2024 TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon Earns Evergreen Certification

March 5, 2025

TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon Achieves Evergreen Certification for Sustainability Excellence

TORONTO, ON (March 5, 2025) – The 2024 TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon has officially earned the prestigious Evergreen Certification from the Council for Responsible Sport for the second consecutive time. This recognition underscores the marathon’s ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable race management. The TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon joins elite company, including the well-known Bank of America Chicago Marathon, which is celebrated for its rigorous sustainability efforts.

The marathon’s sustainability initiatives are extensive and impactful. In 2024, the event attained zero waste status by diverting over 90% of its event-related waste from landfills. To accomplish this, race organizers implemented robust waste reduction and diversion strategies throughout all phases of race planning and execution. Remarkably, nearly 4,000 kg of organic waste was composted, while 2,000 kg of clothing was donated to local charities. An impressive 3,769 kg of surplus food was allocated to local food programs, addressing food insecurity in the community. Furthermore, through a collaboration with Green Event Ninjas and Greenwell Plastics, 150 kg of heat sheets were repurposed into a park bench that will benefit a local community space.

Charlotte Brookes, Race Director of Canada Running Series, emphasized the organization’s dedication to hosting premier running events that have a meaningful impact beyond the race day. “We hope the Evergreen Certification will set a benchmark for responsible event management, proving that large-scale races can achieve high performance while being environmentally considerate,” Brookes remarked.

The marathon takes environmental considerations seriously, making careful choices in every aspect of the event. The TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon Expo, for instance, is hosted at the LEED-certified Enercare Centre at Exhibition Place, showcasing the commitment to sustainable venue selection. Notably, the event has banned all single-use plastic water bottles and prioritized sourcing local produce, including apples from a Newcastle-based farm for participants post-race. In a unique initiative, a ‘plogging’ event was organized along the Martin Goodman Trail in partnership with Trans Canada Trail, merging running with environmental action.

A new feature introduced at the 2024 event is the Green Bib Program, which allows participants to opt out of receiving a race shirt and medal in exchange for a donation to sustainability-focused charities. This initiative saw 6.7% of participants participate, raising over $20,000 for organizations like Trees for Life and Trans Canada Trail. This was part of a broader fundraising effort that totaled $72,000 across all Canada Running Series events in 2024.

Soumen Roy, Executive Director and Country Head of TCS Canada, expressed pride in the collaboration between TCS and Canada Running Series to implement innovative solutions aimed at creating eco-friendly events. Since becoming the title sponsor, TCS pledged 32,000 person-hours to elevate the standards for environmentally responsible racing, a commitment that has made a significant impact on the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon’s sustainability achievements.

Beyond sustainability, the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon is also focused on fostering inclusivity and community engagement. Initiatives such as the Women’s Training Program and Women’s Panel promote gender equity in the sport, while the Athletes With Disabilities (AWD) Program aims to ensure accessibility for all participants. As the event moves forward, it remains committed to blending elite competition with social and environmental responsibilities, with the next marathon weekend scheduled for October 18-19, 2025.

For more information about the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon, visit torontowaterfrontmarathon.com. Learn more about Tata Consultancy Services’ commitment to sustainability at tcs.com/sustainability.