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Sustainability round-up: April 13
This week’s sustainability round-up includes the International Table Tennis Federation’s (ITTF) latest efforts in sustainability; Enel Green Power promoting sport and sustainability in Greece; the University of St Andrews committing to gender equality in golf; The Boston Marathon’s approach to shrinking its carbon footprint; and the University of Cambridge’s innovative football kits made from recycled plastic bottles.
The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) has reaffirmed its commitment to sustainability after celebrating International Day of Sport for Development and Peace on April 6. The non-profit organisation marked the occasion with the launch of the Table Tennis for Development Handbook in four languages. The handbook provides guidance for developing table tennis-based activities, exercises and programmes.
Enel Green Power recently promoted sport and sustainability in Greece through its partnership with the ‘Thysias’ Bike Race. The race was organised by the Patras Cycling Club in collaboration with the local authorities. It featured more than 320 cyclists from 48 clubs belonging to the Hellenic Cycling Foundation.
The University of St Andrews in Scotland has made a commitment to gender equality in golf by signing The R&A Women in Golf Charter, which aims to increase the number of women and girls playing the sport, or working in the industry. The charter was launched in 2018 by The R&A, which is the governing body for golf outside the US and Mexico.
The Boston Marathon has revealed initiatives designed to improve its carbon footprint – starting with its participants, three-quarters of whom come from outside New England. The marathon’s official flight partner JetBlue is offering travellers to the event the option to offset carbon emissions, while buses will be used to transport athletes to the starting line. Organisers are also working on educating participants on sustainability and diverting waste, among other initiatives.
The University of Cambridge men’s and women’s football teams wore football kits made from 2,500 recycled bottles for their recent Varsity matches against the University of Oxford. The kits included shirts, shorts and socks made from OEKO-TEX certified recycled yarn, produced from recycled bottles.
Image: Frederik Rosar on Unsplash