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.

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Media Contact

Dan Cruz, 619.925.7671
pr@mccourtfoundation.org

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

2024 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival Earns Evergreen Certification

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (“Jazz Fest”) presented by Shell USA, Inc. (“Shell”), has been awarded the Evergreen certification by the Council for Responsible Sport (“Council”). Jazz Fest, a 55 year-old New Orleans institution known for its celebration of music, art, and culture, is the largest cultural festival to ever achieve Evergreen certification.

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.

2024 TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon Achieves Evergreen Certification for Sustainability Excellence

TORONTO, ON (March 5, 2025) – The 2024 TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon has officially been awarded Evergreen Certification by the Council for Responsible Sport for the second time, reflecting the event’s ongoing commitment to environmental responsibility and its leadership in sustainable race management. This milestone places Canada’s largest marathon in the same sustainability category as the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, which is widely recognized for its environmental certifications and green initiatives.

As part of the event’s growing list of environmental initiatives, the 2024 TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon has achieved zero waste status, with over 90% of event-related waste diverted from landfill. To achieve this goal, race organizers ensured waste reduction and diversion measures were in place through all stages of race planning and implementation, including sending almost 4,000 kg of organic waste to a commercial composting facility to ensure its proper disposal. Additionally, nearly 2,000 kg of discarded clothing was donated to local charities, while 3,769 kg of leftover food was redirected to local food programs to help address local food insecurity. The marathon also transformed 150 kg of heat sheets into a park bench through their partnership with Green Event Ninjas and Greenwell Plastics. The bench will be donated to a local community space for use by the public.

"Canada Running Series is dedicated to putting on premier running events that leave a meaningful impact beyond race day, and our hope is that with this Evergreen Certification, the marathon can set a benchmark for responsible event management while demonstrating that large-scale races can be both high-performance and low-impact,” said Charlotte Brookes, Race Director of Canada Running Series.

Environmentally conscious decisions are carefully considered through all facets of the event, from selecting sustainable venues, such as the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified Enercare Centre at Exhibition Place to host the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon Expo, down to the implementation of policies banning all single-use plastic water bottles. The event sourced local produce for the 5K race, such as apples from an Ontario-based farm in Newcastle, to provide participants with fresh, locally grown food post-race. A plogging event was also held along the Martin Goodman Trail ahead of the marathon in partnership with Trans Canada Trail, directly combining running with environmental stewardship to create lasting impacts beyond the race itself.

The marathon’s 2024 edition marked the introduction of the Green Bib Program, allowing participants to forgo receiving a race shirt and medal in favor of a donation to sustainability focused charities. In its inaugural year, 6.7% of participants opted in, raising over $20,000 for Trees for Life and Trans Canada Trail through the Green Bib Program, and contributing to the $72,000 raised across all Canada Running Series races in 2024. “Sustainability has always been a major focus for TCS, and we are proud to work with Canada Running Series to implement innovative solutions to create a greener event,” said Soumen Roy, Executive Director and Country Head, TCS Canada. “When we became the title sponsor of the event, we pledged 32,000 person-hours to set a new standard for environmentally responsible racing. It has been incredible to witness how much the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon has been able to accomplish on this front.”

“Sustainability is just one way we aim to show the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon’s broader commitment to positive community impact, and we are proud to lead the way in environmental responsibility while also championing inclusivity and engagement in sport,” continued Brookes. “The Women’s Training Program and Women’s Panel continue to promote gender equity in the sport, and our Athletes With Disabilities (AWD) Program works toward accessibility for all. We are dedicated to making a meaningful difference for both runners and the city we call home.”

As the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon continues to evolve, it remains dedicated to balancing elite competition with environmental and social responsibility. With the 2024 Evergreen Certification now secured, race organizers look ahead to further innovations that will enhance sustainability, inclusivity, and community engagement in the years to come. This year's event weekend will take place October 18-19, 2025.

About the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon

The TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon is Canada’s premier running event and the grand finale of the Canada Running Series (CRS). It celebrated its 35th edition in 2024. Since 2017, the race has served as the Athletics Canada national marathon championship race and has doubled as the Olympic trials. Using innovation and organization as guiding principles, Canada Running Series stages great experiences for runners of all levels, from Canadian Olympians to recreational and charity participants. With a mission of “building community through the sport of running,” CRS is committed to making sport part of sustainable communities and the citybuilding process.

To learn more about the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon, visit www.torontowaterfrontmarathon.com.

About Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)

Tata Consultancy Services is an IT services, consulting and business solutions organization that has been partnering with many of the world’s largest businesses in their transformation journeys for over 65 years. Its consulting-led, cognitive powered, portfolio of business, technology and engineering services and solutions is delivered through its unique Location Independent Agile™ delivery model, recognized as a benchmark of excellence in software development.

As part of the Tata group, India’s largest multinational business group, TCS has over 607,000 of the world’s best-trained consultants in 55 countries. The company generated consolidated revenues of US $29 billion in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, and is listed on the BSE and NSE in India. TCS’ proactive stance on climate change and award-winning work with communities across the world have earned it a place in leading sustainability indices such as the mSCI Global Sustainability Index and the FTSE4Good Emerging Index. For more information, visit www.tcs.com

Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle Receives Gold Certification from the Council for Responsible Sport

CHICAGO – The Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle and the Council for Responsible Sport announced today that the event has once again been certified at the Gold level. The certification, based on an objective and independent verification process conducted by the Council, recognizes the event’s commitment to environmentally and socially responsible practices. The Shamrock Shuffle first received certification in 2016.

“Our team is excited to receive Gold Certification from the Council for Responsible Sport,” said Carey Pinkowski, executive race director of the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle. “Our continued commitment to environmentally and socially responsible practices would not be possible without the support of everyone from our participants to our partners. We share this recognition with them, and we look forward to continuing the work to make the Shamrock Shuffle a more sustainable event.”

“We are proud to recognize the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle for its strong commitment to sustainability in the events industry,” said Rico Tesio, the board president of The Council for Responsible Sport. “This event sets a powerful example of how large-scale races can prioritize environmental responsibility while creating an exceptional experience for participants and the community.”

Certification is achieved by complying with standards across five categories: planning and communications, procurement, access and equity, resource management and community legacy.

Highlights from the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle’s sustainability initiatives include:

●       Waste Stream Education: Green Teams are stationed at Zero Waste Stations throughout Grant Park to educate participants on event waste streams (recycle, compost and landfill). Volunteer teams collect items, working with participants to identify the proper disposal method. The education process encourages thoughtful disposal methods in the future and supports the event’s goal of diverting waste from the landfill.

●       Composting Organic Waste: Compostable materials like food scraps and hydration cups are collected by the event and taken to The Urban Canopy, a local compost service. The organic waste from the event will break down into finished compost, a nutrient-rich soil amendment that is donated to Chicago area community gardens.

●       Sustainable Sourcing: Event participant shirts are made from 100% recycled polyester. In addition to reducing waste, recycled polyester reduces carbon emissions by up to 30% compared to virgin polyester, and helps Nike divert an average of 1 billion plastic bottles annually from landfills and waterways. Learn more about Nike’s Move to Zero journey towards zero carbon and zero waste, including how they are working to design product with sustainability in mind and help protect the future of where we live and play.

The Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle is part of the Bank of America Chicago Distance Series. The commitment to environmental and social responsibility is a key aspect of each event, with each race having received recognition from the Council for Responsible Sport. To learn more about each event’s commitment visit: shamrockshuffle.com, chicago13point1.com and chicagomarathon.com.

About the Council for Responsible Sport
The Council for Responsible Sport is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization with a vision of a world where responsibly produced sports and events are the norm. Since 2007, the Council has helped event organizers measure, manage, and verify their events' social and environmental impacts. The Council provides independent verification and certification for events, ensuring they meet high standards of environmental, social, and economic responsibility. Hundreds of certified events are among the world’s leading examples of responsible sport. In partnership with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), the Council has digitized its certification process with the ReScore App, a platform that simplifies event reporting and enhances sustainability tracking. councilforresponsiblesport.org

About the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle

Long recognized as an annual rite of spring, a celebration of St. Patrick’s Day and the kickoff to the outdoor running season in Chicago, the 44th annual Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle treats participants to a scenic 8K run through downtown Chicago and a two-mile walk along Chicago’s lakefront. The 8K Run will kick off at 8:30 a.m., followed by the 2-Mile Walk at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, March 23, 2025. Following the race participants can enjoy live music at the Post-Race Party in Grant Park. In advance of the event, the two-day Packet Pick-up will take place in Grant Park on Friday, March 21 and Saturday, March 22. In addition to attending Packet Pick-up, participants are encouraged to join The Mile on Saturday, March 22. For more information about the event and how to get involved, go to shamrockshuffle.com.