With fun running events on the horizon throughout the summer and fall, ‘tis the season for training. Whether you are trying out some runs before your first time in an evening 5k, or mapping out months of runs and cross training, here are five sustainability tips for your training runs this summer and beyond!
Wrapper recycling with TerraCycle and bulk buys
We all need fuel for the fire, and often all of those on-the-run snacks have wrappers that add up. TerraCycle’s mission is to eliminate the idea of waste and through innovation and collaboration, they have developed recycling and reuse options for almost everything. Check out their recycling programs for specific brand wrappers and their option to purchase a Zero Waste Box to recycle all of your wrappers. Also, consider buying snacks in bulk that come in reusable or curbside recycling containers and reducing the number of individually packaged running snacks if possible.
Clothing recycling and closing the loop
Let’s face it, long stints of training runs wear out clothes; even those made to be extremely durable over time can degrade with the repetition of sweat and movement. The average American throws away 81 lbs of apparel each year. Multiplied by every American, that means that 26.7 billion lbs of apparel is thrown away every year in the United States alone. Since its beginnings in 2010, Recover has been working to develop full circularity for ultimate sustainability and we are so excited that our Closed Loop program has grown to be able to accept any old tee and put it back in our supply chain. Check out our Closed Loop program, tour, impact, and opportunities for individuals, retailers, and events here.
Americans throw away over 300 million shoes every year. So, why is this a problem? Many shoe soles contain Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate, a type of plastic that can take over 1,000 years to decompose and releases chemicals while doing so. Check out shoe recycle programs at local shops, Got Sneakers?, TerraCycle, and our Recover Reader: How To Recycle Your Old Shoes (and why it's a no brainer) to keep your old running shoes out of the landfill.
Get and keep using a favorite reusable water bottles
Currently 1,500 plastic bottles are thrown away every second of every day. While the negative impacts of single-use plastic are huge and detrimental, knowledge, alternatives, and individuals, communities, and countries are committed to reducing use of single-use plastic. For running, hydration is crucial, so find and keep using a favorite reusable water bottle and keep plastic out of our landfills, backyards, and waterways.
Shop for low or no package gear
Amount and type of packaging is a true indicator of an “earth-friendly” company. As you shop for running gear, look for gear with no, little, or compostable packaging and go for gear that is durable and long lasting. At Recover, our packaging is minimal and 100% compostable so it is zero waste as is. When purchasing anything with packaging, check to see if it’s recyclable and consider making purchase choices accordingly.
Happy sustainable zero waste running and we hope to see you out there at some of our partner running events!
Around The Crown 10K - Charlotte, NC - 9.3.23
Bolderthon - Bolder, CO - 10.8.23
Marine Corp Marathon - Washington DC - 10.29.23
Monterey Bay Half Marathon - Monterey, CA - 11.12.23
The Running Event - Austin, TX 11.28.23 - 11.30.23
Whitewater Race Series - Charlotte, NC - Ongoing
