Can you organise a marathon for 60,000 people… without wrecking the planet? 🏃♀️🌱
In this episode of Green Queens, we go behind the scenes of the London Marathon with Kate Chapman, Head of Sustainability at London Marathon Group, just days before race day. Kate takes us through how one of the world’s biggest sporting events is designed with the planet in mind, and the role sport can play in creating positive impact. From carbon levies to behavioural science, Kate reveals how the marathon achieved “Evergreen” status, the highest global standard for sustainable sport, and what it really takes to get there.
Inside this episode:
🌍 The marathon’s carbon footprint
💡 How “Team Green” nudges runners into better choices, with real perks 👀
♻️ Why carbon removal is replacing traditional offsets
🚿 The surprisingly powerful role of toilets, queues, and incentives
🌆 How sustainability also includes inclusion, accessibility, and community
Whether you are a runner, an event organiser, or simply in need of some positivity, this episode shows how small design choices can drive massive impact.
00:00 – Race Week!
02:45 – Meet Kate Chapman
06:50 – How the London Marathon Evolved
10:40 – What Is “Team Green”? (And Why It Works)
14:50 – “Evergreen” Status
19:10 – Competing (and Collaborating) Globally
22:50 – The Biggest Carbon Problem: Travel
24:40 – The Mile 11 Forest Experiment 🌳
29:10 – Future Tech: Edible Packaging & Refill Systems
31:40 – Climate Change vs Race Day Reality
35:20 – Carbon Removal vs Offsetting
39:30 – Why Sport Changes Behaviour Faster
44:50 – Advice for Smaller Events
51:30 – Round Up
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