To race is our favourite way to play. On two wheels or two feet, fast and furious or slow and pounding, nothing beats taking on a new outdoor playground.
Five years ago we started asking ourselves how racing could be a force for good on our trails. Instead of a reputation of heavy bass, single-use pollution and environmental damage, could events:
Look after the trails that host them?
Connect with
local communities?
Inspire attendees to
do the same at home?
This is what Trash Free Races hopes to achieve. Together with event organisers, athletes and spectators, we're reimagining how the events we love can give back to our trails.
WE TAKE CARE OF OUR OUTDOOR PLAYGROUNDS
Discover where we're going!
This summer we’re packing our vans, hitting the road and heading to some of the outdoor race calendar’s most beloved dates to meet you. Come hang out in our house at your favourite event!
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What a visit to TFT basecamp looks like
Brand new event stand
New games and
family-friendly activities
Trail Cleans and
Citizen Science Training
Fresh merch
One of a kind bike raffle
What we hope to achieve
Each event we’re attending is taking on the challenge to be ‘Trash Free’, showcasing how environmental stewardship can take on all shapes and sizes.
Our presence at each event is unique, celebrating every trail and everyone that uses them. We’re calling on riders, runners, roamers and climbers to Leave A Positive Trace! With their help, we’re encouraging the entire events ecosystem to do their bit and take part in ways that make sense for them and their sport.
Making race events more sustainable is no simple task - we’re on hand to support organisers to reduce their single-use footprint and help attendees connect with the places they visit.
Creating the ultimate Trash Machine!
Some build their bikes for speed, others for style. We've compromised on neither, but added in a splash of Trash Free Races to the mix. This Trek Rail 8 is decked out with Ortlieb bags full of trail clean kit.
Now every part of the event field will be left Trash Free!
LEAVE MORE THAN JUST TRACKS
I'm 'just' an attendee, how can I help?
The success of a Trash Free Race depends on everyone mucking in to help prevent and remove single-use pollution - we call this DIO (doing it ourselves!).
While at an event, you can also take note and celebrate changes event organisers have made to reduce their single-use footprint.
Use recycling bins across the event site
Go to refillable water stations
Bring re-useable food packaging
Want to be an expert on Trash Free Races? Download our (not so) Secret Shopper Checklist and take it with you, then share the successes of the event using the tag #TFTSecretShoppers!
Pick up as you go! ​A pocketful, handful, or a bin bag full - it all adds up. Every piece of single-use pollution (litter) you remove, counts. Be sure to submit your findings, just takes a couple minutes wherever you are!
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Send an email! ​​Are you heading to an event that wasn't on our map? Why not lead the charge for that event to be a Trash Free Race! Give them a little nudge with this email template to get the ball rolling.
I thought you guys did something for races already?
In 2020, we created a sustainable event accreditation scheme called TFT Approved. Totally new to the “industry” and alien to the eNGO space, we thought it was a no brainer. But 5 years later, we couldn't have imagined how much impact it has had. You can read all about that here.
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From planning to race day and pack down, the guidance includes practical, affordable and simple ideas on how to reduce your environmental impact with a focus on reducing single-use product reliance, so event organisers can focus on delivering the best experience possible while protecting the places that host them
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Simply download the toolkit, choose the standard you want to hit, and begin implementing changes into your event management. Then don't forget to make noise about it afterwards!
Thank you to our Trash Free Races Partners
