ORGANISERS of the Brighton Marathon have confirmed plans to significantly reduce the use of single-use plastics at the hugely-popular event.

It is currently the UK’s second largest marathon and one of the largest events held on the south coast.

Significantly reducing single-use plastics when dealing with more than 18,000 participants, 150,000 spectators and 2,500 event staff, medical teams, volunteers and contractors is a major challenge but one which organisers Grounded Events Company is setting out to achieve.

The Brighton was the first major running event not to accept paper entry forms and use 100 per cent online registration.

In 2012, all paper publications such as runner instructions, were removed from circulation and digital versions issued.

In 2015, the move was made to a fully electronic event management briefing system, removing 95 per cent of all printed event briefing instructions. A move to paper cups at the event also helped to reduce fluid waste with better distribution and less wastage through discarded, unfinished bottles of water or sports drinks.

The organisers are now moving forward with ongoing plans to further reduce single-use plastics at the Brighton Marathon weekend.

Event director Tom Naylor said: “The Brighton Marathon weekend is an event with so many positive associations, from encouraging thousands of people to get outdoors and active, to the millions of pounds raised for charity and spent in the local economy.

“It is our goal to maintain that positive association in all that we do, including our sustainability efforts. By developing our plastics policy and reducing our impact on the environment, we hope to set new standards within the running events industry and help develop the way in which events operate and use plastics in the future.”

The Brighton Marathon takes place on Sunday, April 14. The event is now fully subscribed.