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The Great Run Company
2024 Environmental Report
Foreword
The Great Run Company’s 2024 Environmental Report marks a key milestone in our sustainability journey. As organisers of Great Run, Great Swim, and adventure events, we recognise our responsibility to reduce our environmental impact while delivering outstanding experiences for participants. Over the past year, we have faced increasing weather-related challenges, from rising temperatures affecting runner safety to storms and heavy rainfall disrupting logistics. The cancellation of the Great South Run due to extreme weather highlighted the need for greater resilience and sustainability in event planning. In 2024, we expanded our data collection to gain a more complete understanding of our environmental footprint. For the first time, our carbon assessment includes: • Participant Travel: The largest contributor to our footprint, now including all forms of travel, from domestic journeys to international flights. • Energy & Fuel: New measurements include battery storage use and electric event vehicles. • Accommodation: Expanded data on hotel stays for elite athletes, staff, volunteers, and suppliers. • Food & Drink: A more detailed analysis covering meals provided to participants, staff, and hospitality services. • Waste & Recycling: New tracking of office waste, clothing disposal, and additional recycling efforts.
This enhanced dataset, along with feedback from over 9,000 participants in our end-of-year survey, enables us to refine reduction strategies, set clear targets, and align more closely with sustainability frameworks. Last year, we removed plastic bottles from the Great North 10K, eliminated foil blankets (except for the Great North Run), and expanded opt-outs for finisher T-shirts, reducing thousands of kilograms of CO2e. Looking ahead, we remain committed to improving our sustainability efforts. We will continue exploring lower-impact transport options, increasing recycling rates, transitioning further towards renewable energy, and minimising single-use plastics across our events. Sport has a unique opportunity to lead by example. By making informed, responsible choices, we can ensure that our events not only provide memorable experiences but also contribute to a more sustainable future. We invite our participants, partners, and stakeholders to join us in this ongoing journey towards reducing our environmental footprint and creating long-lasting positive change.
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