and hygiene products provider of the twelve-day public event.
 
SCA's Tork brand of Away-from-Home professional hygiene products, including napkins, hand towels, bath tissue, soap, hand sanitizer and dispensers, will be present throughout public facilities in the Newport Race Village. This includes the Tork® Signature Xpressnap collection, an internationally recognized innovation that increases personal hygiene and cuts waste by using a one-at-a-time napkin dispensing design. Many of SCA's tissue products are made from 100% recycled materials. SCA will also have branding rights in media content and key facilities throughout the race village, including public restrooms, food stations, waste bins and recycling receptacles.
 
As part of the partnership, and in honor of Team SCA's magenta boat, SCA will host an SCA Magenta Music Night, which will include an evening of live music and activities for Newport Race Village visitors. Additional details about the concert series will be announced closer to May.
 
"Like their hundreds of thousands of fans around the world, we couldn't be prouder of what Team SCA is achieving in this race, and we know that the team has an army of loyal fans waiting for their arrival in Newport," said Amy Bellcourt, vice president of communications for SCA Americas. "It's a real privilege for SCA to be able to sponsor the Newport Stopover, not only to celebrate Team SCA and all the teams, but also to demonstrate our commitment to sustainability and our respect for nature. And we know Sail Newport and the state of Rhode Island shares those values, too." 
 
SCA's sponsorship also extends to support for educational programs to help raise awareness about sustainable environmental practices. For example, as part of The Exploration Zone in the Newport Race Village, SCA will host a sustainable forest exhibit to teach young children about the lifecycle of forest environments. SCA is Europe's largest private forest owner.
 
"We couldn't have asked for a better corporate partner for the Newport stopover than SCA. The company is one of the global leaders in driving sustainability and hygiene standards around the world and ensuring that essential hygiene solutions are accessible to all," said Brad Read, executive director of Sail Newport and director of the Newport Stopover. "We have no doubt that SCA will add tremendous value to our sustainability plan, which aligns with their mission to educate communities about issues such as waste reduction, water conservation and energy efficiency."
 
Team SCA along with the other six competing teams will arrive at the Newport Stopover in May after completing their fifth leg of the Volvo Ocean Race. Over the 12-day stopover period in Fort Adams State Park, guests will enjoy sponsored exhibits, educational activities, live entertainment, and have the opportunity to see the Volvo Ocean Race teams in action through the In-port and Pro-am races and at the Leg Start to Lisbon.
 
The teams participating in the Volvo Ocean Race are currently racing from Abu Dhabi to Sanya, China as a part of the third leg of the Volvo Ocean Race, covering 4,670 nautical miles.