Sustainability at Auckland Marathon
The IRONMAN Group Oceania, organisers of the Auckland Marathon, is committed to a robust sustainability plan.
All the plastic cups used on event are part of that sustainability plan and are made from 100% recyclable plastic and are collected post event for further recycling. The material used is high-quality recycled PET, meaning it can be recycled over and over again.
While striving to limit waste, The IRONMAN Group Oceania is also looking at ways in which waste generation can be minimised. This year, the event will be trialling Globelet to supply reusable cups at the Finish Line – saving 20,000 cups.
The IRONMAN Group Oceania is constantly updating its sustainability plan to reflect gains in science and accepted best practice in this area to continue to minimise waste and the impact on the environment.
Measures incorporated into the ASB Auckland Marathon on 23 January 2022 include:
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Globelet reusable cups trialled at the Finish Line – saving20,000 cups
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All aid station cups 100% recyclable rPET across the course
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All onsite vendors to use compostable packaging
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Onsite free water stations at Victoria Park for personal water refilling
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All competitor gear bags are reusable
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Three-bin waste stream system with all waste (waste, recycling, organics)
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Waste is then sorted back of house into correct waste streams to minimise landfill
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Reusable toggles used on all banner-mesh advertising (no plastic ties)
As is the case on all The IRONMAN Group Oceania managed events, the clean-up of the entire 42km, 21km and 11km courses, and venues used during the ASB Auckland Marathon will begin on Sunday and continue into the night and throughout Monday, with final sweeps taking place on Monday evening.
The Race Director will lead the course sweep to ensure that any impact or footprint of the race is removed. This is normal practice at all The IRONMANGroup Oceania events, with the team working closely with all stakeholders, participants and contractors to remove any impact the event makes on the environment.
One hundred percent of that waste is then sorted back of house, to ensure that the material is separated and sent on to the appropriate destination. By using the one high-quality recycled rPET material for the cups, the event ensures there is no cross-contamination at aid stations with other waste streams, with the rPET cups taken to Visy Recycling in Auckland for processing. All other waste from the event is sorted into correct streams, including compost being sent to Envirofert to minimise landfill.
