Reusable will lead to the finish line at the 22nd Oberbank Linz Donau Marathon on April 7th. And not just because Upper Austria’s Running Festival 2024 has more different competitions in its portfolio than ever before. But also because a sustainable innovation is being introduced this year in the popular finish line used by thousands of finishers.
Thanks to the support of Frankenmarkter mineral water and Zipfer beer, every participant there will receive a reusable cup instead of the previously used plastic cup. “He can then take this home with him as a nice souvenir,” says race director Günther Weidlinger. A valuable initiative. Recycling plastic waste is still the biggest challenge for sports organizers in all sectors.
“We at Frankenmarkter Mineralwasser are happy to support the Green Event Linz Marathon because the idea of a circular economy is part of our brand DNA. Frankenmarkter has always been available in the refillable glass reusable bottle. We have currently invested in a new 0.75 liter bottle. “We invested in reusable glass bottles to expand our refillable range. Production is supplied with our own PV system, and we also operate a hydroelectric power plant,” says Patrick Moser, commercial manager of Frankenmarkter.
The beverage manufacturer is also making a lasting contribution in this regard at the refreshment stations along the route. The mineral water is delivered in refillable glass bottles. In order to become even more sustainable, efforts in all areas of the Linz Run are continually being strengthened. But no one said it would be a sprint to save the environment.
Other initiatives
The starter bags and finisher shirts have been made from recycled plastic since last year and are themselves 100 percent recyclable. And the electric-powered lead car in front of the marathon elite, which mobility partner Hyundai will put on the wheels, guarantees 100 percent motivation on the race track with zero percent emissions.
“With a green event certification of such an important sporting event as the Oberbank Linz Donau Marathon, you are sending a signal that entertainment and exercise are also possible with consideration for the environment,” says environmental expert Gerhard Kampits, who is on the way to Upper Austria’s major sporting event to the “green pickerl” as a consultant.
Green pickle
For the first time in its history, Upper Austria’s largest popular sports event is to be certified according to the criteria of the Austrian Ecolabel. “The efforts to raise the Linz Donau Marathon as a green event to a completely new level of quality are continuing to progress rapidly,” says LIVA marathon coordinator Wolfgang Scheibner. Many measures are already being implemented on the way to becoming a “green picker”. The project is not a solo effort; all marathon partners are moving in lockstep towards sustainability.
