This year’s ASICS London 10K will see up to 2000 green runners choosing to plant a tree! The ASICS London 10K is a vibrant summer celebration of running in the heart of the capital. The event, on Sunday 25 July 2021, will lead runners past landmarks Big Ben, the London Eye and the River Thames, with live music and entertainment all the way along the fast-paced 10K route.
“Partnering with Limelight Sports’ and the ASICS London 10k on their Green Runner initiative is exciting for Trees not Tees, and not only because it will help us plant up to 2,000 more trees in the UK in 2021. Our objective at Trees not Tees is to change the status quo of ‘finishers t-shirt, medal, throwaway goodie bag’. By offering a greener option to participants, including a range of more sustainable options, the ASICS London 10k is taking a big step towards changing behavioural patterns and runner expectations. We hope it’s a trend we’ll continue to see across other major races and look forward to supporting further green initiatives in future” Chris Zair, Director of Trees not Tees.
Iconic sports brand ASICS has formed the partnership with Trees Not Tees as part of their aim to contribute to a healthy society and integrate sustainability into every aspect of their business.
‘Sustainability is in our DNA,’ says ASICS. ‘When our founder Kihachiro Onitsuka established his business in 1949, he wanted the company to be a force for positive change: a way of giving young people sense of direction in life through sport and fitness. Over time, this idea developed into a broader social purpose, enshrined in our corporate philosophy.’
Trees Not Tees is an environmental organisation co-founded by Jade Rein and ultra-runner Jim Mann. Trees Not Tees work with race and event organisers to give participants the option of planting a tree rather than getting a t-shirt they may not wear. Instead of buying too many t-shirts, the event organiser pays us for the cost of the t-shirt, and Trees Not Tees plant a tree for the participant instead.
‘The environmental benefit of planting a tree is huge,’ says Trees Not Tees co-founder Jim Mann. ‘It helps us fight against climate change by taking carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, it provides a home for a diverse range of species, and it gives us clean air to breathe.’
Trees Not Tees follow a planting plan approved by NatureScot, planting the right tree in the right place, meaning that an appropriate species is always planted on appropriate tree planting land. Trees Not Tees never plant on existing important habitats, or on deep peat.
For updates on our tree planting progrees follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter @treesnottees
If you’re an event organiser and want to sign up, email: hello@treesnottees.com
