Running often seems like the simplest of sports—a pair of shoes, shorts and a shirt, and out the door you go. For the most part, runners make little impact on the environment—especially in comparison to other athletes who ski, for instance, and often need to invest heavily in equipment and sometimes must travel just to participate. Still, in the face of a climate emergency, everyone can take steps to help the environment.
Developing more sustainable running habits is well within reach, and when multiplied at scale, can be deeply impactful. “The running community has a good deal of potential to effect change because we’re gritty and we get things done,” says Tina Muir, co-author of “Becoming a Sustainable Runner—A Guide to Running for Life, Community, and Planet.”
By considering the gear you wear, the races you choose, and contributing your voice to the conversation, you can help move the needle.
Click for more: Efforts at REI Co-op Towards Sustainability
With its recent announcement that the Science Based Target Initiative has approved the Co-ops’s net-zero targets by 2050, REI is expanding its ambitions as a climate leader. In addition to its own commitments to reduce scopes 1, 2, and 3 emissions, REI is also working alongside its partner brands to improve their practices. For instance, the co-op has issued sustainable packaging guidelines to all partners, taking aim at reduced materials, recycling, and reuse. Many of the brands the retailer carries are already recognized as leaders in sustainability, including Patagonia, pRana, Cotopaxi, and Stio, among others.
In addition to focusing on sustainability at the store level, REI has joined Ceres, a coalition of companies that are calling for climate disclosure legislation in California, the Asia Clean Energy Coalition, the Electrification Coalition, and developed an overarching climate policy.
Shop Smartly for Your Essential Gear
Some choices are easier and more impactful than others. When considering your purchases, start by doing your homework and assessing your gear.
Assess the materials and manufacturing behind the clothing and shoes you wear. Is the gear made designed with sustainability features, using materials including bamboo or recycled polyester, for instance? Does the brand manufacture in a location closer to where you buy the final product, and with ethical labor practices? Read brand websites to learn about their specific policies to reduce waste from their production streams. Dig into their sustainability report, if they share one, and ask if they don’t. Corporate social responsibility should be a front and center pillar in all that an organization does.
Read the latest REI Co-op Impact Report, here.
Be savvy in what you read. You want to avoid greenwashing: specific verbiage meant to convince buyers that their practices are impactful when, in actuality, they are not. Red flags, says Meg Carney, author of “Outdoor Minimalist: Waste Less Hiking, Camping and Backpacking,” include vague claims about a company’s sustainability practices, or simply stating that clothing is made from recycled materials. “You have to watch their language and look for specifics,” she says. “If they’re being transparent, you’ll be able to easily find details on their website.”
Replacing Running Gear
While there are many options in outdoor clothing, the one piece of gear that’s essential—shoes—is unfortunately one of the least sustainable items in a runner’s wardrobe. “Shoes are a hard one because the materials they’re made of are very specific and petroleum based,” says Carney, “so look at the durability and aim for shoes that will last a long time.” This way, you can avoid tossing them before you’ve eked out all their potential miles.
Search for buyback programs. Most running shoes will last for about 400 to 500 miles depending on the amount of cushioning they feature, and unfortunately, not many companies will re-sole or repair shoes to allow for a longer life. There are reuse and recycle programs, however, and REI has its own ReSupply program that does take back shoes, in addition to clothing. Meeting the pillars of a circular economy—which aims to eliminate waste, circulate products and cut down on pollution—ReSupply extends product life cycles and cuts carbon emissions by 50 percent or more. (Like REI, Patagonia has a buyback program, called Worn Wear that is worth your consideration.)
Repurpose your old running shoes. Remember that while your running shoes may have hit their life cycle for the sport, you can always keep them for other tasks, like dog walking or lawn mowing. Or, consider donating old shoes to a secondhand store where a non-runner might still find good use for them.
Aim for durability with apparel. Your running clothing is more likely to stand the test of time if it is made from long-lasting natural fibers like wool. Ani Williams, a climate scientist and writer, also urges runners to consider whether they need a new running shirt every year. “If you’re retiring a shirt, think about why,” she says. “It may have a lot of life left in it.”
Look beyond labels. While brands who choose to act as a B-corporation and give back via 1% for the Planet are typically good options, keep in mind that smaller brands can’t always afford to participate in these initiatives. In those cases, judge them with other criteria, such as the use of less water or fewer chemicals in their products.
Take action: If you have a favorite brand that doesn’t check all your sustainability boxes, remember that reaching out to share your thoughts can sometimes affect change. Social media is often a go-to method for that tactic, but finding the person within a company who can actually play a role in sustainable practices may be a better method, said Muir. Look on a company’s website and identify staff with titles like “chief sustainability officer,” for example. “Use your voice,” she added. “You have access to change the future of how a brand operates.”
From Running to Racing
Your sustainability plan with running should extend into how you approach racing, too. It’s important to consider how race directors carry out their events and how far you might travel for a race. Consider how race organizers manage waste, for instance, or where the premiums come from and what materials they’re made of. “Your dollars and your voice matter when choosing a race,” said Muir. “Select races that focus on sustainability and put effort into making changes.”
The annual Patapsco Trailfest, held in Patapsco State Park near Baltimore, is a good example of a thoughtful approach to sustainability. Featuring a variety of activities over a weekend, it offers up three trail racing distances. “In our first year, 2016, we followed the park policy of pack out all trash,” says Dave Ferraro, executive director of race sponsor Friends of Patapsco Valley State Park.
In subsequent years, the organization decided to aim higher, reducing the race size for better waste control, and calling for a zero-landfill event. A key to success in that effort, said Ferraro, was to appoint a composting czar who is passionate and empowered to follow through with best practices. “Now we’ve got it down to a science,” says Ferraro. “We only work with partners who are 100 percent on board with our goals.”
How to Choose a Race with Sustainability In Mind
Talk to the race organizer/director. When considering your own racing events, asking questions of the organizer is again a key component to ensuring their practices align with your own sustainability goals. Ask about finisher medals and whether they are necessary; ask if the event is or can become cupless and consider your willingness to pay a bit more to support sustainability practices. The Patapsco Trailfest, for instance, costs the organizers about 15 percent more than a similar event due to their zero-waste policy. It still sells out every year.
Reconsider long-distance travel to races. You should also consider how much traveling you do for races, as air travel emits about 100 times more CO2 per hour than a shared bus or train ride. Think about your race goals—can a local race fulfill them instead of one across the country? “You have to make some hard choices,” says Williams, “but it’s important to think about your priorities.”
Educate yourself about your impact. That doesn’t mean you can’t ever participate in a destination race. But do consider your impact once at a destination. “If you’re traveling somewhere like the desert, for instance, learn about the soils and where not to step while running,” says Carney.
Get involved. Collective action is usually more impactful that individual action. Consider joining groups like Protect Our Winters (POW), which includes a POW Trail alliance, or the Conservation Alliance, which is aimed at protecting outdoor spaces around the country. Trust for the Public Land, an REI partner, creates parks in urban environments and protects public lands, providing access to a larger population. More people who love the outdoors can lead to more efforts aimed at conservation going forward.
Healthy, happy running requires consistency, and so too does becoming a sustainable runner. “That doesn’t mean never accept a medal again, or never [take] a drink from a plastic cup,” says Muir. “But you do make an impact and you do have a voice. You have the power to make running better for everyone, including the planet.”