At this year’s Run to Empower, sustainability wasn’t just a side note — it was part of the course.
Run Ottawa, in partnership with EnviroCentre, successfully piloted reusable cups at all hydration stations along the 5K race route—replacing hundreds of single-use cups with a simple, scalable solution. The goal? To test how reusables perform in a real-world event setting and explore their potential for larger-scale races in the future.
EnviroCentre led the design and implementation of the pilot, ensuring the system was seamless for both organizers and participants. Reusable cups and return bins were provided by Friendlier, a third-party service that specializes in circular packaging systems. Runners simply dropped their used cups into return bins placed strategically a few strides from hydration stations—no more littered cups scattered along the route. After the race, the cups and bins were collected, washed, and sanitized at Friendlier’s Nepean facility, ready to be reused at the next event.
A better experience with real environmental gains
With just 400 participants, the Run to Empower race avoided sending 603 single-use cups to the landfill and achieved a 96% return rate for its reusable cups. This translated into a direct GHG emissions reduction of approximately 15kg CO₂e, reinforcing findings from existing life cycle assessments that compare reuse to single-use:
- Near-zero waste to landfill
- 20% lower emissions with just 5 reuses
- Over 70% emissions reduction when reused more than 25 times
Imagine the impact if a similar model was applied to large-scale events like the Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend (Run Ottawa’s signature event), which hosts over 35,000 runners. This could eliminate up to 55,000 single-use cups in a single weekend.
Beyond the environmental impact, reusables also enhance the participant experience. Runners noted the quality and comfort of drinking from a sturdier, reusable cup compared to typical flimsy paper or plastic ones. One participant summed it up well: “That’s such a great idea and an easy way to reduce waste. I hope we’ll see this at other races!”
Text continues below photo gallery
Photo credits: Craig Conoley/EnviroCentre
Why events are ideal for reusables
Sporting events, festivals, and street fairs are uniquely positioned to benefit from reusable dishware. These events require large volumes of dishware for short periods, making the shift to reuse impactful and worthwhile. They also operate in contained environments, where food and drinks are consumed on-site—making it easy to recover used items with well-placed collection bins.
What’s more, events offer an opportunity to lead by example. With thousands of attendees in one place, they can help normalize reuse and inspire similar changes in cafeterias, food courts, takeout restaurants, and grocery stores.
The transition to reusable packaging is a cornerstone of the circular economy—a model designed to eliminate waste and keep materials in use. According to the World Economic Forum, reusing just 10% of plastic products could cut plastic waste entering the ocean by half. It’s a powerful, proven step toward reducing emissions and fighting the global plastic crisis.
By adopting reusable dishware, event organizers can take meaningful climate action, showcase their sustainability leadership, and deliver a better experience to their guests. These small actions add up—event by event—creating momentum toward a cleaner, more sustainable future.
Interested in making your next event zero-waste?
Connect with EnviroCentre’s waste and circular economy strategic lead, Valérie Leloup, to learn how we can support your transition to reuse.
Author: Valérie Leloup, Strategic Lead, Waste and Circular Economy