The Flying Pig Marathon is committed to the research and implementation of policies and procedures to be a more sustainable event. As a certified green event, we adhere to principles in five sustainability categories set forth by the Council for Responsible Sport: Planning and Communication, Procurement, Resource Management, Access and Equity, and Community Legacy.
Our goals for the 2021 Flying Pig Marathon are:
- Reduce our environmental footprint by diverting at least 80% of our waste from the landfill;
- Continue to reach out and include athletes of all abilities;
- Continue to share with the public our sustainability efforts;
- Communicate the Flying Pig Marathon’s efforts to produce a more sustainable event that the city of Cincinnati and surrounding communities can be proud of.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
USE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
Take the bus to the P&G Health & Fitness Expo. There are 21 routes that stop near the Duke Energy Convention Center and 28 bus routes that come to Government Square, just three blocks from the Expo. The Cincinnati Bell Connector also stops three blocks from the convention center. You can plan your route using Google Transit or download the EZRide. Just put in your home address and the address of the Duke Energy Convention Center (525 Elm Street) and get a list of buses and times to use.
RECYCLE ON RACE DAY
In the finish line Recovery Area and Post Race Party at Smale Riverfront Park, look for the Recycling Stations staffed by Green Team volunteers. The Green Team volunteers will assist you with the proper container for your waste.
SUSTAINABILITY
Sustainability, as the word suggests is the ability to sustain. In order to create a more sustainable living environment and protect the future of humankind, we must treat the earth as our garden and make sure we are giving back as much as we are taking.
FLYING PIG MARATHON’S SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS
Since 2009 the Flying Pig Marathon has been taking steps to be a more sustainable event by practicing the three R’s of waste management: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.
We have reduced the amount of paper used by no longer printing promotional brochures, results books and finisher certificates, which are all now done electronically. Also, with the introduction of the Virtual Goodie Bag in 2011, over 2 million pieces of paper have been eliminated from the waste stream.
The marathon collects discarded clothing at the start, and donates them to charities in the area. Any leftover food from the recovery area is donated to local food pantries. Banners and signage from the event are stored and reused the next year. Outdated banners and signage are donated to Matthew 25: Ministries and Crayons to Computers to be repurposed in their various projects. Ribbons from leftover participant medals are used as lanyards race weekend.
Since 2009, our recycling has expanded beyond water bottles to include paper, plastic, discarded participant Heatsheets, chip bags and excess medals.
2019 ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- 72.6% of all waste was diverted from the landfill.
- Items recycled or donated increased 59% over 2018 with 23.9 tons being diverted.
- 2,100 pounds of compost was collected
- 2,550 pounds of clothing collected at the start of the race were donated to Goodwill, a 26% increase over last year.
- 5,364 pounds of leftover food were donated to local food pantries.
- 19.1 pounds of leftover medal ribbons were repurposed as lanyards race weekend.
- 673.8 pounds of Heatsheets, shrink wrap and other plastic were recycled through Meijer.
- Other items recycled were: 11 pounds of chip bags and granola bar wrappers, 4 pounds of Capri Sun pouches, and 100 pounds of GU packets recycled through TerraCycle, 90.6 pounds of #5 plastic recycled through Preserve’s Gimme 5 Program, and 18.7 pounds of extra participant bibs were recycled at CFS Recycle.
- With the addition of Saturday Carpool Parking, 1,302 cars used the free carpool parking, transporting 3,699 passengers.
- The P&G Health and Fitness Expo featured a ‘Green Zone’ where sustainability efforts were promoted in collaboration with four community partner groups. The area offered sign-ups for carpool parking and featured the Flying Pig sustainability efforts. In 2019 we focused on educating the public on what items are recyclable in the city of Cincinnati.
- Over 1,676 participants donated $1 to offset their CO2 emissions from traveling to Cincinnati for the marathon weekend. The Flying Pig matched their donation and was able to purchase credits to offset their travel and plant 5 trees along the course.
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
- In 2011 The Flying Pig received the Excellence in Public Recycling award from the Hamilton County Recycling and Solid Waste District, and certified as a green event by the Council for Responsible Sport.
- In 2013 and 2014 The Flying Pig was a finalist in the Green Business Award for Green Practices, sponsored by The Business Courier and recertified by the Council for Responsible Sport at the Silver Level.
- In 2015 The Flying Pig was the winner of the Green Business Award for Green Practices.
- In 2015 The Flying Pig was certified by the Council for Responsible Sport as a green event at the Gold Level.
- In 2017 The Flying Pig earned Gold Level Inspire Certification from the Council for Responsible Sport. Inspire event status is awarded by invitation to events achieving multiple certifications from the Council, to recognize the legacy of their commitment to sustainability and thoughtful resource management.
FUTURE PLANS FOR GREENING FLYING PIG MARATHON
The Flying Pig Marathon Board Members and Green Committee are working hard to find more solutions to become a fully sustainable event. Look for more sustainable projects on this website, Facebook, Twitter, and our email newsletter, The Squeal.
COUNCIL FOR RESPONSIBLE SPORT
The Council for Responsible Sport (CRS) is about inspired innovation and unprecedented collaboration. As a Council, they were developed to provide a valuable roadmap and the resources necessary for event organizers to incorporate tenets of social and environmental responsibility into their organizations. The mission of CRS is to partner with and empower sport as catalysts for sustainable change. We provide the opportunity for sports events to pursue and receive certification, leaders to participate in peer-to-peer learning communities, access to online tools, case studies and strategic partners to assist the myriad stakeholders within the sports industry in their efforts to go green.
Founded in 2007 by the directors of The Freshwater Trust Portland Triathlon, the Council for Responsible Sport was created as a response to a growing need for planning models that take into consideration the social and environmental impacts of sports events.
