The Council for Responsible Sport is proud to announce a new partnership with Headsweats.

The Council for Responsible Sport is proud to announce a new partnership with Headsweats.

Headsweats has long been a leader in performance headwear, trusted by endurance athletes nationwide. The company is also committed to responsible manufacturing, including the use of recycled materials and ongoing efforts to reduce environmental impact.

We’re excited that Headsweats products will be worn by our charity runners and walkers, as well as our on-site verifiers at certified events. This partnership reflects both performance and purpose visible on the course and behind the scenes.

Together, we continue aligning sport with sustainability.

2025 TCS London Marathon becomes first UK marathon to earn evergreen sustainability certification

2025 TCS LONDON MARATHON AWARDED EVERGREEN STATUS IN UK FIRST BY COUNCIL FOR RESPONSIBLE SPORT

• TCS London Marathon first marathon in the UK to be awarded top-tier status

• Award follows Evergreen certification awarded to organiser London Marathon Events in 2025

The Council for Responsible Sport (CRS) announced today (Tuesday 17 February) that the 2025 TCS London Marathon has been awarded its prestigious Evergreen certification – the highest level of achievement possible.

The 2025 TCS London Marathon is the first major event and marathon in the UK to be awarded Evergreen certification by the world’s leading sustainability certification programme dedicated to sports events and organisations. The event achieved 61 out of a maximum potential of 66 credits, surpassing the 55 out of 61 credits the event achieved in 2023 when it was first awarded the Gold standard certification.

The award builds on the event’s 2023 Gold certification, as well as the Evergreen certification for organisers London Marathon Events (LME) last year.

In 2025, LME again used the ReScore app, a cloud-based application for responsible event planning developed by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) for CRS. ReScore enabled LME to assess the environmental and social impact of the TCS London Marathon, as well as report, verify, and certify against sustainability standards set by the Council. Specifically, the app offered a tracking and monitoring system, templates, resources, and best practices for transparent, efficient, and sustainable strategies.

The CRS event-level assessment is based on five key areas of social and environmental impact. These are: planning and communications; procurement; resource management; access and equity and community legacy. The ReScore app is used to consistently capture and assess performance across these critical areas.

CRS highlighted the following standout achievements at the 2025 TCS London Marathon:

• Planning and communications: LME’s sustainability strategy addresses key areas of sustainability such as energy, waste, stakeholder engagement, inclusion, accessibility, and communications.

• Procurement: purchasing decisions are guided by LME’s principles of sustainability and social responsibility. Preference is given to suppliers that demonstrate commitments to environmental conservation, ethical practices, and community engagement.

• Resource Management: a comprehensive and well-structured Waste Management Plan to minimise the event’s environmental impact. The plan includes clear objectives and outlines the classification of waste streams, procedures for handling collected materials, plans for the installation of recycling stations, guidance for volunteers, and methods for tracking waste.

• Access and Equity: an Inclusion Advisory Group is a standout initiative that connects directly with community organisations representing underrepresented groups in the event. Additionally, the DEI Playbook serves as a valuable tool to ensure various event teams are engaged in meeting inclusion objectives. Accessibility initiatives were also implemented to address the diverse needs of participants.

• Community Legacy: participants in the 2025 TCS London Marathon raised a world-record breaking total of £87.3 million for charitable causes, bringing the cumulative total raised since the first edition of the London Marathon in 1981 to £1.4 billion.

Patricia Narváez, Evaluator, Council for Responsible Sport, said: “The TCS London Marathon is setting a global benchmark for sustainability in sport and athletics. Initiatives such as Tees for Trees, the use of biofuels, the introduction of water refill stations, and medals made from recycled metals demonstrate impressive innovation. The event’s community legacy is equally meaningful — through projects like the new Green assembly area, the TCS London Marathon is redefining how participants and communities engage with mass sporting events. Its strong commitment to inclusion, celebration of cultural diversity, and collaboration with running crews to enhance accessibility ensures that everyone can be part of this remarkable event.”

Hugh Brasher, CEO of London Marathon Events, said: “We’re incredibly proud that our work has once again been recognised by the Council for Responsible Sport with Evergreen status for the record-breaking 2025 TCS London Marathon. Meaningful change can only happen when we work together, and we remain committed to collaborating with our participants, partners, and stakeholders to drive progress. Our hope is that this achievement inspires others to join us in creating a more equitable, environmentally conscious, and active society.”

Vinay Singhvi, Head of UK & Ireland, TCS, said: "We congratulate London Marathon Events on achieving Evergreen certification from the Council of Responsible Sport for the 2025 TCS London Marathon. We are proud to have partnered with the team on this journey, providing technology and expertise such as our ReScore app to measure, manage, and minimise the event’s overall environmental impact. At TCS, we see sport as a powerful platform to advance sustainability, and this pioneering achievement highlights how emerging technologies are already reshaping marathons into safer, smarter, and more sustainable events. For us, this isn’t just a finish line. It's a powerful signal that we’re entering a new era of sustainable, tech-smart sport and the TCS London Marathon is paving the way for the global running community.”

The full list of events around the globe certified by the CRS can be viewed here. It includes world-leading basketball, track and field, golf, ironman and mass participation running events.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

About the TCS London Marathon

• The 2026 TCS London Marathon will take place on Sunday 26 April 2026.

• The London Marathon was first held on 29 March 1981 and the millionth finisher in the history of the event crossed the line in 2016.

• Since the first London Marathon in 1981, the event has raised £1.4 billion for charity.

• The 2026 TCS London Marathon Official Charity of the Year is Marie Curie.

• London Marathon Events passes its surplus each year through corporate Gift Aid to its parent charity, the London Marathon Foundation (the operating name of The London Marathon Charitable Trust, a registered charity (283813) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England & Wales (01550741), registered office: 190 Great Dover Street, London, SE1 4YB).

• Since 1981, the London Marathon Foundation has awarded more than £114 million to more than 1,750 projects that inspire activity in London and across the UK.

• Find out more about the work of London Marathon Events and the London Marathon Foundation in the new Group Impact Report.

For more information, visit tcslondonmarathon.com.

About TCS

About the Council for Responsible Sport

• The Council for Responsible Sport envisions a world in which responsibly produced sports and events are the standard. Its mission is to provide objective, independent verification of organizers ' social and environmental efforts to positively impact their communities.

• Since 2007, the Council has developed and continually updates the Event Certification standards, which have been adopted by more than 250 events globally. In 2021, it expanded its reach by introducing the Responsible Sport Standard for Organizations. Also, in 2021, the Council partnered with TCS (Tata Consultancy Services), one of the world’s largest digital solutions companies, to digitize the certification process through the development of the ReScore™ App. This collaboration made reporting more efficient, streamlined, and accessible for events of all sizes.

GRANDMA’S MARATHON EARNS PLACE AMONG WORLD’S MOST SUSTAINABLE LARGE EVENTS Earns Highest Certification Level from Council for Responsible Sport

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Zach Schneider
Marketing & Public Relations Director
zach@grandmasmarathon.com
(218) 727-0947

GRANDMA’S MARATHON EARNS PLACE AMONG

WORLD’S MOST SUSTAINABLE LARGE EVENTS

Earns Highest Certification Level from Council for Responsible Sport

(DULUTH, MINN.) --- Grandma’s Marathon has earned the Evergreen Certification from the Council for Responsible Sport, recognizing the organization’s ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship, community impact, and responsible event management.

The Evergreen Certification is the most rigorous standard offered by the Council for Responsible Sport, requiring a demonstrated commitment to sustainability and social equity across all aspects of race planning and execution.

“We believe Grandma’s Marathon can and should inspire meaningful change, not only in our individual participants but in our community as a whole,” Marketing & Public Relations Director Zach Schneider said. “Our staff and partners have worked tirelessly to put these values of sustainability into practice within our event, and we’re excited to further ingrain these values into our organization as we look to the future.”

The race first received the Gold Certification – one level below Evergreen – two years ago, and this year received 61 of a possible 66 credits to move up to the highest certification level possible.

Grandma’s Marathon becomes only the third United States marathon to receive the Evergreen Certification, joining the Chicago and Los Angeles Marathons.

“Grandma’s Marathon once again delivered a sustainability program that felt thoughtful and genuinely rooted in place,” Council for Responsible Sport certifier Laura Sivels said. “They approached each waste stream with intention, worked closely with community partners, and tied the experience back to what makes the Lake Superior region unique.”

London and Toronto Marathons have also earned the Evergreen Certification, as have other major events such as the US Olympic Track & Field Trials, the MLB All-Star Game, and the NCAA Men’s & Women’s Final Fours.

Among the environmental efforts during the 2025 race weekend that contributed to the Evergreen Certification of Grandma’s Marathon were:

• 436,000 cups composted & 50,000 cups kept out of landfills through use of reusable cups and partnership with Hiccup

• 148,000 plastic bottles avoided by supplying racecourse water via trucks and hydrants

• 234,000 pounds of CO2 avoided by bussing participants to the start line and 382,000 pounds of CO2 voluntarily offset by participants

• 6,900 pounds of recycled plastics, cardboard, and paper

• 784 pounds of recycled plastic film and Heat Sheets

• 7,511 pounds of clothing donated and resold or recycled through a partnership with True North Goodwill

• 50 pounds of nutritional packets recycled

• 60,600 pounds of compost generated

• 237 bikes checked at free bike valet

Among the social and community efforts during the 2025 race weekend that contributed to the Evergreen Certification of Grandma’s Marathon were:

• $39.4 million estimated economic impact to Duluth and surrounding region

• $600,000 raised for official charity partners

• 737 pounds of food donated to local food shelves and community organizations

• 166 free entries through Running to Common Ground program

• 67 organizations using items in free equipment lending library

After being originally certified for the first time two years ago, organizers set an internal goal for the past two years to increase their sustainability efforts to earn the Evergreen Certification in 2025.

“It shows how quickly and meaningfully Grandma’s Marathon has integrated responsible sport principles into its planning, operations, and community engagement,” Sivels said. “The growth since their first certification reflects both dedication and a clear long-term vision to reduce impacts and enhance benefits for participants, partners, and the region.”

“On one hand, it’s mission accomplished. We’re immensely proud of this certification,” Schneider added, “but on the other hand it also needs to propel us forward. There’s more to be done in this space, and we’re looking forward to the challenge of maintaining what we’re doing while finding even more ways to help protect and serve our community.”

For any questions or interview requests, please contact Marketing & Public Relations Director Zach Schneider via phone at (218) 343-9874 or via email at zach@grandmasmarathon.com.

ABOUT THE COUNCIL FOR RESPONSIBLE SPORT The Council for Responsible Sport envisions a world in which responsibly produced sports events are the standard. Its mission is to provide objective, independent verification of event organizers’ social and environmental efforts to positively impact their communities.

Since 2007, the Council has developed and continually updated the Event Certification standards, which have been adopted by more than 250 events globally.

###

ABOUT GRANDMA’S MARATHON Grandma’s Marathon began in 1977 when a group of local runners planned a scenic road race from Two Harbors to Duluth, Minnesota. After seeing just 150 registered participants that year, the marathon has now grown into the 10th largest in the United States. The race got its name from the Duluth-based group of famous Grandma’s Restaurants, the first major sponsor of the marathon. Having now added the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon and William A. Irvin 5K, the race weekend now welcomes more than 20,000 participants to Duluth and the surrounding region each year. As the popularity of Grandma’s Marathon weekend has grown, our mission has stayed the same – to organize, promote, and deliver annual events and programs that cultivate running, educational, social, and charitable opportunities to our communities. Grandma’s Marathon-Duluth, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization with a 10-person, full-time staff and a 17-member Board of Directors.

ASICS Los Angeles Marathon Earns Evergreen Certification from Council for Responsible Sport

Evergreen Certification Places ASICS Los Angeles Marathon Among World’s Greenest Major Events

LOS ANGELES (July 16, 2025) /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – The McCourt Foundation today announced that the Council for Responsible Sport has officially awarded the ASICS Los Angeles Marathon its highest level of Event Certification – Evergreen Certification – recognizing the race’s ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship, community impact, and responsible event management.

“This recognition is a testament to the work and passion of so many across our event team, our partners, and our city,” said Race Director Stacy Embretson. “We believe major events can inspire meaningful change—and this certification affirms our mission to build a healthier, more sustainable world through sport.”

The ASICS Los Angeles Marathon has a long history with the Council for Responsible Sport. It became the world’s first certified marathon in 2009 and steadily advanced through the ranks—earning Silver in 2015 and Gold in 2017, 2019, and 2022. It was also the first marathon to adopt the ReScore app, a tool that helps events benchmark and track sustainability efforts. More than 250 events worldwide have earned certification to date.

“The McCourt Foundation has been deeply committed to responsible sport since 2009, and the ASICS Los Angeles Marathon reflects that dedication in action,” said Michelle Sandquist, Council for Responsible Sport. “Their consistent efforts show that sustainability is not just a value but a practice—setting a powerful example for how major endurance events can create meaningful social and environmental impact.”

The Evergreen Certification is the most rigorous standard offered by the Council for Responsible Sport, requiring a demonstrated commitment to sustainability and social equity across all aspects of race planning and execution. Other Evergreen events include MLB All-Star Game, Chicago Marathon, and the New Orleans Jazz Festival. Gold certified events include the NCAA Final Four, Indianapolis 500, PGA Waste Management, and New York and London marathons.

“Achieving the highest level of Evergreen certification demonstrates the Los Angeles Marathon’s deep commitment to environmental and social responsibility,” said Jaime Nack, President of Three Squares Inc., the marathon’s sustainability consultant.  “Since 2018, we’ve worked closely with the team to embed sustainability into every facet of the event—from waste diversion and carbon reduction to community engagement. This recognition reflects years of thoughtful collaboration and a shared vision for a more sustainable future in endurance sports.”

Among the efforts that contributed to certification were extensive waste diversion initiatives, water conservation measures, and local community engagement programs:

• 12,000 pounds of shoes and clothing were donated from the Start Line.

• 686 pounds of food were donated from the Finish Line.

• 1,280 pounds of discarded heatsheets were collected and recycled.

• 11,745 pounds of compostable material were gathered across the race course.

• 60% of total waste at the Start and Finish Lines was successfully diverted from landfills.

• The race eliminated the use of 19,000 plastic water jugs by utilizing sustainable water tower systems.

• Three KIA EV9 electric SUVs served as lead pace vehicles, reducing emissions on race day.

Community engagement also played a central role:

• Four local nonprofit organizations activated educational booths at the Expo to highlight local environmental issues.

• 3,441 Students Run LA participants completed the marathon free of charge, many running their first-ever 26.2-mile race.

• 100 nonprofit partners were represented across the race’s charity program, raising millions for important causes.

The ASICS Los Angeles Marathon joins an elite group of major events that have earned Evergreen status, setting a benchmark for sustainability in mass participation sports. For more information on the Council for Responsible Sport, visit www.councilforresponsiblesport.org.

About the Council for Responsible Sport
The Council for Responsible Sport envisions a world in which responsibly produced sports events are the standard. Its mission is to provide objective, independent verification of event organizers’ social and environmental efforts to positively impact their communities.

Since 2007, the Council has developed and continually updated the Event Certification standards, which have been adopted by more than 250 events globally. In 2021, it expanded its reach by introducing the Responsible Sport Standard for Organizations.  Also, in 2021, the Council in partnership with TCS ( Tata Consultancy Services  ), one of the world’s largest digital solutions integrators, digitized its certification process through the development of the ReScore™ App, making reporting easier and more efficient than ever.

About The ASICS Los Angeles Marathon

The ASICS Los Angeles Marathon is Los Angeles’ largest and longest-running community sporting event. On March 8, 2026, the race will welcome over 25,000 runners starting at Dodger Stadium and finishing the 26.2-mile Stadium-to-the-Stars Course near Avenue of the Stars in Century City. Also included in the Marathon Weekend events are the LA 5K on Saturday, March 7 and the marathon’s two-day Lifestyle Expo held at Dodger Stadium March 6 & 7. The free expo is open to the public featuring up to 100 exhibitors and annually attracts more than 65,000 attendees. For more information, please visit LAMarathon.com.

About The McCourt Foundation

The McCourt Foundation (TMF) empowers communities to build a healthier world through research, education, and events. TMF’s mission is to cure neurological diseases while empowering communities to build a healthier world. TMF makes a difference by donating to neurology research, hosting educational forums, and using our events such as the Los Angeles Marathon, Rose Bowl Half Marathon & 5K, Santa Monica Classic, Boston Waterfront 5K, and Tour de South Shore, as platforms to raise funds for over 105 nonprofit charity partners. Since its inception, TMF has donated more than $6.7 million to neurology research and generated more than $72M for our nonprofit charity partners. Established in 1992, TMF is a 501 (c)(3) with offices in Boston, MA and Los Angeles, CA. For more information, visit mccourtfoundation.org.

# # #

Media Contact

Dan Cruz, 619.925.7671
pr@mccourtfoundation.org

MLB CELEBRATES ONE YEAR OF ITS SUSTAINABILITY PARTNERSHIP WITH WM THIS EARTH DAY

Silver Winner at the Titan Business Awards for ReScore!

ReScore: simplifying sustainability certification in sport

Nathan Blunt and the Council for Responsible Sport have addressed a growing need in the sports industry: simplifying sustainability certification for events. As stakeholders increasingly demand accountability in environmental and social practices, organizers face challenges in measuring, reporting, and certifying their sustainability efforts. This includes reducing waste, lowering carbon emissions, and promoting inclusivity and community impact, all of which require a complex and resource-intensive process.

To tackle this, the Council partnered with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), a global IT services leader known for its commitment to innovation, sustainability, and well-being. TCS has a long history of enhancing major sporting events, including the TCS London and New York City Marathons, which made them an ideal partner for this initiative. The project was led by Vinamra Shukla, who recognized the opportunity to merge his passions for sport, technology, and corporate social responsibility.

Together, they developed a solution that simplifies the certification process, allowing sporting events to more easily track and report their sustainability efforts. This collaboration aims to make sustainability certification more accessible and efficient for event organizers, helping them meet the rising expectations of athletes, sponsors, and other stakeholders.

Council for Responsible Sport Announces Updates to Version 5 Event Credit Standards and ReScore. Streamlined Process Aims to Enhance Efficiency and Clarity for Event Certifications

The Council for Responsible Sport (CRS) is pleased to announce the release of updates to the

Version 5 Event Credit Standards and the ReScore app powered by TCS. These updates are

designed to streamline the overall certification process. These changes, driven by feedback

from event organizers and industry experts, reflect the Council's ongoing commitment to

ensuring that sport events can be held in a more sustainable, socially responsible, and efficient

manner.

The updates to Version 5 simplify the process of certifying events by offering straightforward

guidance on documentation requirements and aligning standards more closely with industry

best practices. These improvements aim to make the certification process more accessible

while maintaining the rigorous criteria that ensure meaningful and measurable impacts in

sustainability, equity, and community engagement.

Key updates to Version 5 Event Credit Standards and ReScore include:

● Simplified Documentation: Event organizers will now benefit from a focused set of

documentation requirements, allowing them to allocate more resources toward

implementing sustainable practices.

● Enhanced Guidance: The Council has introduced clear, step-by-step instructions for

each credit, making it easier for all stakeholders to understand and meet the

requirements.

● Color-Coding System: A new color-coding system has been implemented to help quickly

identify the certification stage for the reporter, verifier, and Council, making the process more

efficient and intuitive.

● Updated GHG Calculator: A refreshed GHG calculator is now available in the resources

tab, offering enhanced support for calculating greenhouse gas emissions.

A special thank you goes out to the dedicated professionals who contributed to vetting and

refining these updates. The Council extends its gratitude to the event organizers, sustainability

experts, sports industry stakeholders, and TCS developers of ReScore, who all provided

invaluable feedback throughout this process. Their expertise and commitment to sustainability

have been instrumental in shaping the future of responsible sport event certification.

"The updates to Version 5 of our Event Credit Standards represent an important step forward in

making the certification process more streamlined and accessible," said Michelle Sandquist of

the Council for Responsible Sport. "We are grateful to our community for their dedication and

feedback, which have allowed us to refine the standards without compromising the integrity of

the certification."

The updated Version 5 Event Credit Standards are now available on the Council for

Responsible Sport’s app, ReScore, powered by TCS.

Nuun & Council for Responsible Sport Launch a Sustainable Event Guide for Endurance Event Organizers

Nuun has partnered with the Council for Responsible Sport on a 10-Point Guide to be released at Running USA Industry Conference

Las Vegas, NV – February 9, 2020 – Nuun and the Council for Responsible Sport today announced their partnership on A Practical Guide to Hosting Radically Responsible Events, a 10-Point Guide to support organizers in planning more sustainable sports events. The launch of the Guide coincides with the race industry’s largest gathering of running sector influencers and professionals in the world, Running USA’s annual conference in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Guide has been designed for race organizers, to support their efforts to host more sustainable events and provide guidance for decision-making that is defensible socially, environmentally and financially. A responsible event is one that undertakes a holistic assessment of the ways the event affects people, generates economic activity, and uses raw materials and energy that affect local ecosystems and Earth’s broader ecology. The Guide provides an onramp opportunity to help make the path to sustainability more accessible for events of all sizes.

Shelley Villalobos, the managing director of the Council for Responsible Sport said, “This Guide prompts organizers to consider—what’s left when the event is over? What resources have been used? What has been created or otherwise has changed, where, and for whom? Leading responsible events will answer those questions with ever-greater precision in ways their communities embrace. This Guide supports that journey regardless of the size, scale and budget of the event or its host entity.”

“At Nuun we prioritize Clean Product, Clean Sport and Clean Planet as pillars of our brand. We always seek to perform better across the board, and our team is hard at work to double down on our sustainability initiatives,” said Kevin Rutherford, Nuun President and CEO. “The path is challenging, and we are still learning, but we must push forward no matter the difficulties. Partnering with the Council for Responsible Sport on this Guide is one way that we can share our learnings with the industry and help scale the efforts that are needed to work towards our goal of a Clean Planet.”

The Practical Guide to Hosting Radically Responsible Events can be downloaded at https://www.councilforresponsiblesport.org/runrad 

About Council for Responsible Sport

Since 2007, the Council for Responsible Sport has been helping people measure and manage the social and environmental impacts of their events. Certified events are some of the world’s leading examples of responsible sport in action. The Council’s vision is a world where responsibly produced sports events are the norm and its mission is to provide objective, independent verification of the socially and environmentally responsible work event organizers are doing and to actively support event organizers who strive to make a difference in their communities. The current version of the Responsible Sport Standards (v.4.2) was developed by an outside working group of both sustainability and sport industry experts, reviewed by a wide range of stakeholders throughout 2013 and implemented in January 2014. www.CouncilforResponsibleSport.org

About Nuun & Company

Nuun is a hydration company with the mission of inspiring more movement for happier, healthier lives. Nuun electrolyte tablets and powders provide functional hydration products optimized for exercise, daily health, travel and immune support. Clean and Non-GMO Project verified ingredients, a refreshing taste and low sugar make Nuun a favorite amongst active consumers. Nuun products, like their tablets in their distinctive, colorful tubes, are convenient to carry and add to water, and are better for the environment than traditional bottled sports drinks. Consumers adding Nuun tablets to their reusable water bottles helped save the shipping of over 100 million pounds of water in 2018 alone. 15-year-old Nuun is the #1 selling sports drink supplement brand in running, cycling, outdoor and natural foods stores. The Seattle based company's culture and mission have been recognized by Outside Magazine, who named Nuun to its' 2017 and 2018 ‘Best Places to Work’ lists. To learn more, visit  www.nuunlife.com or follow them at @nuunhydration and #nuunlife.