TFT Approved opens the door for Trash Free Races which aims to connect with attendees to educate, empower and provide tangible actions they can take home with them.
Trash Free Races is coming to a race near you. This new initiative goes beyond the TFT Approved model of self-accrediation by organisers, giving racers and other attendees the tools to connect with their trails once they’re home.
Photo by Leigh Rose.
Not For Profit Challenges Race Events to Reduce Plastic Pollution in 2025
Not for profit Trash Free Trails launches new campaign ‘Trash Free Races’ to stay ahead of the problem of single-use pollution at events and festivals.
The race event industry faces significant environmental challenges. A study estimates that the UK events sector generates over 100,000 tonnes of waste annually, much of which ends up in landfills. (Ormesher, 2023) This is largely due to the desire for custom designed pieces so that events each year are branded with names and dates, making them unusable for future events. (Parry, 2024)
But with these challenges come innovative solutions. The nature of temporary events lends itself to reusable products more so than other industries. But meaningful change takes more than a few water refill stations. It takes a sector-wide shift in mindset, behaviour and action. It takes working with race organisers from the get-go. Designing events with purpose and guidance with how to tackle these problems first hand. That’s where Trash Free Trails come in. Or rather – came in, four years ago.
In 2021, Trash Free Trails launched ‘TFT Approved’ – the UK’s first self accreditation sustainability checklist for race events. Since its launch, over 50 events have used the checklist to successfully minimise their environmental impact as much as possible. British Cycling have since developed a similar approach.
In 2025, Trash Free Trails are building upon the success of this scheme under a brand new programme: ‘Trash Free Races’. This initiative is their evolutionary event presence that extends its impact beyond race organisers by engaging attendees directly. Centred around education, empowerment and tangible actions spectators and racers can take home with them.
Attendees will be invited to take part in numerous activations at the Trash Free Trails event stand, these showcasing initiatives like the UK deposit return scheme on drinks containers, as well as a gamified ‘secret shopper’ activity to take event sustainability into their own hands.
“We’re thrilled to be partnering with Trash Free Trails at this year’s Cannondale Malverns Classic,’ shared Oli Patton, Director of the event. ‘ Their nationwide efforts to reduce single-use pollution in wild places are truly inspiring. Recently, we had the privilege of joining the TrashMob at a local community event with Velosolutions, and left feeling both educated and uplifted, just like many of the young people who took part.”
“It’s important we recognise the impact these events have on the wild places that host them,’ noted Leigh Rose, Trash Free Trails’ Events and Community Coordinator. ‘If each rider, runner and roamer committed to leaving a positive trace these spaces will be better off than when we put our race jersey on. Simple actions make a big difference, and shouldn’t stop once you’re out of the race tape. We’re excited to inspire people to apply them to the trails you train on and enjoy every day too.”
In addition to presence at the events, Trash Free Trails are also advocating for more community integration in the local areas that host races. TFT will visit schools and engage with their network of ambassadors and Community Hubs to highlight race events as a force for good, which can leave locally and nationally loved outdoor playgrounds better than they found them.
