FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
London Marathon Events aims to become world leader
in sustainable mass participation events
London Marathon Events (LME) today (Thursday 4 April) committed to becoming
a world leader in delivering sustainable mass participation sports events.
LME has established a team within the company to develop new environmental
initiatives and practices and also commissioned a full review of its
sustainability practices, including a rigorous audit of the recycling chain
and waste management processes.
LME has committed to ensuring zero waste to landfill by December 2020
through improved procurement, maximising reuse and recycling.
Hugh Brasher, Event Director for LME, said: "We are passionate about the
concept of Eliminate, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle and fully committed to
reducing our environmental impact. We believe we run the best mass
participation events in the world and we want to match that by leading the
world in mass participation event sustainability.
"Working closely with our partners and local authorities, we have developed
some truly innovative initiatives and plans to make this year's Virgin
Money London Marathon the most sustainable ever. This challenge is huge as
we are looking at sustainability across a myriad of factors: just some of
the areas we are currently working on include reducing CO2 emissions,
transportation of runners (both internationally and within the UK), a
reduction in the use of generators and plastics together with more local
procurement of event infrastructure.
"We know our participants share our passion and want us to take action. It
is a huge challenge as we must balance providing proper runner welfare with
reducing our environmental impact. We can't achieve everything in one
event, in one year, but the changes and the trials we're introducing for
this year have the potential to change how mass participation events are
delivered in future. Everyone can make a difference: our participants,
spectators, contractors, volunteers and staff."
A range of innovative initiatives will be trialled at the 2019 Virgin Money
London Marathon which aim to dramatically reduce LME's environmental impact
and set the standard for mass participation events. These include:
- A unique closed loop recycling project for plastic bottles in Tower
Hamlets, Greenwich, Southwark and Canary Wharf. Bottles used in these
boroughs will be collected and returned directly to a bottle reprocessing
plant, where they will be recycled into new bottles. Bottles used in other
boroughs will still be recycled but not through a closed loop system.
- Reducing the total number of drink stations on the route from 26 to 19
and a reduction of more than 215,000 plastic bottles on the course,
compared to 2018.
- 700 runners will trial new bottle belts made from 90 per cent recycled
materials. LME has worked with Manhattan Portage to create the belts which
are specially designed to carry the Buxton 250ml bottle. This initiative
will also monitor how much water a runner uses. Encouraging runners to
carry their own water has the potential to radically change how hydration
is provided at mass participation running events. The bottle belts will be
collected for cleaning and reuse.
- The largest ever trial of Ooho seaweed edible and biodegradable
capsules - following a successful trial at The Vitality Big Half, Lucozade
Sport will be provided in more than 30,000 edible Ooho seaweed capsules at
the Lucozade Sport station at Mile 23.
- Following the trial of compostable cups at one Lucozade Sport station in
2018, three Lucozade Sport stations will use compostable cups rather than
bottles in 2019. The cups will be collected and composted at a plant in
Bedford.
- Introducing drop zones across the course for runners to drop their
bottles. This will help speed up the clean-up process as bottles are
collected for recycling. ensure every bottle is recycled. Bottles will be
collected and recycled from the road.
- 500 runners will trial wearing specially designed Virgin Money London
Marathon capes at the start and finish so they don't bring a kit bag. These
capes will then be collected and cleaned for reuse. Extensive use of capes
in future years would reduce the number of plastic kit bags produced and
the need for baggage lorries to transport runners' kit from the start to
the finish.
- All runners on the Green Start will have their race numbers printed on
demand at the Virgin Money London Marathon Running Show. Currently, race
numbers are pre-printed for all 52,000 accepted runners and some 10,000
runners do not make it to the Start Line.
In addition, LME will also introduce the following sustainable measures for
the 2019 race:
- A campaign to encourage spectators to dispose of their waste correctly
and to bring refillable bottles and use the free Refill scheme in London to
keep hydrated.
- Halving the number of generators at the Start and all generators will be
fitted with particulate filters.
- Using eco-efficient tower lights to reduce the amount of energy used and
emissions.
- All clothes discarded at the start will be collected and sent for reuse
or to be recycled.
- All plastic bottles used will be 100 per cent recyclable.
- All Lucozade Sport bottles used will be made from 100 per cent recycled
plastic – a first for the brand - and all Buxton bottles will be made from
50 per cent recycled plastic – a UK first.
- Recovery bags given to runners at the finish will be made from 90 per
cent recycled plastic and free from unnecessary leaflets and giveaways.
- No 'goody bags' will be given out by LME at the Virgin Money London
Marathon Running Show.
- All race instructions and registration materials will be digital, not
printed.
- All branding material (scrim) – more than 30 kilometres of it – will be
collected and reused or recycled into industrial rags.
Warren Plaskett, Head of Marketing at Nestlé Waters, said: "As a business
we take our responsibility to protect the environment very seriously. We
are proud to have a longstanding relationship with the Virgin Money London
Marathon and together we want to promote the best sustainable practices and
highlight the importance of recycling.
"We have been working hard to deliver our commitment of increasing the
amount of recycled plastic in our bottles and are pleased to share for the
first time, our Buxton bottles will be made from 50 per cent recycled
plastic, an increase from the current 20 per cent.
"We remain committed to increasing the amount of recycled materials in our
packaging and to working with industry partners to improve national
recycling rates. The new joint Closed Loop Recycling project at this year's
marathon is an important way to highlight that our bottles are fully
recyclable and when recycled can be made into many things including new
bottles."
Claire Keaveny, Head of Marketing at Lucozade Sport, said: "For many years
Lucozade Sport has helped hydrate and support runners on their marathon
journey. Now there is a critical need to help our planet by reducing
plastic waste. It is our company promise to act in harmony with people and
nature and we all must play our part to do the right thing.
"At this year's Virgin Money London Marathon, all our Lucozade Sport
bottles will be made from 100 per cent recycled plastic and we'll retain
responsibility for them; collecting them on the course and returning them
to our factory to be recycled back into new bottles. We're also investing
in innovative solutions such as Lucozade Sport edible Ooho packaging.
"It is only with collaboration and forward-thinking initiatives such as
this partnership with the Virgin Money London Marathon that we can begin to
address the global issue of plastic waste and continue to minimise our
impact on the environment."
Emma Tottenham, Chief of Staff at CYBG, owner of Virgin Money, said: "We
are delighted that London Marathon Events' sustainability ambitions align
to those of Virgin Money and the wider CYBG businesses. We have a target of
achieving zero carbon and zero waste by 2030. None of our waste has gone to
landfill since 2016, and last year we recycled 74 per cent of our waste,
but we are continually looking to improve. As we build the strategy for the
new enlarged bank, our community, social and environmental focus is front
and centre. We are proud to work with the London Marathon and support its
efforts to reduce the environmental impacts of the event."
LME has partnered with Environmental Resources Management (ERM) a world
leading sustainability consultancy, to help create an Environmental Policy,
Environmental Management System and Environmental Impacts Register to embed
sustainability within the organisation. ERM will also provide ongoing
support and advice on the path to delivering world leading sustainable
events.
Commenting on their involvement, Keryn James, ERM Group Chief Executive
said: "Mass participation events present many unique sustainability
challenges. ERM is delighted to be asked to partner with London Marathon
Events as it aims to become a world leader in this regard. We look forward
to applying our world class expertise to support them in achieving their
ambition."
In developing the trial and plans for the 2019 Virgin Money London
Marathon, London Marathon Events have been sharing ideas with the #OneLess
initiative, which is working to stop ocean plastic pollution at source by
reducing the number of water bottles used in London in favour of more
sustainable options, like refilling.
Professor Heather Koldewey, co-director of #OneLess, said: "The #OneLess
team has worked closely with the London Marathon over the last year to find
solutions to single-use plastic water bottles at this major sporting event.
Their passion for eliminating, reducing and reusing will have a positive
impact on marine plastic pollution. The work is ongoing but it's exciting
to see so many ambitious actions announced today. We are also delighted
that there are 24 drinking fountains within 500 m of the route of the
Marathon, including one installed by #OneLess, that will make it easier for
spectators to bring a refillable bottle to the event."
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