Protecting and preserving the planet is a topic close to our hearts. We often talk about this when we notice companies’ focus on producing with sustainable methods and respecting the contributions of those who work with them, and for our part, we try to put this sensitivity into practice every day, in life as in running.
Instead, what is less common to hear and learn about is the opinions of large numbers of people who run and understand what their relationship is to these issues. At least until today, because Brooks thought he knew what runners thought… By asking them!
People&Planet is a survey conducted by Brooks involving 3,600 U.S. and European runners. The results are very interesting, and of the many, these are the ones that impressed us the most.
Caring for the environment
4 out of 5 runners ask companies to do more to reduce CO2 emissions . 97 percent of Italians say they regularly do something extra toward the environment during their run, such as using a reusable water bottle or not throwing running gel packaging on the street. 64% own and use environmentally friendly products, and nearly half of respondents check before purchase that these products were made to certain environmental standards. Growing popularity of plogging: 22% of runners regularly pick up waste they encounter along their route and 81 percent say they are willing to commit to collecting up to three pieces of waste and throwing them in the trash to make an impact on the environment.
And it’s not over.
Almost half of runners use recyclable water bottles and reuse gel packs, and one-fifth of them reach event and race venues using environmentally friendly means, preferring them to their own cars and airplanes.
In short, there is a growing environmental consciousness that more and more companies are listening to, not least because 30 percent of respondents buy only products from brands that demonstrate sustainable production and do not engage in greenwashing, that is, applying only cosmetic environmental policies with no real impact.
What Brooks does
In addition to moving increasingly toward production totally based on recycled plastics, this year Brooks collected 74 million plastic bottles, recycling them completely, by the end of 2022 its offices will use only renewable energy, and by 2023 all its products will come from 100 percent recycled polyester, simultaneously zeroing out waste production.
To further emphasize this commitment, Brooks and Strava together with the association Earth Runs have launched an initiative: from April 18 to 24, each runner will be able to add miles to Brooks’ challenge on Strava with the goal of running 100 laps around the world and making their own gesture toward the planet through their running.
To celebrate the achievement of this goal, Brooks will plant 30,000 trees in partnership with the association when the goal is reached.
To participate all you need to do is sign up at this link and run your distance (whatever it is, it doesn’t matter). The more you run, the easier it will be to reach the goal and plant all these trees.
To do something as well as talk about it.