The latest Environmental Report from the Great Run Company
1
The Great Run Company
2025 Environmental Report
ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT 2025
2
2
The Great Run Company
2025 Environmental Report
2024 Environmental Report
Contents
Executive Summary About The Great Run Company & Reporting Scope Standards, Boundary & Methodology Total Carbon Footprint Intensity Metrics Category Breakdowns Travel & Transport Kit & Clothing Giveaways Accommodation
3 4 5 - 6 7 8 - 9
10 - 34 10 - 19 20 - 22 23 - 24 25 26 - 29 30 - 31
Food & Drink Energy & Fuel Printed Materials Branding & Signage Waste Head Office & Warehouse Operations Stakeholder & Survey Insights
32 33 34
35 - 37 38 - 43 44 - 49 50 51
Targets & Action Plan Acknowledgements Appendices
3
The Great Run Company
2025 Environmental Report
Executive Summary
Intensity Metric
2025 Value
32.25 25.55 24.72
Total Carbon Footprint
Key Totals The 2025 reporting period has seen The Great Run Company (GRC) move beyond estimates into high-granularity data capture. This year represents our most transparent carbon disclosure to date.
Year-on-Year Comparison & Top Drivers Comparing performance against our 2024 Base Year, we identify the following as the “Big Three” drivers of GRC’s climate impact: • Participant Travel (77.4% of total): The independent travel of tens of thousands of runners arriving from across the UK and overseas. • Kit & Clothing (11% of total): The embodied carbon in textile manufacturing for finisher t-shirts, staff and volunteer apparel. • Giveaways (5.9% of total): The manufacturing impact of finisher rewards and goody bags, comprising both the bags and products inside. At a Glance Intensity Metrics To ensure performance is tracked accurately regardless of event growth, we monitor the following suite of intensity metrics.
kg / participant
Travel & Transport (Total)
kg / participant
Participant Travel Only
Total Carbon Inventory (Gross) 5,301.990 tCO2e
kg / participant
0.83 3.79 1.89 0.72 0.02
Operational Travel (Staff/Logistics)
kg / participant
Total Operational Inventory (Excluding Participant Travel) 1204.537 tCO2e
Kit & Clothing
kg / participant
Giveaways
This separation is crucial. Although we take full ownership of the environmental impact generated by our events, our operational footprint highlights the areas we can directly manage, allowing us to drive down emissions instantly through smarter procurement choices in apparel, food and drink, and event supplies.
kg / participant
Food & Drink
kg / participant
Waste (Carbon Impact)
kg / participant
0.24
Waste (Mass Generated)
kg waste / participant
5.00
Bottled Water Usage
bottles / participant
4
The Great Run Company
2025 Environmental Report
About The Great Run Company & Reporting Scope
AJ BELL GREAT SCOTTISH RUN (GLASGOW)
Reporting Period and Entities Covered This report details the carbon and environmental performance for the period of 1st January 2025 to 31st December 2025. The boundary includes all UK-based mass participation events under the GRC umbrella, alongside the permanent operations of the Newcastle Head Office and the warehouse facility. Climate Resilience & Adaptation Beyond reducing our footprint (mitigation), GRC is actively adapting to a changing climate. Rising average temperatures pose an increased welfare risk to participants, staff, and spectators. We are investing in heat-stress mitigation strategies, including, modified start times, increased misting stations on course, and rapid cooling capabilities by our Medic teams, underpinned by pro active pre event communications. Additionally, we also take into consideration resilient infrastructure capable of withstanding severe storms, ensuring our events remain safe and viable in a warming world.
Events Portfolio This Year The 2025 season comprised 13 major events across the UK. The full portfolio included:
AJ BELL GREAT NORTH 10K (NEWCASTLE)
ARLA GREAT NORTH SWIM &WINDERMERE MARATHON (WINDERMERE)
The Urban Series •
AJ BELL GREAT NORTH RUN (NEWCASTLE - GATESHEAD - SOUTH SHIELDS)
Great Birmingham Run
• • • • •
Great Bristol Run
13 VALLEYS ULTRA (LAKE DISTRICT)
Great Manchester Run
BEYOND NEWCASTLE
Great North 10k Great Scottish Run Great South Run
AJ BELL GREAT MANCHESTER RUN
Flagship Event •
BEYOND MANCHESTER
AJ Bell Great North Run
AJ BELL GREAT BIRMINGHAM RUN
Trail, Swim & Specialty • 13 Valleys •
Great North Swim & Windermere Marathon
BEYOND LONDON
• • • •
Beyond Bristol Beyond London
AJ BELL GREAT BRISTOL RUN
Beyond Manchester Beyond Newcastle
BEYOND BRISTOL
AJ BELL GREAT SOUTH RUN (PORTSMOUTH)
5
The Great Run Company
2025 Environmental Report
Scope Definitions and Category Mapping Our inventory captures the following emission sources, mapped to their respective GHG Protocol Scopes:
Emission Source
GHG Protocol Scope
Specific Category
Standards, Boundary & Methodology
Energy & Fuel (Generators, Event Vehicles)
Category 3: Fuel- and energy-related activities (Well-to-Tank)
Scope 3
Energy & Fuel (Office/Warehouse Electricity, EV/Battery Grid Charging)
Indirect Energy Emissions (Purchased Electricity)
Scope 2
Energy & Fuel (EV/Battery Grid Charging)
Category 3: Fuel- and energy-related activities (Transmission & Distribution losses)
Standards Used We report in accordance with the GHG Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard and the Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) Standard . This report was prepared by a practitioner certified in ISO 14064-3:2018 to ensure high standards of accuracy and reliability. Organisational & Operational Boundary; Consolidation Approach GRC utilises the Operational Control approach. This means we account for 100% of emissions from all event activities and facilities where GRC has the authority to introduce and implement its operating policies. Base Year & Recalculation Policy 2024 is established as the Base Year for our carbon reporting. This provides the historical benchmark against which current and future reduction targets are tracked. Policy for Recalculation: Consistent with the GHG Protocol and ISO 14064 principles, we will retroactively recalculate the base year inventory if specific changes occur that would otherwise compromise the consistency and relevance of our year-on- year comparison. A recalculation is triggered if the cumulative impact of any of the following changes results in a significance threshold of +/- 5% change to the total base year emissions:
1. Structural Changes: Significant mergers, acquisitions, or divestments that transfer ownership or control of emissions sources (e.g. acquiring a new event series). 2. Methodology Changes: Changes in calculation methodology or improvements in the accuracy of emission factors or activity data that result in a significant shift in historic data (e.g. adopting new, more accurate emission factors for all apparel)
Scope 3
Kit & Clothing (T-shirts, Uniforms)
Scope 3
Category 1: Purchased Goods & Services
Giveaways (Medals, Bags, Contents) Food & Drink (Nutrition, Catering, Water)
Scope 3
Category 1: Purchased Goods & Services
Scope 3
Category 1: Purchased Goods & Services
Branding & Signage (Printed materials)
Scope 3
Category 1: Purchased Goods & Services
3. Discovery of Errors: The discovery of significant errors, or several cumulative errors, that are collectively significant.
Category 1: Purchased Goods & Services
Mains Water
Scope 3
Supplier Accommodation
Scope 3
Category 1: Purchased Goods & Services
Category 4: Upstream Transportation & Distribution
Supplier Travel
Scope 3
Waste (Office, Event, Food, Clothing)
Scope 3
Category 5: Waste Generated in Operations
Staff Travel
Scope 3
Category 6: Business Travel
Elite Athlete Travel
Scope 3
Category 6: Business Travel
Staff & Elite Accommodation
Scope 3
Category 6: Business Travel
Volunteer Travel
Scope 3
Category 7: Employee Commuting (Volunteers)
Volunteer Accommodation
Scope 3
Category 7: Employee Commuting (Volunteers)
Category 9: Downstream Transportation & Distribution
Participant Travel
Scope 3
6
The Great Run Company
2025 Environmental Report
Standards, Boundary & Methodology
Emission Factors and Data Sources We utilise DESNZ (formerly DEFRA) 2025 conversion factors as our primary standard for fuel, energy, transport, and waste. However, to ensure high accuracy for our specialised procurement, we integrate the following specific datasets: • Apparel & Textiles: Calculated using Decathlon’s Open Source Environmental Data , matching items by material composition (e.g., 100% Polyester) and weight to the closest equivalent product. We also utilise specific LCAs from supplier brands where available. • Food & Drink: Menu impacts are calculated using industry- standard Food Carbon Databases to account for ingredient- level emissions (e.g. beef vs. plant-based proteins). • Branding & Signage: Emissions for rigid signage are derived from official Correx LCAs , while printed letters and brochures utilise Marketreach LCAs . • Fuel and Energy-Related Activities: Calculations for grid- supplied energy include Transmission & Distribution (T&D) factors to account for the energy lost during delivery to the event site. These figures represent “at-the-plug” and distribution impact only and do not include Well-to-Tank (WTT) upstream extraction or refining emissions. Materiality Screen & Data Quality/Uncertainty Expanded Uncertainty Statement: We comply with the GHG Protocol’s ‘Completeness’ and ‘Accuracy’ principles by
Materiality Screen & Data Quality/Uncertainty We apply a materiality threshold of 1%. We rate our data quality as follows:
disclosing specific areas of lower certainty within our Scope 3 inventory:
• Waste Measurement Gaps: Waste data is subject to uncertainty due to estimated onsite volumes and a lack of downstream treatment verification from contractors. In line with the GHG Protocol’s ‘Conservativeness’ principle , we address these gaps by defaulting to the worst-case emission factor (e.g., Landfill) whenever specific treatment evidence is missing. This ensures our reported footprint is robust and never underestimated. • Supplier Constraints : Where suppliers fail to return data templates, their associated travel and accommodation emissions are excluded from the inventory. We do not use estimates for these gaps, as without specific data on vehicle types, distances, and staff numbers, such calculations would be too inaccurate. We therefore prioritise accuracy over completeness, reporting only verified supplier activity. • Participant Extrapolation: Participant travel is modelled using registration postcodes to establish exact origins and distances (UK or Overseas). Transport modes are then assigned using a standardised methodology that combines distance logic with “mode of travel” data from our post-event surveys, rather than relying on simple survey extrapolation alone.
Emission Factor Source
Data Source (Activity Data)
ISO/GHG Certainty Notes
DQS
Category
Standard: DEFRA/ DESNZ
1 (High)
Primary: Auto- meter & Fuel logs
High Certainty.
Energy (HQ & Events)
Standard: DEFRA/ DESNZ
1 (High)
Primary: Expense claims
Staff Travel
High Certainty.
Proxy: Decathlon “Best Match”
2 (Good)
Moderate Certainty (Technological Representativeness).
Primary: Invoices
Kit & Clothing
Standard: DEFRA/ DESNZ
3 (Fair)
Statistical Uncertainty (Extrapolation).
Modelled: Survey
Participant Travel
Standard: DEFRA/ DESNZ
4 (Low)
Completeness Error (Non-response).
Secondary: Self-reported
Supplier Travel
Standard: DEFRA/ DESNZ
4 (Low)
Measurement Error (Missing weights).
Secondary: Contractor reports
Waste
7
The Great Run Company
2025 Environmental Report
Total Carbon footprint (incl. Participant Travel)
Total Carbon Footprint
80.0% 4,221.09t CO2e
Travel & Transport
11% 5.9% 2.2% 0.3% 0.2% 312.56t CO2e 118.51t CO2e 16.79t CO2e 9.37t CO2e <0.1% <0.1% <0.1% <0.1% <0.1% 4.19t CO2e 4.07t CO2e 3.56t CO2e 0.26t CO2e 0.04t CO2e 583.02t CO2e
Kit & Clothing
Including Participant Travel
To maintain year-on-year consistency and avoid data distortion, we present a secondary view that isolates the ‘Operational Footprint.’ This figure represents the emission sources where GRC holds direct authority to implement policy - such as mandating 100% rPET for t-shirts or HVO for generators. Why this distinction is critical: Separating these totals prevents a “ Masking Effect ” where operational wins are drowned out by travel volume. • Scenario: If GRC achieved a massive 50% reduction in waste emissions, this success would represent a <0.1% change in the Total footprint because travel emissions are so vast. • Solution: By stripping out travel, this metric serves as a precise KPI for our procurement teams. It allows us to clearly track the efficacy of supply chain decisions - specifically the transition to renewables and circular materials - without the data being skewed by external logistics. Excluding Participant Travel The Great Run Company prioritises reduction over offsetting. At this stage, we do not purchase carbon credits to claim “Carbon Neutrality” because we believe our resources are better invested in direct reduction projects - such as reducing meat-based options and procuring sustainable materials - that permanently lower our footprint. We will review this position annually as we approach our Net Zero target.
Giveaways
Total emissions 5,301.990 tCO2e
Food & Drink
Reporting this total ensures transparency and prevents “greenwashing.” By capturing the full scope of our events, we acknowledge that the mass movement of participants is an inherent, albeit indirect, consequence of our business model. The inclusion of participant transit data illustrates the true scale of this challenge. The Great North Run alone contributes over 40% of the company’s entire annual footprint, driven by the substantial distances travelled by its national and international field of runners. While we cannot mandate how a participant travels, reporting this figure drives us to influence behaviour through active interventions - such as arranging specific public transport options and incentivising low-carbon travel.
Accommodation
Printed Materials
Branding and Signage
Waste
Fuels
Excluding Participant Travel
Energy
Operational emissions 1,204.537 tCO2e
Water Treatment
5,273.50tCO2e
Total Carbon Footprint (incl. Participant Travel) *N.B this figure excludes HQ operations
8
The Great Run Company
2025 Environmental Report
Intensity Metrics
Measuring “Carbon Per Finisher” To compare events fairly, we look beyond the total headline figures. A larger event naturally generates more emissions simply because it serves more people. To adjust for this, we calculate Carbon Intensity - dividing our total emissions by the number of finishers to create a “Carbon per Participant” metric. This allows us to track efficiency. If an event grows in popularity, our total emissions might rise, but if our per-participant figure drops, it proves that our sustainability initiatives are working.
Analysis by Event Type The carbon footprint of a runner changes drastically depending on the event format and its catchment area. Regional City Events (Avg. 14.71 kg / participant) • Examples: Great Birmingham, Bristol, and Manchester Run • Driver: These events draw primarily from local and regional demographics. With shorter travel distances and high public transport use, they represent our most carbon-efficient format. Flagship Destination Events (Avg. 34.01 kg / participant) • Example: Great North, South, and Scottish Run • Driver: As world-class or premier events, these draw participants from across the UK and overseas. The higher per-capita footprint is a reflection of the event’s national reach, necessitating longer participant journeys compared to our local city events.
Trail & Ultra Events (Avg. 40.035 kg / participant) • Example: 13 Valleys. • Driver: These events take place in remote, rural locations (e.g. the Lake District) where public transport is often not a viable option compared to our city-centre events. Consequently, the footprint is driven by a heavy reliance on car travel over long distances. Additionally, the lower number of participants means that logistical overheads are shared across fewer finishers, further increasing the intensity per participant.
Absolute vs. Intensity Targets We track both metrics to ensure a balanced view of success: 1. Absolute Emissions (The Climate View): The atmosphere only cares about the total tonnes of CO2e released. Our goal is to reduce this total figure in line with Net Zero. 2. Intensity Metrics (The Operational View): This is our tool for measuring the success of specific interventions. For example, if we introduce a shuttle bus service, the Intensity metric tells us if that specific change made the average runner’s footprint smaller, regardless of how many people signed up.
9
The Great Run Company
2025 Environmental Report
Carbon footprint per participant kgCO2e (incl. travel)
The carbon footprint per participant is measured for each event and the average of all events. This provides a starting point from which we can compare events and measure year-on-year progress.
Average Participant Footprint in 2025
35
94.24
31.68
60.7
46.79
43.25
36.08
32.5
7.2
19.56
16.6
16.1 15.58
14.25
14.1
12.21
10
The Great Run Company
2025 Environmental Report
4,097.45 tCO2e
Travel & Transport Transport is the single largest contributor to our inventory. This category encompasses the movement of everyone involved in the event - from the mass field of runners to the staff, vendors, and facility providers delivering the event experience.
(Staff, Elite Athletes, Suppliers, and Volunteers combined account for approximately 122.463 tCO2e (2.9%) of the total travel footprint).
Total Footprint
4,235.55 tCO2e
Intensity Metric
42.67kgCO2e
54.241 tCO2e
34.683 tCO2e
11.981 tCO2e
21.557 tCO2e
0.5%
1.3% 0.0% 0.8% 0.3% 96.7%
Staff Travel
Elite Travel
Volunteer Travel
Participant Travel
Supplier Delivery Vehicles
Supplier Travel
11
The Great Run Company
2025 Environmental Report
Staff Travel Our internal teams travelled approximately 415,000 kilometres in 2025. The Flight Disproportionality : While flights accounted for only 32% of journeys, they contributed 64.8% of total staff travel emissions. This identifies aviation as the single most carbon- intensive mode of transport for the team. The Efficiency of Rail: In contrast, train travel covers 42.8% of the total distance travelled by staff but is responsible for only 12.9% of emissions. This underscores rail as a high-efficiency, low-carbon alternative for long-distance travel, proving that high mobility does not necessitate a high carbon footprint, if sustainable modes are prioritised. Car Usage vs Impact: Although cars represent the highest volume of journeys (43.8%), they contribute only 20.4% of emissions. As the most frequent travel mode, this category is a primary target for reduction through car-sharing, electric vehicle alternatives, or shifting to active or public travel where feasible. Key Takeaway: To achieve meaningful reductions in this category, using a ‘public-transport’ first policy for domestic travel should be prioritised, for shifting even a small portion of flight distance to rail or coach would result in a substantial decrease in staff travel emissions.
% of Total distance travelled by each travel mode
% of journeys by each travel mode
43% Train
16% Car
Flight 35%
1% Van
0% Bus / Coach
48%
Car
Van 1% 3%
13%
Bus / Coach
Train
41% Flights
12
The Great Run Company
2025 Environmental Report
% of total staff travel emissions from each travel mode
Overall % from each travel mode
21% Car
13% Train
1% Van
0% Bus / Coach
Flights
Car
Van
Train
Bus / Coach
65% Flights
% of Journeys
% of Distance
% of Emissions
13
The Great Run Company
2025 Environmental Report
Supplier Logistics
Methodology Note: These figures rely on self-reported data from templates distributed to all suppliers. Consequently, where engagement was lower or templates were not returned, there are identifiable data gaps - particularly regarding heavy logistics for our major city events - meaning the emissions reported below likely represent a conservative estimate of the true total footprint.
Total Footprint
56.24 tCO2e
Event
Suppliers Reporting
Suppliers Reporting (Delivery Vehicles)
Total Unique Suppliers Engaged
Supplier Staff Travel
(Staff Travel)
34.68 tCO2e
0 4
1 0
1 4
Beyond Bristol
Beyond Newcastle
29 31 36 32
29
29 32 36 32
Great Birmingham Run
Supplier Vehicles
1 1
Great Bristol Run
21.56 tCO2e
Great Manchester Run
31
Great North Swim
1
0
1
Beyond London
14
14
14
Great North 10k
Data Engagement Overview This section tracks the movement of both the Workforce (Staff) and Physical Assets (Delivery Vehicles) essential for event delivery. The data is derived from the Supplier Sustainability Templates sent to all on-site partners. The table breaks down supplier engagement by event. A “Unique Supplier” is defined as a partner who returned valid data for either category.
1
0
1
Beyond Manchester
75 20 23 21
19 14 23
75 20 23 21
Great North Run
13 Valleys
Great Scottish Run
0
Great South Run
287
133
290
TOTAL
14
The Great Run Company
2025 Environmental Report
Event
Supplier Count
Total Distance
Emissions (tCO₂e)
Primary Mode
0 4
0 miles
0.00 t 0.10 t 0.23 t 3.54 t 8.17 t 0.11 t 0.03 t 0.02 t 0.02 t 16.26 t
No Data Van (Diesel)
Beyond Bristol
Supplier Staff Travel (The Workforce)
236 miles 1,579 miles 9,505 miles 23,809 miles
Beyond Newcastle
29 31 36 32
Car (Unknown) Van (Unknown) Van (Diesel) Van (EV) Van (Unknown) Van (Diesel) Van (Unknown) Van (Unknown/Diesel)
Great Birmingham Run
Total Footprint
Great Bristol Run
34.68 tCOe
Great Manchester Run
580 miles 63 miles 100 miles 40 miles
Great North Swim
1
Beyond London
14
Great North 10k
1
Primary Driver
Beyond Manchester
Volume of personnel
75 20 23 21
43,489 miles 6,844 miles 3,180 miles 10,163 miles
Great North Run
1.97 t 0.74 t 3.51 t
Van (Unknown) Van (Unknown) Van (Diesel)
13 Valleys
Great Scottish Run
Great South Run
Event-by-Event Analysis: The table to the right details the supplier travel impact, tracking the number of suppliers who travelled to support each event. As expected, the Great North Run dominates due to the sheer scale of third-party support required (medics, security, charity partners).
Modal Breakdown: Unlike internal staff who predominantly travel by rail, suppliers rely almost exclusively on road transport. The data confirms that Vans are the backbone of this support network, accounting for over 81% of the footprint.
Transport Mode
Distance (miles)
Emissions (tCO₂e)
% of Emissions
41,750 26,240 22,183
17.09 t 10.79 t
49.3% 31.1% 17.2%
Van (Unknown Fuel)
Van (Diesel)
5.97 t 0.36 t 0.25 t 0.18 t 0.03 t 0.01 t 0.01 t
Car (Unknown Fuel)
6,281 2,023
1.0% 0.7% 0.5% 0.1%
National Rail
Van (Battery Electric EV)
689
Car (Petrol)
88
Car (Diesel)
281
<0.1% <0.1% <0.1% 0.0% 100%
Light Rail & Tram
30
Local Bus
3
<0.01 t 0.00 t 34.68 t
Regular Taxi
21
Walk
99,589
TOTAL
15
The Great Run Company
2025 Environmental Report
Delivery Vehicles (The Assets)
Methodology Note: These figures rely on self-reported data from templates distributed to all suppliers. Consequently, where engagement was lower or templates were not returned, there are identifiable data gaps - particularly regarding heavy logistics for our major city events - meaning the emissions reported below likely represent a conservative estimate of the true total footprint.
Total Footprint
21.56 tCO2e
Primary Driver
Heavy Infrastructure (Generators, Toilets, Marquees) & Distance.
Event
Vehicle Emissions
Key Insight
(tCO₂e)
0.07 t 0.00 t 4.30 t 0.03 t 0.04 t 5.58 t 0.00 t 0.46 t 0.00 t 4.36 t
Beyond Bristol
The only Beyond event with tracked vehicle data (Event Hire Solutions).
Unlike staff travel, emissions in this category are driven by location logistics rather than supplier numbers. Remote events incur a significantly higher carbon cost per asset delivered. The “Remote Event” Penalty The data proves that logistics emissions are non-linear. Events in remote locations (Great North Swim, 13 Valleys) have a disproportionately high logistics carbon cost due to the lack of local infrastructure. HVO Opportunity for Logistics While we have successfully transitioned our power generators to HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil), our delivery fleet remains 99% Diesel. The “Unknown Fuel” Premium Nearly half of the staff travel footprint (17.09 tCO₂e) is attributed to “Van (Unknown Fuel).” When suppliers do not specify their fuel type, the calculator applies a generic “average” market emission factor, which is typically higher than modern Euro 6 diesel standards.
Data not collected.
Beyond Newcastle
Significant infrastructure movement.
Great Birmingham Run
Data Gap: Only 1 vehicle supplier reported
Great Bristol Run
Data Gap: Only 1 vehicle supplier reported.
Great Manchester Run
Highest Impact. Remote location requires long-haul HGV transport
Great North Swim
Data not collected.
Beyond London
Great North 10k
Beyond Manchester
Not applicable.
High volume of local movements. Major contributors include large infrastructure providers (marquees/plant hire).
Great North Run
2.59 t 4.13 t
High carbon cost of servicing remote locations.
13 Valleys
High impact relative to event size, driven by long-distance travel for media and infrastructure partners.
Great Scottish Run
0.00 t
Data not collected.
Great South Run
16
The Great Run Company
2025 Environmental Report
Volunteer Travel
While the volunteer workforce contributes a significantly smaller total footprint than participants (11.98 tCO2e), their travel habits reveal a highly engaged, locally-sourced community. The data indicates that volunteers are far more likely to utilise active travel and public transport than the average runner. The modal split for volunteers demonstrates the effectiveness of local recruitment and the accessibility of our events. High Active Travel: A standout statistic is that 12.6% of all volunteer journeys were made by walking or cycling. This is more than triple the rate of participants (3.7%), suggesting that a large proportion of volunteers are recruited from the local communities surrounding our events. Strong Rail Adoption: On average, 34% of volunteers travelled by train. This surpasses the participant rail usage figures, suggesting that volunteers prioritise low-carbon transport modes where available. The ‘Car Gap’: Cars still account for 42.9% of journeys, yet the environmental impact is disproportionate, generating 71% of total volunteer travel emissions. However, the prevalence of car- sharing was unquantified, so it would be helpful to measure this for 2026 events.
Car
Van
Train
Bus/Coach
Ferry
Motorbike
Active (Walk, Cycle)
Taxi
% of Journeys
% of Distance
% of Emissions
Event Specific Insights: Urban Connectivity: Events like Beyond London achieved a 100% rail share for recorded volunteer travel emissions. Great Scottish Run also saw 60.4% of its volunteer emissions coming from rail, indicating high usage for urban events. Rural Logistics: In contrast, the 13 Valleys event relies heavily on road transport due to its remote location. Here, cars accounted for 75.4% of travel emissions and vans contributed 24%, the highest van usage in the portfolio, reflecting the reliance on vehicles to bridge the gap between the event HQ and isolated aid stations
17
The Great Run Company
2025 Environmental Report
Participant Travel
4,097.45 tCO2e Total Footprint
Participant travel is the single largest source of emissions within the GRC portfolio, representing 97.1% of the total travel footprint. The data reveals a clear ‘modal divide’: while the majority of runners drive, a small minority of flyers generate a disproportionate share of the travel footprint. Drivers of Impact: Reach vs. Connectivity – The environmental impact of participant travel is not uniform, but is driven by two distinct geographical factors: Event Reach (Distance): Events with a national profile draw participants from further afield, increasing the average miles per runner and the likelihood of aviation. Connectivity (Mode): The public transport infrastructure of the event location dictates the carbon intensity of those miles. City centers with strong rail links naturally lower the footprint, while remote locations force a reliance on private cars.
Flights
Car
Train
Bus/Coach
Active (walk, cycle)
% of Journeys
% of Distance
% of Emissions
18
The Great Run Company
2025 Environmental Report
Participant Travel
Key Findings: The 2025 data reveals a clear ‘modal divide’, where the majority of participants drive, but the minority of flyers generate a disproportionate environmental impact. The ‘Car Default’: Private cars remain the primary mode of travel, accounting for 53% of all journeys and 64.4% of total emissions. For over half of our participants, driving is still perceived as the most convenient or only viable option The Aviation Multiplier: Flights represented only 1.6% of journeys but were responsible for 25% of total emissions. This means fewer than 2 in 100 runners generate a quarter of the entire travel footprint. Rail Efficiency: Rail travel shows strong uptake, covering 29.4% of journeys and nearly 30% of the total distance, yet only contributing 8.5% of emissions.
Emissions (tCO2e) per travel mode per event
Travel Mode
BBr
BNew
GBiR
GBrR
GMR
GNS
BLon
GN10k
BMan
GNR
13V
GScR
GSoR
0.188 0.000 2.606 20.996 20.555 0.978 0.000 0.994 0.000 339.209 0.263 47.673 5.959 2.890 0.000 0.000 0.000 1.057 0.030 0.000 0.000 0.000 192.249 30.416 321.754 38.746 3.481 3.243 85.754 163.789 178.130 178.169 1.093 90.922 0.535 1124.101 120.050 213.228 476.040
Flight - Domestic
Flight - Internat.
Car
0.000 0.007 0.944 0.211
0.881 0.000 0.656 0.093 0.017 3.722
0.000 0.206 0.022 5.045
0.066 1.085 0.117 20.021 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
Taxi
0.029 0.806 6.654 2.855 7.911
0.174 0.461 0.351 0.010 8.929
Bus
0.000 0.000 0.894 1.953
0.000 0.149 0.000 0.019 0.006 33.413 0.112
1.743
Coach
0.426 0.163 8.329 14.548 23.199 3.959 0.600 3.463 0.252 174.410 5.900
74.496
National Rail
0.008 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 9.491 0.000 0.000 0.850 0.012 5.599
0.000 0.000 0.000 2.766 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
International Rail
Light Rail & Tram
LDN Underground 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.489 0.000 0.000 0.000
0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 1.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
Motorbike
19
The Great Run Company
2025 Environmental Report
Case Study The Impact of Location – Comparing three distinct events illustrates how location and infrastructure dictate the carbon footprint.
The Connectivity Challenge 13 Valleys As a remote destination event with limited rail access, 13 Valleys sees the highest car dependency in the portfolio, with 89.4% of participants travelling by car.
The Destination Dilemma
Great North Run Although the event benefits from excellent transport links with well-coordinated travel options provided, its status as a national flagship draws participants from across the UK and overseas. Consequently, flights generate 28.2% of the event’s emissions, despite accounting for only 3% of participants. Cars remain the strongest emission source (59.7%), despite strong public transport adoption.
An Urban Success
Great Manchester Run Benefiting from Manchester’s robust transport network, this event has the lowest car reliance (38.6%). Instead, participants utilised the city’s infrastructure, with 24% using the Metrolink and 20% using National Rail.
20
The Great Run Company
2025 Environmental Report
Kit & Clothing This category serves as GRC’s second-largest emission source and represents our most significant area of direct procurement impact. Unlike travel, where we rely on influence, this is a sector where we exercise direct control over specifications, materials, and quantities.
Kit & Clothing Intensity Emissions by %
97%
3% 0%
Finishers’ T-shirts
Volunteering clothing
Staff clothing
564.0 tCO2e
17.0 tCO2e
2.0 tCO2e
Total Footprint
583.0 tCO2e
Total Quantity
193,602 items
21
The Great Run Company
2025 Environmental Report
Finisher T-shirts
Material
Quantity
Percentage
Events Using This Material
This item dominates the category’s footprint. The choice of material has a significant impact on the total with recycled polyester (rPET) t-shirts at 2.994 kg CO2e per t-shirt compared to virgin Polyester at 3.227 kgCO2e per t-shirt. While the per-unit saving appears incremental, when scaled across tens of thousands of participants, this material switch generates tangible reductions without compromising product quality.
178,365
96.5% 2.2% 1.3% 100%
GNR, GN10K, Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester, Scottish, South
Recycled Polyester (rPET)
4,000 2,320
Great North Swim (Main Wave)
Cotton
Beyond Series, SwimRun
Virgin Polyester
184,685
TOTAL
The “Opt-Out” Strategy: Reduction at Source
While better materials help, the most sustainable t-shirt is the one that is never produced. The “No T-shirt” opt-out option remains our single most effective reduction tool.
Total Quantity 189, 285 items (including swim hats)
The Mechanism By allowing runners to forego a finisher’s tee at the point of entry, we eliminate the entire lifecycle footprint of that garment - from manufacturing to shipping and eventual disposal.
The Impact Every 1,000 opt-outs avoids approximately 3 tonnes of CO2e Continued promotion of this option is critical to decoupling our business growth from our material footprint.
Total Emissions
564.0 tCO2e (96.8% of category)
22
The Great Run Company
2025 Environmental Report
Volunteer Apparel
Staff Apparel
Most events provided cotton or polyester t-shirts to volunteers. However, volunteers were provided with 194 heavy hoodies (18.8 kgCO2e each), which generated 3.6 tonnes of carbon alone – more than the volunteer apparel footprint for the GNR alone (2.1 tCO2e)
T-shirts were primarily Cotton across the event portfolio, except the 85 high viz vests at the Swim and 6 cotton hoodies at 13 Valleys.
Total Quantity
Total Quantity
3,880 items
437 items
Total Emissions
Total Emissions
17.0 tCO2e
2.0 tCO2e
23
The Great Run Company
2025 Environmental Report
Event
Product
Quantity
Total
Intensity Per item (kgCO2e)
Event Intensity (kgCO2e/person)
Emissions (kgCO2e)
Giveaways The “Giveaways” category captures every item handed to a runner, from the finisher’s medal to the contents of the goody bag. The table below details the carbon profile of the entire 2025 portfolio, sorted by “Carbon Intensity per Participant.”
0.61 0.40 0.18 0.05 0.15 0.14 0.11 0.96 0.04 0.26 0.29 0.30 0.61 0.40 0.14 0.15 0.96 0.12 0.11 0.07 0.29 0.06 0.05 0.04 0.26 0.11 0.51 0.25 0.18 0.15 0.14 0.12 0.96 0.06 0.04 0.26 0.29 0.11 0.61 0.51 0.15 0.14 0.11 0.07 0.96 0.04 0.26
36,651 12,017 5,468 4,777 4,506 4,477 3,305
60,084 30,042 30,042 90,126 30,042 33,100 30,042 3,030 31,442 51,700 49,850 62,425 49,850 6,050 48,000 48,000 49,850 11,800 48,000 49,850 61,650 4,750 72 2,400 1,400 250 24,250 48,500 23,000 24,250 25,675 20,000 2,100 24,250 25,675 28,350 9,400 28,350 30,525 28,350 28,350 1,800 28,350 1,600 1,850 1,425 950
Deodorant Epsom Salts 0% Beer Hydration Sachets Energy Bars Medals Oat Bars Caps Finisher Bags AJ Bell Cowbells Sweets Foam Fingers Deodorant Epsom Salts Medals Energy Bars Caps Foil Blankets Vitamin Sachet Coffee bag Sweets Corn Snacks Hydration Sachets Finisher Bags Cowbells Bamboo Trophy
Great Manchester Run
2.31 kg
2,912 1,163 619 404 74
31,537 19,940 8,444 7,478 5,814 5,760 5,280 3,490 3,410 2,880 2,642
Great North Run
2.09 kg
2,281 1,225 8
12,368 12,125 4,094 3,638 3,474 2,400
Vaseline Deodorant Cereal Energy Bars Medals Foil Blankets Caps Flaxseed Finisher Bags Cowbells Sweets Vitamin Sachet Deodorant Vaseline Energy Bars Medals Vitamin Sachet Coffee Bags Caps Finisher Bags Cowbells
Great South Run
1.87 kg
2,018 1,528
950 477 412 105
17,294 4,794 4,253 4,129 3,119 1,985 1,730 1,049 413
Total Footprint 312.60 tCO2e
1.35 kg
Great Scottish Run
24
The Great Run Company
2025 Environmental Report
Event
Product
Quantity
Total
Intensity Per item (kgCO2e)
Event Intensity (kgCO2e/person)
Emissions (kgCO2e)
The Shifting Baseline: Medals vs. Sponsorships Historically, the metal finisher’s medal was the primary driver of an event’s goods footprint. However, 2025 data reveals a shift. While medals remain the most iconic item, they are no longer the dominant source of emissions at our largest events. The Data: At the Great Manchester Run, the combined impact of sponsor items totalled nearly 49 tCO2e. In contrast, the medals generated just 4.5 tCO2e. The Insight: This data highlights a clear pathway for future reductions. By actively working with partners to choose lower-carbon alternatives (such as lightweight or plastic-free options) and reducing the volume of heavy, high-impact items, we can significantly lower the overall event footprint. The Material Shift: Recycled Zinc Recognising that the finisher’s medal is non- negotiable for the participant experience, our strategy focused on material innovation rather than elimination. We have successfully transitioned our procurement from standard virgin zinc alloy to 100% Recycled Zinc. The Impact: This switch delivers an approximate 60% reduction in emissions compared to virgin zinc. Carbon Saving: By using recycled materials, we save approximately 0.20 kgCO2e per medal. This innovation is the primary reason why medals now account for a relatively small fraction of our total footprint.
0.25 0.05 0.15 0.14 0.11 0.96 0.04 0.06 0.29 0.26 0.29 0.25 0.40 0.14 0.15 0.04 0.25 0.05 0.15 0.14 0.96 0.11 0.07 0.26 0.29 0.29 0.36 0.14 0.20 0.11 0.06 <0.01 0.10 0.06 0.08 0.06
9,762 3,104 2,928 2,901 2,148 1,442
39,046 58,569 19,523 21,450 19,523 1,500 20,373
Deodorant Hydration Sachet Energy Bars Medals Oat Bars Caps Finisher Bags Flaxseed Sweets Cowbells Foam Fingers
1.14 kg
Great Bristol Run
754 538 492 361 44
8,533 1,700 1,400 150
3,950 3,160 1,238 1,185 292 3,191 2,028 1,915 1,914 1,778 1,404
15,800 7,900 9,150 7,900 7,900 12,764 38,292 12,764 14,150 1,850 12,765 13,414 1,850 1,300 200 7,120 5,945 2,300 2,900 5,000 6,000 2
Deodorant Epsom Salts Medals Energy Bars Finisher Bags
Great North 10k
1.07 kg
Deodorant Hydration Sachets Energy Bars Medals Caps Oat Bars Kit bags Cowbells Sweets Foam Fingers Protein Shakes Medals Cereal Bar Oat Bars Flaxseed Luggage Tag Bamboo Trophy
Great Birmingham Run
1.00 kg
950 477 376 59
2,563 804 460
Great North Swim
0.91 kg
319 315 18 0 151 133 133
2,330 1,705 2,330
rPET Lanyard Slate Medal Medal Patches
13 Valleys
0.24 kg
Beyond London Beyond Bristol
0.14 kg
0.14
125
925
Finisher Medal
0.14
79
585
Finisher Medal
0.14 kg
Beyond Manchester Beyond Newcastle
Finisher Medal
0.14
0.14 kg
66
485
0.13 kg
0.13
89
660
Finisher Medal
25
The Great Run Company
2025 Environmental Report
Accommodation
Operational Scope This figure below captures the carbon impact of approximately 1,617 room-nights booked for GRC staff, elite athletes, and key contractors across the event portfolio Data Integrity Note: This calculation is based on verified booking data and supplier templates returned. As noted in the logistics section, not all external partners submitted post-event data templates. Consequently, the actual figure is likely higher, and this total should be viewed as a conservative operational baseline rather than a complete inventory of all contractor stays.
Total Footprint 16.786 tCO2e
26
The Great Run Company
2025 Environmental Report
Food & Drink This category tracks the carbon footprint of nutrition and hydration across all event operations. It encompasses Participant Food & Drink, covering on-course hydration (bottled water, refill cups), energy gels, sponsor samples, and extensive aid station supplies for our ultra- marathons. Additionally, it captures Hospitality for VIPs and partners, Staff and Volunteer Lunches, Crew Catering, and external Vendor Provisions.
Breakdown by Category The portfolio’s footprint is dominated by Participant Provisions (65.9%), driven largely by the provisionof over 400,000 rPET water bottles for the road running series.
26.1%
Vendor Provisions
30.31 t
Total
Participant Provisions 65.9%
115.94 t
76.44 t
0.8%
Crew meals
0.89 t
3%
Hospitality 4.35 t
3.4%
Packed Lunches (Staff & Volunteers)
3.94 t
Total Footprint 118.8 tCO2e
Category
Participant Provisions
Vendor Provisions
Hospitality Packed Lunches (Staff & Volunteers) Crew Meals
Emissions (tCO2e)
66%
26%
4%
3%
1%
27
The Great Run Company
2025 Environmental Report
Event-by-Event Breakdown & Intensity
The following table details the emissions profile for each event.
Most Efficient: The Great North 10k (0.06 kg/participant) proves that mass-participation events can be delivered with a minimal food & drink footprint by using mains water. Highest Intensity The 13 Valleys (4.44 kg/participant) and Beyond Series (1.27 kg/participant) are significantly higher due to the provision of the ample aid station provisions (cheese, meats, hot meals) required for long-distance events, rather than simple hydration.
Intensity (kgCO₂e/participant)
Hospitality / Crew / Vendor (tCO₂e)
Provisions (tCO₂e)
Catering (tCO₂e)
Total (tCO₂e)
Events
0.14 0.72 0.50 0.30 0.43 0.26 1.14 0.51 0.20 0.16
0.06 kg 0.32 kg 0.43 kg 0.44 kg 0.46 kg 0.73 kg 0.93 kg 1.07 kg 1.27 kg 4.44 kg
0.39 t 6.37 t 10.64 t 13.55 t 8.66 t 9.48 t 55.80 t 4.90 t 1.27 t 4.88 t
0.00 0.10 3.30 3.40 1.35 5.37 20.76 0.39 0.09 0.40
0.25 5.55 6.84 9.85 6.89 3.85 33.90 4.01
Great North 10K Great South Run Great Scottish Run Great Manchester Run Great Bristol Run Great Birmingham Run
Great North Run Great North Swim
0.98 4.33
Beyond Series 13 Valleys Ultra
Note: Vendor and Hospitality data was not collected for all events, which may result in a lower ‘Total’ for smaller events.
28
The Great Run Company
2025 Environmental Report
The “Hydration Intensity” Comparison N.B. The emissions figures cited in this section represent the embodied carbon of the products (packaging and ingredients) only. They do not include the transport logistics required to distribute these items to aid stations Conclusion Switching from bottles to refills is not a marginal gain; it is a transformative one by offering a 90% reduction in hydration emissions. If applied to the full road portfolio, this single operational change would save ~60 tonnes of carbon annually The Hydration Strategy We are actively transitioning our events away from reliance on packaged water. Refill Infrastructure: We have now introduced water refill stations at the Start and Finish lines of all events, enabling runners to self-supply. Plastic Reduction: We successfully removed single- use plastic bottles from 7 of our 13 events, including the Great North 10k, Great North Swim, 13 Valleys, and all four Beyond Events. Remaining Challenge: Single-use plastic bottles were provided at the remaining 6 events. Where used, the average consumption was 5.0 bottles per runner (at ~0.097 kgCO2e per bottle), identifying this as a key area for continued focus.
Metric
Bottled Water Model (Road Events)
Refill / Cupless Model (Great North 10k)
Method
Single-use rPET Bottles
Mains Water Tankers + Paper Cups
Total Emissions
65.91 tCO₂e (Bottles Only)
0.25 tCO₂e (Water + Cups Only)
Emissions per Runner
0.39 kgCO₂e
0.04 kgCO₂e
Efficiency Gap
Baseline (0% Reduction)
90% Reduction
29
The Great Run Company
2025 Environmental Report
Staff & Volunteer Lunches: The Meat-Free Achievement
In 2025, we successfully transitioned the standardised packed lunch menu for staff and volunteers to be 100% Meat-Free (Vegetarian & Vegan). The Change: In 2024, the menu was heavily meat- based (54% Meat) which accounted for 84% of the staff meal emissions. In 2025, the same events served a 99.7% Meat-Free menu. The Result: This single policy change reduced the category’s total carbon footprint by 23%, saving 1.16 tonnes of CO₂e.
Metric
2024 Actuals (Mixed Menu)
2025 Actuals (Meat-Free)
Impact
Total Lunches Served
4,546
4,401
-3.2%
Menu Profile
54% Meat / 34% Veg / 12% Vegan
80% Veg / 20% Vegan
Policy Shift
Standard Items
Water, Crisps, Bar, Fruit Pot
Water, Crisps, Bar, Fruit Pot
Consistent
Total Emissions
~5.00 tCO₂e
~3.84 tCO₂e
-1.16 tCO₂e
Avg. Carbon / Meal
1.10 kgCO₂e
0.87 kgCO₂e
21% lower footprint
Note: 1. Beyond Bristol and Beyond Manchester are excluded as new events without 2024 data. 2. Beyond Newcastle included 12 meat meals due to a specific request. 3. Great Bristol Run’s emissions rose due to volume growth (+101 meals), masking efficiency gains.
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51Made with FlippingBook - Share PDF online