An eco-friendly fitness trend that started in 2016 is now growing in popularity with its own world championship competition in Italy.
Originating in Sweden, when Erik Ahlström began picking up litter while jogging in Stockholm, the term is a combination of the Swedish word plocka, which means “to pick up”, and the English word “jogging”.
The activity of picking up litter while on your outdoor jog, has spread to other countries, and now an estimated 2 million people ‘plog’ regularly in over 100 countries.
The workout adds bending, squatting, and stretching to the main action of running—with ‘pliking’ being the latest offshoot for hikers who want to clean up the trail.
The third annual World Plogging Championship in 2023, resulted in approximately 6,600 pounds of litter (3,000 kg) removed from the environment around the city of Genoa.
Later this year, a British team will be traveling to the competition with the goal of running the farthest and picking up the most rubbish.
Claire Petrie recently kick-started her training with community events in her hometown of Bristol.
“I love that you help the environment, the planet and meet new people,” said the 48-year-old personal trainer who became passionate about combining health and the environment.
“We want to grow plogging in as many cities as possible.”
The four members of the Great Britain team include Cherrelle Amo and Luke Douglas-Home, from London, and Chris Broadbent, from Devon, who have launched their training with community events in London and Exeter.
Supported by environmental organizations, A Future Without Rubbish and Planet Earth Games, the team is encouraging members of the public to get involved, regardless of their fitness levels.
“We advertise it all on Facebook where we tell everyone where to meet,” Claire told SWNS news.
“We run 2k and then we stop and litter pick a certain area and then we leave all the bags by the bins–and then we run back,” said Claire, who then contacts the local council to collect the bags.
“It is very enjoyable and we make sure everyone is welcomed.”
During the past year, Claire’s group, which plans to expand into other areas in Bristol but currently has an average of 9 people joining in, collected 220 pounds of trash (100 kg).
Since 2021, the World Plogging Championships have taken place on paved paths and roads according to the principles of trail and mountain running. After their 2023 event, they reported keeping 6 million grams of CO2 from being released into the atmosphere by correctly separating and recycling the waste they collected.
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Luke, who is founder of A Future Without Rubbish, has been plogging for many years, covering the UK’s coastline and canals.
“Collecting rubbish and putting it in the bin is a tiny action – something we can all do, and it’s this idea of working together than has such an impact,” said Luke. “It’s not just about running; it’s about making a tangible positive long-term impact on our planet.”
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Chris, who founded Planet Earth Games, hosts monthly plogging events and confirms that the British team will keep the competition as green as possible by avoiding air travel and, instead, taking the train to Genoa.
“People are looking for a way to contribute to a healthier environment and plogging is the perfect activity to make an immediate impact and support your own physical and mental wellbeing with like-minded people.”
Learn more and log your own plogs at plogging.org.
START A PLOGGING GROUP By Sharing The Idea On Social Media…