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.

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.

  • Bank of America Chicago Marathon selects venues that minimize environmental impact and provide access to all individuals.
  • 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. Reduce your environmental impact race weekend by using public transportation.
  • Amenities at all 20 aid stations on course are collected for composting and recycling, helping to divert waste from landfills.
  • In 2024, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon is proud to welcome a new partner in sustainable efforts with Culligan International. Together, Culligan and the Chicago Marathon will reduce 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 will find 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 is the perfect way for spectators to get around the city sustainably. View the CTA information in the online event spectator guide to find the viewing areas close to the train stations.
  • World Bicycle Relief is providing a free bike valet for participants and volunteers at the southeast corner of Michigan Avenue and Van Buren Street. Bikes may be stored starting at 4 a.m. and must be picked up by 4 p.m. Individuals are encouraged to bring a bike lock in the event the Bike Valet reaches capacity.
  • Visit the Sustainability area of the Abbott Health & Fitness Expo to learn more about what we are doing to lessen our environmental impact and how you can help in these efforts race weekend.
  • Help us improve our efforts! Each year, we incorporate new ideas and initiatives. Share your thoughts with us by filling out the post-event survey.
  • Check out Divvy Bikes, Chicago’s bike and scooter share system. Event attendees can conveniently rent a bike or scooter from one of the various docking stations located around Chicago, providing a low emissions way to explore the city.
  •  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 Hilton Chicago, the official Bank of America Chicago Marathon headquarter hotel, was the named 2017 Illinois Sustainable Technology Center “Illinois Sustainability Award winner.”
  • 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 receive are reusable and recyclable, as well as reduce the use of LDPE plastic by 35% and string by 50% from the previous year.
  • The 2024 finisher’s medal is made from 100% recycled materials.
  • Digital communication methods are used when communicating with our participants, event staff and volunteers to minimize the use of paper.
  • The event requires food vendors to adhere to guidelines for acceptable recyclable and compostable materials which includes banning the use of styrofoam in Grant Park and at the Abbott Health & Fitness Expo.
  • Following the race, volunteers hand 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 recently introduced all-electric Kia EV9 will act as the lead vehicles for the 2024 event. To get more information, visit kia.com.
    
  • Zero Waste Stations collect difficult to recycle items and send them to TerraCycle for processing.
  • Chiquita banana peels, compostable cups and other organic waste collected at the Zero Waste Stations and on course will be delivered to a local compost facility and turned into nutrient-rich soil amendment for donation and donated to local community gardens in the spring.
  • Heatsheet blankets collected at the finish line are taken to a processing facility and turned into composite wood boards. These boards are used to create benches for installation in local community gardens.
  • Clothing discarded at the start line is donated to Illinois AmVETS.
  • Unused food and water resources from the finish line are donated to the Chicago Food Depository.
  • The Abbott Health & Fitness Expo venue the McCormick Place offsets their electrical usage with alternate energy resources.
  • To reduce our overall impact, we calculate and purchase carbon offsets for our unavoidable emissions from event operations.
  • Participants are encouraged to offset their travel to the event by purchasing a carbon offset through their participant account or at one of the sustainability activations during race weekend.
• 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.
  • 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.
• 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.
  • Over 10,000 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.
  • 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 and is currently the largest marathon to be certified by the Council.