Chicago Marathon aims at gold Sustainability certification

The 2016 Bank of America Chicago Marathon team has made plans to make the race more sustainable.

The team is aiming for a gold sustainability rating from the Council for Responsible Sport for the upcoming Marathon - held on 9 October 2016. 

The organisation awards sports events for their environmentally-friendly practices and three levels of qualifications are available – bronze, silver and gold.

Some new initiatives introduced by the race include the installation of water filling stations in Grant Park to encourage participants to use reusable bottles as opposed to single-use plastic bottles.

Green Team volunteers will also be present at refreshment areas, and sorting stations will be set up.

The marathon also plans on obtaining food and beverages from local sources – such as apples from The Michigan Apple Committee and Goose Island beer brewed in Chicago.

Shelley Villalobos, Certification Director at the Council, said: “The commitment to sustainably producing an event the size of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon has broad impacts... The Council is grateful for the dedication of the Marathon to being a global leader in the movement towards greater responsibility in sport.”

The Chicago marathon is the largest marathon to have been awarded since the creation of the Council in 2008; having achieved the basic level of sustainability in 2010 and 2012, and the silver certification in 2014.

The Abbot Health and Fitness Expo, which happens alongside the marathon, will also be part of the sustainability plans. It will be held in McCormick Place - the world’s largest convention centre to be a certified sustainable venue under the APEX-ASTM standard.

Transportation has also been considered and free shuttles will be provided to the Expo to reduce the event’s carbon footprint.

Carey Pinkowski, Executive Race Director, said: “As an event, we realized early on the responsibility we have to the environment and the communities that our race runs through... It has been rewarding to see the positive impact of our sustainability initiatives and the enthusiasm put forth by our volunteers, sponsors, runners and spectators to make the Bank of America Chicago Marathon as sustainable as possible.”