SUSTAINABILITY

Incorporating environmentally and socially responsible practices is an important part of the operational planning and production of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. The Chicago Marathon sustainability program focuses on environmental stewardship, community engagement and outreach, accessibility and innovation.

We would like to thank our participants, volunteers, community partners, sponsors and spectators for helping us create a more sustainable event.

BANK OF AMERICA CHICAGO MARATHON SUSTAINABILITY TIMELINE

2010 – The event receives certification from the Council for Responsible Sport.
2014 – Increased sustainability efforts earn the event Silver Level certification.
2016 – The Bank of America Chicago Marathon becomes the largest marathon to earn Evergreen Level certification.
2018 – After achieving multiple certifications, the Council for Responsible Sport recognizes the race’s commitment and legacy within the sport and awards the Chicago Marathon Evergreen Inspire Status.
2019 – The Marathon becomes an early signatory of the United Nation’s “Sports for Climate Action” initiative.
2024 – Undergoing recertification with the Council for Responsible Sport and continuing our ongoing commitment to environmentally and socially responsible practices.

• PLANNING & COMMUNICATIONS

  Responsibly producing the Bank of America Chicago Marathon requires strategic planning, accurate measurement and effective communication of our sustainability efforts.

  • Environmental advocate Tina Muir hosted the race’s first-ever plogging event. Plogging is a combination of the Swedish term plocka upp (to pick up) and the English word jog. Participants paired their passion for running and walking with environmental stewardship.
  • The closed-loop design of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon course lessens the distance runners travel to get to the start line race morning.
  • In 2024, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon welcomed a new partner in sustainable efforts with Culligan International. Together, Culligan and the Chicago Marathon reduced reliance on single-use plastic water bottles, offering runners aluminum Culligan water bottles at the finish line to ensure safe, clean, great-tasting water while protecting our planet from plastic pollution. Additionally, participants and their friends and family had access to refilling stations throughout the 27th Mile Post-Race Party as yet another means to accelerate sustainable water practices in Chicago.
  • The Chicago public transportation system provided the perfect way for spectators to get around the city sustainably. CTA information was available in the online event spectator guide.
  • World Bicycle Relief provided a free bike valet for participants and volunteers.
  • Divvy valet checked more than 300 bikes from event attendees on race day.
  • We share the Bank of America Chicago Marathon Sustainability Guidebook with vendors, partners and others who would like to know more about what we do and actions they can take to be more sustainable.
• PROCUREMENT

  As one of the largest marathons in the world, we realize the impact of how we source and purchase event materials. For this reason, we make an effort to incorporate local and sustainably sourced products and services, as well as reducing the use of resources whenever possible.

  • Race materials are provided to runners and spectators digitally at chicagomarathon.com, as well as through the official Bank of America Chicago Marathon App, presented by TCS. Download the App versus printing event materials.
  • The Bank of America Chicago Marathon works with local businesses to source products with sustainable attributes for the event. A local sign manufacturer uses fabric made from recycled plastic bottles to produce our Zero waste stations.
  • Event participant shirts are made from 100% recycled polyester. In addition to reducing waste, recycled polyester reduces carbon emissions by up to 30% compared to virgin polyester, and helps Nike divert an average of 1 billion plastic bottles annually from landfills and waterways.
  • The 2024 clear participant bag runners received were reusable and recyclable, as well as reduced the use of LDPE plastic by 35% and string by 50% from the previous year.
  • 2024 finisher medals were made from 100% recycled zinc alloy with recycled PET ribbons.
  • $19,568 was invested in local restaurants and catering services along the 26.2-mile course through the purchase of on-course volunteer meals.
  • Following the race, volunteers handed out sustainability produced Michigan Apples, a locally sourced and healthy treat to refuel runners in the Runner Refreshment area.
• RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

  A challenge all events face is responsibly managing energy and waste. We work to minimize our carbon footprint by focusing on waste diversion, energy conservation, renewable energy sources and the use of alternative transportation.

  • Kia will lead the way on race day! Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana Kia retailers are proud to support the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. The all-electric Kia EV9 acted as the lead vehicles for the 2024 event. To get more information, visit kia.com.
    
  • 100% Renewable energy was used at all event facilities.
  • 15 tons of organic materials were composted and donated to Chicago area community gardens.
  • 83% of course materials were diverted from the landfill through the event’s recycling and composting efforts.
  • 54,500 pounds of clothing collected from the start line was donated to IL AMVETS  Salvation Army.
  • 12,138 pounds of finish line product, including approximately 30,000 apples and bananas, was donated to the Greater Chicago Food Depository, providing healthy food to those in need
  • 537 pounds of prepared food from over 3,500 meals served to event week staff & volunteers was donated to Pacific Garden Mission & Fight2Feed, prioritizing feeding people over composting or landfilling food.
  • Chiquita banana peels, compostable cups and other organic waste collected at the Zero Waste Stations and on course were delivered to a local compost facility and turned into nutrient-rich soil amendment and donated to local community gardens in the spring.
  • Heatsheet blankets and other LDPE material were collected at the finish line are taken to a processing facility and turned into composite wood boards.
  • The Abbott Health & Fitness Expo venue the McCormick Place offsets their electrical usage with alternate energy sources.
  • To reduce our overall impact, we calculate and purchase carbon offsets for our unavoidable emissions from event operations.
  • 1,027 participants contributed to the purchase of carbon offsets for travel to the event, which supported the planting of trees in Kenya.
• ACCESS & EQUITY

  Improving equality among runners and providing access to underrepresented groups is a critical part of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon and our efforts to be more socially responsible.

  • The Bank of America Chicago Marathon has a formal access and equity policy and is committed to innovating adaptive sports.
  • The event provides guide runners to athletes who request additional assistance.
  • Gender-neutral changing facilities are available to runners prior to and following the race.
  • The Bank of America Chicago Marathon undergoes ADA compliance exercises, to ensure every component of the event is as accessible as possible.
  • In 2023, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon joined the movement started by Chris Nikic and reserved bib number 321 for neurodivergent participants to ensure representation of neurodivergent athletes in endurance races.
  • In 2022, we were excited to introduce the option for participants to register as non-binary and celebrated 41 finishers in the new division. The 2024 division saw meaningful growth with more than 160 non-binary runners registered to participate.
  • The Bank of America Chicago Marathon participant guide is translated into eight different languages, so all athletes receive important race information.
  • Visually impaired athletes are awarded Bank of America Chicago Marathon braille medals as they cross the finish line.
  • The finish line remained open for an additional two hours to welcome and celebrate participants who completed the race outside of the official course time limit.
• COMMUNITY & LEGACY

  Every year, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon positively impacts the Chicago economy. This impact provides opportunities to unite diverse groups and create new pathways to civic pride.

  • Runners and spectators can help support local economy race weekend by visiting and shopping at local businesses.
  • The Bank of America Chicago Marathon annually supports the Chicago Park District Cross Country Championship by helping host the qualifying youth races and championship meet.
  • More than 16,000 runners make their marathon journey more impactful by running on behalf of a cause they are passionate about. Learn more about running for charity by visiting the Charity teams page.
  • $73,100 was donated to local organizations and schools who volunteered as a group at the event.
  • All participants, volunteers and event staff receive access to an instructional Hands-Only CPR video.

BANK OF AMERICA CHICAGO MARATHON – EVERGREEN INSPIRE EVENT

The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is a Council for Responsible Sport Evergreen Inspire Event. This award is in recognition of our sustained commitment to environmental stewardship and social responsibility. Inspire event status is awarded by invitation only to events that have achieved multiple certifications from the Council, to recognize the legacy that sporting events committed to sustainability and thoughtful resource management provide to their audiences and communities. The Chicago Marathon was first certified by the Council for Responsible Sport in 2010.