The 2026 event is only the third one-day athletics event to reach the highest level since the World Athletics standard was launched in 2024. The recognition followed an assessment and on-site audit covering efforts to reduce environmental impacts while increasing social and local economic benefits.

A model for sustainable sport

The ABW Standard assesses 55 action areas across six pillars, including transport, waste, energy, procurement, community engagement and social impact.

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe believes London has demonstrated what can be achieved when sustainability becomes part of the event model rather than a separate initiative.

“With strong leadership and clear vision, they have created a sustainability model that all sports can follow. Congratulations to the entire London Marathon team.”

Jeanette Wong, Group CFO and CCO of London Marathon Events, said the achievement reflected a commitment to embedding sustainability throughout the event.

“From helping participants make greener choices to the decisions we take on energy supply and procurement; positive social and environmental change is at the heart of what we do.”

From energy to mobility

The scale of the measures provides some indication of why London reached platinum.

Biofuels used for temporary generators helped deliver a 92.8% renewable share of event energy, while the five-day Running Show at ExCeL London was powered entirely by renewable energy.

Transport was another major focus. Through a partnership with Transport for London, all 59,830 participants, staff and volunteers received free public transport, while a Green Travel Planner encouraged lower-carbon journeys.

More than 65% of products and services were procured within 100km of Greater London. Beef was excluded from event catering, plant-based options were provided and nearly 60% of event waste was diverted from landfill and incineration.

Sustainability beyond carbon

Perhaps most importantly, the assessment extends beyond environmental performance.

The 2026 London Marathon raised a record £87.5 million for charity. More than 17.5 tonnes of clothing were donated to the Salvation Army, while partnerships with local organisations and universities supported volunteering, employment opportunities for adults with learning disabilities and autism, and skills development for future sports and event professionals.

This broader approach matters. Sustainable sport cannot simply be reduced to carbon measurement. Its impact also lies in how events use their enormous reach, spending power and connections with communities to create lasting social and economic value.

Raising the bar

London becomes only the fifth event to receive platinum recognition under the ABW Standard and the first road race, joining events including the Oslo Bislett Games, Weltklasse Zurich and World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25.

For an event involving almost 60,000 participants and hundreds of thousands of spectators, the achievement demonstrates that scale does not have to be a barrier to sustainability. Increasingly, it can become an opportunity to deliver impact at scale.