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BMW OSLO MARATON
A GREENER RACE
WHAT ARE WE DOING FOR THE ENVIRONMENT?
Oslo Marathon AS wants to be a sustainable race, and will take our responsibility in the work to achieve the UN's sustainability goals by 2030.
In recent years, we have taken several measures both in everyday life and during the actual execution of the Oslo Marathon to reduce our footprint. We are heading in the right direction, but we are still working in several areas to identify what we can do and how to solve various challenges to become a greener and more sustainable race event.
We want to inspire other running events and engage more organizers to become more sustainable. We also want to inspire and engage our runners, spectators, partners, suppliers and others involved in our event to make better choices and contribute to achieving the SDGs by 2030.
Our sustainability goals
We cannot reach these goals alone. We need help from everyone who is part of Oslo Marathon, runners, spectators, volunteers, officials, partners and suppliers. Together we will make it!
ENVIRONMENTALLY APPROVED EVENT 2023
In May 2023 we became an Environmentally Approved Event through the Foundation FEE Norway. FEE stands for Foundation for Environmental Education and they offer international programs for environmental certification, and is a global network represented in 73 member countries around the world.
Eco-labeled event is an award for organizers who want to reduce the environmental impact of their event. The organizer must meet a set of criteria in 8 areas in order to be awarded the distinction. We have initiated a process together with FEE and aim to improve and reduce our environmental impact more and more in the years to come.
Read more about FEE and the work they do on their website.
ACTIONS WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED OR ARE WORKING ON
In recent years, we have taken several measures both in everyday life and during the execution of the Oslo Marathon. We are heading in the right direction, but we are still looking for more things we can do to become a greener race. Below you can read about some of our measures to become more environmentally friendly.
MEDAL MADE OF RECYCLED PLASTIC
In 2023, we have worked a lot on the medal. We know how important the medal is for many of our participants. How could we make it more sustainable? For many years we had it shipped from China before we made it a bit more localized and had it shipped from different countries in Europe. This year we challenged our supplier, Trofe, to think outside the box. We wanted a medal made from recycled plastic with the shortest possible travel distance. This has resulted in a fun project with primary schools in England and a company called Recycle. Stay tuned to our channels to hear more about this amazing story, which we'll tell you more about soon!
The next goal for the medal is to bring the production to Norway and make the medal here! That would be awesome!
BAN ON UNNECESSARY PAPER MATERIAL
We have removed several things during the event that create unnecessary production of paper materials. We started by banning flyers and we do not allow any unnecessary paper advertising in the arena. In addition, we have gone from having a paper volunteer handbook to making it digital. Previously, we also had an OM magazine that we distributed in paper copies. We made the magazine digital before we canceled the magazine in 2022, and instead renewed the website and mailings before the event. The course map was also in paper a few years ago, this has now become an interactive online map that is way more useful.
BAN ON UNNECESSARY PAPER MATERIAL
We have removed several items during the event that create unnecessary production of paper materials. We start by banning flyers. We have previously handed these out in goodibags, and partners or suppliers at the event or in the Expo have also handed out a lot of flyers. This is now banned and we do not allow any unnecessary paper advertising in the arena.
In addition, we have gone from having a paper volunteer handbook to making it digital. Previously, we also had an OM magazine that we distributed in paper copies. We made the magazine digital before canceling the magazine in 2022, and instead revamped our website and pre-event mailings.
PRINTED RACE NUMBERS
In 2021, we changed the way we distribute race numbers. Previously, these were printed in advance and put in an envelope together with safety pins. On the envelope we printed maps and information for the participants.
In 2021, we removed the envelope. The information that was previously on the envelope is now provided to participants digitally. We print the start numbers directly, so now we only hand out start numbers to the participants who actually come to complete their race. By doing these changes we have reduced the amount of paper used on bib numbers during the event by 120 percent!
GROUNDED ELECTRICITY VS FUELED GENERATORS
In 2023, we reached a long-held goal - to set up an arena using only grounded power! This was made possible because there was finally enough grid power available at our arena, after working with the City of Oslo and other events at Rådhusplassen to get better access. Now our next goal is to do the same in the course. There is still a need for some help from generators, but we are working on removing these as well.
In addition to this, we also strive to use electric vehicles wherever possible. In 2023, we will also require our suppliers to use electric vehicles and machinery wherever possible.
GROUNDED ELECTRICITY VS FUELED GENERATORS
In 2023, we reached a long-held goal - to set up an arena using only grounded power! This was made possible because there was finally enough grid power available at our arena, after working with the City of Oslo and other events at Rådhusplassen to get better access. Now our next goal is to do the same in the course. There is still a need for some help from generators, but we are working on removing these as well.
In addition to this, we also strive to use electric vehicles wherever possible. In 2023, we will also require our suppliers to use electric vehicles and machinery wherever possible.
REDUCED PURCHASE OF T-SHIRTS
From 2016 onwards, participants who wanted the t-shirt had to buy it. Previously, the t-shirt was free and was distributed to all registered participants. There were several who never picked up their shirt, and we were left with a lot of leftovers in stock. This was donated to charity, which is great! But in order to reduce the production of unclaimed t-shirts, we changed to this having to be purchased. This has enabled us to reduce the remaining stock enormously.
We know that this t-shirt means a lot to some of our participants and we see it running around our city every day. That's why we want to keep it as an offer to our participants - but we want it to become a more environmentally friendly product. Stay tuned!
FROM HELIUM TO REUSABLE FLAGS
To motivate our runners forward on the course, we have pacers. In order for them to be easily visible to the runners who follow them, we previously used large helium balloons marked with the pace they were to keep. We have also used helium balloons to mark toilets and passages in the arena and along the course.
In 2019, we stopped using helium balloons. In the areas where we used to use them, we now use flags or other types of marking that we can reuse. For example, we were the first in Norway to use pennant bags on the backs of our pacers. They are still highly visible and the bags and pennants can be reused year after year.
FROM HELIUM TO REUSABLE FLAGS
To motivate our runners forward on the course, we have pacers. In order for them to be easily visible to the runners who follow them, we previously used large helium balloons marked with the pace they were to keep. We have also used helium balloons to mark toilets and passages in the arena and along the course.
In 2019, we stopped using helium balloons. In the areas where we used to use them, we now use flags or other types of markings that we can reuse. For example, we were the first in Norway to use pennant bags on the backs of speeders. They are still highly visible and the bags and pennants can be reused year after year.
REDUCE, REUSE OR RECYCLE
Oslo Marathon has a large stock of equipment, tools and supplies that we use again year after year. We are already good at circular economy, but we also have a lot of room for improvement. One of the things we're focusing on now is making our signs out of environmentally friendly materials. A lot of things can be reused, but things get destroyed, changes or other things happen that make it no longer usable. We want it to be able to be recycled and live on.
We are also looking at areas where we can reduce consumption and, for example, we have a ban on giveaways that are not useful for our participants. We can give out walking patches or reflectors - that's nice to have when you're out running, but we don't give out things that aren't useful to our runners.
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Bislett Stadium
Entrance 1
Louisesgate 1
0168 Oslo
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© 2022 Oslo Marathon
Age: 45
Residence: Bærum
Distance during the BMW Oslo Marathon 2020:
I run half, and of course aim to have the widest smile all the way.
Previous participation in the Oslo Marathon:
«10 for Grete» 2013, Half Marathon 2014 and 2015, 2017 and 2018 and marathon in 2019.
Three words that describe me:
Outgoing, Smiling, Energetic
Instagram: @muddylicious
