Focus areas

We have split our focus across four key impact areas; waste, emissions, product and supply chain. 

Here are just a few of the things we have achieved in 2020 across each of these areas; for full information check out our latest environmental impact report: 

Waste

• reduced total waste by almost 20 per cent in our one like-for-like event, The Vitality Big Half
• introduced bottles made of 100 per cent recycled and recyclable materials
• prevented thousands of already purchased medals and T-shirts from going to waste by using them for our virtual events 
• donated over 8000 items of clothing to charitable causes

Emissions

• switched to 100 per cent renewable energy at our head office and warehouse
• introduced electric vehicles 
• planted over 1000 trees to balance 2020 emissions from our generators, event vehicles and staff and elite athlete travel
• introduced lower emission generators using HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) fuel

Product

• introduced kit bags made from sustainable sugarcane that have a lower carbon footprint 
• continue to provide Lucozade Sport Pods and compostable cups
• reduced packaging on finisher t-shirts

Supply Chain

• introduced a responsible procurement toolkit  
• incorporated sustainability considerations into our terms and conditions 
• chair a procurement working group with other mass participation event’s organisers  

We also recognise the importance of collective action and have joined the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework, working with other sports organisers across the globe to take climate action. In addition we work closely with our fellow Abbott World Marathon Major partners and other UK Mass Participation sports organisations to share knowledge and learnings. We are excited about what we and our partners have achieved, but know there is still much more to do, and this work will continue long into the future.