The culture of the “free” finisher’s t-shirt and cheap zinc medal drives a massive global waste cycle. Polyester t-shirts are synthesised from petrochemicals, shedding microplastics with every wash. They require heavy energy to manufacture and transport, only to sit unworn in drawers. Medals made from cheap, toxic zinc and lead alloys are mined under poor labor conditions, shipped globally, and cannot easily be recycled locally.
Setting the opt-in default
Historically, races included a t-shirt as standard. Transitioning this dynamic is crucial.
- Active choice / opt-in: remove the assumption of merchandise. Registration forms should default to “No T-Shirt / No Medal” (or a “green ticket”). If participants want merchandise, they must actively check a box and pay the actual cost (e.g., £15 for an organic/recycled shirt).
- The “Trees Not Tees” pivot: instead of a discount, frame the choice as a positive, legacy-building action: “Check this box to plant a native tree with Trees Not Tees instead of receiving a polyester t-shirt. We will send you the GPS coordinates of your tree.”
- Reframing the narrative: communicate the change with pride. Use copy like: “We believe your achievement is written on the trails, not on a piece of polyester. Help us keep this landscape wild by opting out of event merchandise.”
Lateral and cost-effective solutions: facilitating the circular kit economy
Rather than encouraging runners to buy new “eco-friendly” gear, organisers can build systems that reuse what already exists:
Race-day kit swap (zero cost)
Dedicate a single table or gazebo to a peer-to-peer kit swap. Invite runners to bring clean, functional shirts, shorts, jackets, and hydration packs they no longer wear, and swap them for items brought by other runners. Unclaimed items are donated to sportswear charities or a local running club’s inventory at the end of the day.
Digital second-hand platforms (zero cost)
In pre-race emails and your “What to Wear” guide, include custom search links to pre-loved trail gear on eBay, Vinted, or Depop. For example, use copy like: “First trail race? Don’t buy a new hydration pack! We’ve set up an integration to search for pre-loved trail gear nearby on Vinted here.”
On-site tech repair hub (low/zero cost)
Partner with local tailors, repair cafes, or craft-savvy volunteers to run a ‘Mend Clinic’ in the race village. Runners can bring torn windbreakers, splitting backpacks, or frayed running trousers to be repaired for free on race day in exchange for a discounted race entry the following year.
The Material Science & Choice Matrix
When choosing infrastructure, bibs, and medals, use this decision framework to bypass misleading “greenwashed” alternatives:
| Material / Item | Typical Use Case | Biodegradability / Circularity Rating | Carbon & Ecological Impact | Organiser Choice Strategy & “The Why” |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virgin Polyester | Cheap finisher shirts | Very Poor (1,000+ years to degrade; sheds microplastics) | High (Petroleum-based; high processing emissions) | Avoid entirely. Refuse to buy or distribute virgin synthetics. |
| Recycled Polyester (rPET) | Premium performance shirts | Moderate (Keeps plastic out of landfill once, but cannot easily be recycled again into clothes) | Medium (Uses less energy than virgin polyester) | Use only as a secondary option. If offering an opt-in shirt, ensure it is 100% rPET, certified by the Global Recycled Standard (GRS). |
| Organic Cotton / Bamboo / Tencel | Lifestyle event tees | Excellent (Naturally compostable in soil within months) | Low (Low carbon footprint, but cotton requires high water usage) | Best for non-performance shirts. Perfect for volunteers or casual event apparel. Ensure GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certification. |
| Zinc Alloy / Lead Plated Metals | Standard finisher medals | Zero (Heavy metals do not degrade and are rarely recycled locally) | Very High (Destructive mining practices, international heavy shipping) | Avoid. If you must use metal, use locally sourced, 100% recycled aluminum or steel with no toxic color-plating. |
| FSC Certified Wood | Sustainable finisher medals | High (100% biodegradable and compostable) | Very Low (Sourced from managed forests; low-energy local laser engraving) | Highly Recommended. Wood is lightweight (reducing shipping emissions), non-toxic, and can be custom laser-cut locally. |
| Tyvek (Plastic) | Standard race bibs | Poor (High-density polyethylene; technically recyclable but rarely accepted by local curbside programs) | Medium (Tough, lightweight, but petrochemical-derived) | Minimise or Collect. Transition to digital bibs/timing where possible, or set up a designated “Bib Return Bin” at the finish line for specialised recycling. |
| Seed Paper | Handouts, maps, bibs | Perfect (Fully biodegradable; grows into wildflowers when planted) | Extremely Low (Recycled paper embedded with native seeds) | Excellent for Event collateral. Keeps race-day instructions from becoming litter. |
Key Resources
Merchandise opt-out and planting schemes
Option 1: cost-neutral ⚖️
Trees Not Tees (UK/Global)
Integrated directly into major registration platforms. While individual tree sponsorship normally costs £5.00-£6.00, Trees Not Tees works on a cost-neutral or price-matched basis for race directors. Instead of purchasing a physical t-shirt (£2.50-£5.00), the organiser transfers that exact budget to Trees Not Tees when a participant selects “Plant a Tree,” and Trees Not Tees subsidises the difference.
treesnottees.com
Option 2: cost-neutral ⚖️
Charity donation opt-out
Provide an opt-out checkbox during registration that redirects the cost of the t-shirt directly to a local nature reserve, trail maintenance fund, or environmental charity.
Option 3: zero cost 🎁
Pure opt-out
Uncheck default t-shirt options altogether. Sell event merchandise strictly as a pre-ordered optional extra during checkout, eliminating upfront inventory risk and cost.
Sustainable medals and awards
Option 1: low cost 💵
Wood medals
Made from sustainable wood or slate, using water-based eco-friendly inks or UV printing which has a low VOC.
wooden-medals.co.uk
Option 2: low cost 💵
Edible or plantable medals
Work with local bakeries to offer stamped cookie medals, or hand out plant/tree saplings to finishers.
bettermedals.org
Option 3: low cost 💵
Vintage trophies
Source vintage trophies or plaques from local charity shops and re-engrave them for category winners.
Footwear and apparel recycling campaigns
Option 1: very low cost 💵
JogOn Campaign (UK)
A campaign dedicated to keeping running shoes out of landfills. Organisers can set up shoe collection bins at their registration/expo areas. JogOn sorts and sends functional shoes to charities and NGOs globally.
jogonagain.com
Option 2: very low cost 💵
Preloved Sports (UK)
A CiC that partners with events to collect, and resell second-hand performance gear. Perfect for setting up apparel drop-boxes on race day.
prelovedsports.org.uk
Option 3: zero cost 🎁
DIY “Leave-a-Kit, Take-a-Kit” box
Place a labeled plastic bin (or old cardboard box) at registration. Ask runners to leave functional, unwanted apparel or shoes. Anyone can take what they need for free; leftover kit is dropped off at a local homeless shelter or charity shop by a volunteer.
We hope these kit-up alternatives help simplify your race ops while reducing textile waste. Tell us how your runners responded to these options; and if you’ve developed a creative kit solution of your own, please drop us a line so we can share it!