News article
Runners able to plant trees and reject tees in new London Marathon Events initiative
London Marathon runners will be able to opt out of receiving an official finisher’s T-shirt this year and plant a tree instead.
Runners participating in races organised by London Marathon Events (LME), which includes the TCS London Marathon, can choose to plant a tree through LME’s partnership with Trees Not Tees.
The scheme is part of LME’s ongoing commitment to reducing its environmental impact. Trees Not Tees will plant a sapling in its sustainable reforestation project in the UK for everyone who opts out of receiving a T-shirt.
Participants will in turn receive a personalised digital certificate, including a picture of their tree and a what3words geolocation to visit, if they wish.
LME’s further sustainability initiatives concerning the 2023 TCS London Marathon will be announced in April.
"We are fully committed to reducing our environmental impact and we’re working to introduce more initiatives every year to achieve this."
Hugh Brasher, Event Director at LME, said: “We are fully committed to reducing our environmental impact and we’re working to introduce more initiatives every year to achieve this. We know that finisher’s T-shirts are an important part of many people’s event experience, but we also know that many of our participants share our passion for environmental sustainability.
“Working with Trees Not Tees to offer the option to have a tree planted instead of receiving a T-shirt is the next positive step forward for LME as we continue our commitments to event sustainability.”
The Trees Not Tees option will also be offered at other LME events including The Big Half and Vitality London 10,000.