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ENVIRONMENT
TTOM GOES in 2026
GREENER
The Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon is committed to hosting a world-class event that respects both the environment and the safety of its runners, and this sees the launch of the TTOM Goes Green Campaign at the 2026 event.
With the ever-increasing calls for all aspects of modern society to‘ go greener’ and do their part to protect and conserve our natural environments, which sustain our lives and health, road running events are also called upon to reduce their carbon footprint and effect on their local environment.
• Lower risk of runners missing hydration.
• Improved safety and race flow.
It is important to note that plastic sachets are positioned as a targeted safety and efficiency solution, not a regression in sustainability efforts.
The Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon began the process of becoming more environmentally friendly some years ago already, and quickly became a leading example of how a mass participation road running event can do its part to protect the environment. A notable change was a marked reduction in single-use plastics( SUP), both in terms of water sachets issued at refreshment stations and in packaging used throughout the event. Most of this SUP waste cannot be recycled, or ends up in the local environment or the oceans.
Now, we are launching the TTOM Goes Green Campaign, which outlines the event’ s commitment to environmental responsibility while prioritising runner safety, hydration, and race-flow efficiency. The campaign acknowledges that sustainability in a mass-participation event requires practical, balanced decision-making, particularly in high-density race environments. For this reason, while the event will continue to reduce SUP wherever possible, in select high-density areas of the route, plastic water sachets will still be used to ensure fast, safe hydration and to alleviate congestion during the early stages of the race.
This targeted approach is supported by enhanced waste-management infrastructure, increased disposal capacity, and clear runner communication. Sustainability remains a shared responsibility, and we thank our runners, volunteers, and partners for helping us protect the natural beauty of the Two Oceans route.
SUSTAINABILITY PILLARS
The campaign will be built on five pillars, namely:
1. Reduce Where We Can
• Eliminate or minimise single-use plastics in all non-critical areas.
• Paper-first and reusable-first approach across race operations.
• Ongoing review of materials, packaging, and supplier compliance.
2. Use Responsibly Where We Must Plastic water sachets will be used only at select high-density waterpoints, specifically the first two stations, where congestion has historically posed challenges. The rationale is:
• Faster hydration distribution.
• Reduced congestion and waterpoint dwell-time.
3. Dispose Properly
• Oversized, high-visibility disposal bins immediately after sachet zones.
• Clearly marked hydration disposal areas.
• Increased bin density at known high-litter zones.
• Trained volunteers guiding runners to disposal points.
4. Educate and Involve Runners & Partners
• Clear pre-race communication explaining sustainability decisions.
• Encouragement of personal hydration options where feasible.
• Simple, consistent messaging across all platforms.
• Partner & Sponsor buy-in to comply with the TTOM Goes Green Campaign.
5. Sustainable Mobility Partnership As part of the TTOM Goes Green Campaign, the event is integrating rail as a preferred race-day transport solution, both for athletes to get to the start, or back to their cars or homes after their race, through a new partnership with PRASA. The integration of rail transport in the event will:
• Reduce private vehicle congestion around Newlands and the coastal route.
• Lower carbon emissions per passenger vs individual car travel.
• Minimise race-day parking pressure in residential areas.
• Encourage public transport utilisation for other major events.
REDUCED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Overall, the TTOM Goes Green Campaign will continue the event’ s efforts to reduce the effect the event has on the natural environment, on various levels:
• By supporting reduced overall transport-related emissions.
• By contributing to improved urban mobility planning
• By aligning with broader City and national sustainability objectives
• By extending sustainability beyond just reducing race waste, to how we travel to and at races.
We call on all athletes, supporters, volunteers, partners and sponsors to join us in going greener, by playing your part in the TTOM Goes Greener Campaign.
Image: Two Oceans Marathon
14 Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon powered by BYD | 2026
The TTOM Goes Green Campaign will go a long way to protecting the sensitive Cape Town environment