Helping our Environment

We are committed to making the event as sustainable as possible and to minimise the event’s environmental impact as we work towards a Zero Waste to Landfill event for the future. These are some of the ways we are eliminating waste and reducing the environmental impact of the event in 2024 and beyond however we do need your help.

We are partnered with John Muir Trust for 2024 giving runners the option when they register online to choose to donate to their Wild Woods & Peatlands Appeal instead of receiving their official finisher’s t-shirt. In 2023, a total of 2091 trees were planted in Scotland through our partnership with Trees not Tees.

The finishers’ goody bag is a reusable cotton tote or drawstring bag.  The postage bags for merchandise orders are biodegradable.

Recycling and general waste bins are provided at the race starts, water and gel stations and at the Event Village. Please do not litter and take care to put your waste in the correct bin. Litter drop zones with recycling bins are provided 1 mile after each water station where you can discard your water bottles, gel wrappers and other waste.

It is a privilege to run alongside Loch Ness and through Inverness and we encourage all runners and everyone coming to the event to dispose of their rubbish responsibly and recycle where possible.

Our decision to use plastic water bottles at water stations along the marathon and 10K is based on a combination of considering runners’ welfare and the importance of hydration during an endurance event and the environmental impact. We have therefore chosen to work with Highland Spring because their water bottles are made from 100% recycled plastic and the full bottle is recyclable including the sports cap and label.

We aim to recycle every plastic bottle used at the event however plastic bottles can only be recycled if they are empty, so please remember to #DrinkDrainDrop. Only clean water bottles can be recycled, those thrown into the verges and hedgerows cannot.

We aim to recycle as much waste as possible at the event, from water bottles to plastics and cardboard that is used for the packaging and delivery of event items, such as medals, T shirts, branding and more.

We re-use as many event items as possible from year to year, such as signage, branding, and marshal bibs.

We ensure all surplus food, water and discarded clothing is collected for reuse, recycling or donated to local charities and food banks. Any remaining race t-shirts are donated to charity, local schools and sports groups.

We provide free bus transport for all marathon runners from Inverness and various locations around Loch Ness to the marathon start and a free shuttle bus is provided to 10K runners to return to the start to collect their vehicles, therefore reducing traffic around Inverness and Loch Ness.

We encourage all participants, spectators and volunteers living or staying in Inverness to consider walking or cycling to the Event Village or 10K start; those coming from further afield are encouraged to use public transport or car share wherever possible.

We are committed to using local suppliers and contractors for the event and buy all supplies locally, wherever possible and we order only what is necessary to reduce waste.

We encourage all our caterers to consider alternatives to single use plastic, e.g. bamboo cutlery, compostable paper plates and paper cups.

All our event communications pre- and post-event is digital with runners and volunteers registering online and all communications via website, email or social media, thus reducing printing and paper waste. No leaflets or paper will be handed out at the event.