While marathons raise a huge amount of money for worthwhile causes, they can have a considerable impact on the environment.
At this year’s London Marathon, three waste-saving initiatives helped to cut the number of plastic bottles handed out from 920,000 to 704,000:
This smartphone app from City to Sea allows you to find the nearest location to refill your reusable water bottle. Refill teamed up with the marathon organisers to encourage runners to sign up to the app and fill up their bottles at the 900+ refill stations around London.
· Seaweed-based water pouches
Innovative start-up, Skipping Rocks Lab, provided water for runners in pouches made from Notpla. Made from seaweed and plants, it’s edible or, alternatively, fully biodegrades within six weeks. The creatively named Ooho pouches were handed out to runners when they reached the 23rd mile.
· Compostable cups
Energy drinks were handed out to runners in compostable cups at two stations along the route.
It’s also good to know that the bottles of Buxton Water given out were made from 50% recycled plastic and were collected for recycling. Buxton are aiming to provide water in 100% recycled bottles for next year’s event.
