While our environmental goals last all year long, the Newport race coincides with Earth month so sustainability is at the forefront of ours (and most) people’s minds. As this is our first race of the season, and our largest, it gives us the opportunity to focus on the various initiatives we implemented in our planning. We measure our goals vs execution while defining how to continue to make incremental improvements in getting to a Zero-Waste event.
Some important stats:
From Epic Renewal – We diverted 376 lbs of organics from landfills, offsetting 269 net pounds of CO2 emissions. We recycled 384 lbs of race trash.
From Eastern RI Conservation District – We had 46 ploggers out on course in Newport and Middletown, and collected 212 lbs of waste, the majority of it non-race trash.
From our Trees Not Tees partnership – 232 participants opted out of a race shirt, allowing us to not only eliminate the environmental costs of manufacturing and shipping this quantity of race shirts, but this also means we donate to our forestry partner to plant trees for our participant in place of purchasing a race shirt.
From our Hyrdapak Speedcup initiative – 229 SpeedCups were purchased, which reduced our cup usage on course and allows us to donate an additional funds to Save The Bay as a result of this initiative.
Our opportunities:
Continuing to work with Epic Renewal on deployment and timely collection, particularly on course as aid station volunteers vacate.
Finding ways to clean and donate discarded clothing, particularly if they have been sitting out in the rain and sand for the day.
Gel packets and space blankets. We know these are necessary for the safety and well-being of our participants, but they are the bane of our sustainability goals. They are discarded, tossed, taken by wind even by the most environmentally conscious runner.
We will continue to measure ourselves against the Council for Responsible Sport, seeking best practices and solutions from our peers to reduce our impact, recycle more product and reuse what we can from one event to another. We are always open to feedback, ideas and suggestions as to how to improve. Please don’t hesitate to shoot us an email to provide your thoughts and ideas as to how we can improve. Thank you to all of our volunteers, participants and vendors in these efforts – we know we can’t do it without you.
Notes from the Rhode 