SUSTAINABILITY AT BOULDERTHON
Redefining Race
Day Sustainability
Materials
100% Recycled Finisher Medals
Every participant earns a medal made from recycled materials — designed to celebrate achievement without unnecessary waste.
Innovation
100% Hemp Bibs
First race to introduce fully hemp-based bibs for the 5K — a durable, lower-impact alternative to traditional synthetic materials.
Systems
Purpose-Built Waste Reduction
Custom-designed systems that reduce waste, materials, and emissions across the entire event — from start line to finish chute.
Eliminating 90,000 Disposable Cups
In partnership with the City of Boulder, Boulderthon implemented a large-scale reusable cup program on course with Hiccup – setting a new benchmark for sustainable hydration at major running events.
Results from a Single Race Weekend
99.1%
Return rate – an industry-leading result at this scale
286
Cups lost across the entire event
90K+
Disposable cups eliminated
What Sustainability
LOOKS LIKE MEASURED
Sustainability at Boulderthon is defined by outcomes, not intentions. Every initiative is designed to deliver measurable environmental results, from reducing waste and emissions to conserving water at scale.
Landfill waste avoided
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Average disposable cup weight: ~4.5 grams
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Approximately 893 pounds of landfill waste avoided
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Equivalent to 893 runners each dropping a one-pound bag of trash on course
Greenhouse gas emissions avoided
- Average footprint per wax-lined paper cup: 0.11 kg CO₂e
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9.9 metric tons of CO₂e avoided
That’s equivalent to:
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24,500 vehicle miles not driven
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1,000 runners skipping a 25-mile round-trip drive to the race
Water saved
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Average water use per paper cup: 0.8 liters
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Approximately 19,020 gallons of water saved
That’s equivalent to:
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The monthly household water use of 380 people
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1,250 post-race showers
“Designed for a Better Future“
Sustainability at Boulderthon is not symbolic, it’s systemic.
We design our races to reduce waste, protect communities, and set new standards for sustainable running.