Sustainability Efforts at the 2025 RBC Brooklyn Half
NYRR sustainability influencer and former elite marathoner Tina Muir (pictured left) with slow-fashion designer Natalia Trevino Amaro at the RBC Brooklyn Half finish line.
New York Road Runners’ sustainability initiatives continue to flourish, and runners are not only aware of our various initiatives but also feel proud to take part in them. The 2025 RBC Brooklyn Half was a true reflection of that.
This event was the third NYRR marquee race involving the NYRR Team for Climate program since its launch last year. For the first time at the RBC Brooklyn Half, Team for Climate runners funded both NYRR’s carbon offsetting and insetting efforts.
Offsetting consisted of purchasing verified carbon credits for improved forest management projects in continued partnership with Anew Climate. Insetting consisted of NYRR committing to using a portion of the funds raised for projects within NYRR that reduce the total emissions generated from our events and operations.
At the RBC Brooklyn Half Pre-Party Presented by New Balance, Team for Climate (TFC) runners picked up their bibs at an exclusive booth, receiving a TFC-branded bib, the official team singlet, and a Hydrapak race-day bottle, all in a reusable bag check bag. The singlet features a Climate Stripes graphic that highlights the urgency of climate change and thereby amplifies the program’s impact.
A Team for Climate runner after finishing the RBC Brooklyn Half.
Participants learned about NYRR sustainability initiatives at the Pre-Party, on race day, and at the RBC Brooklyn Half After-Party at Maimonides Park to remind them that NYRR works to ensure future generations have access to clean air, green spaces, and a healthy place to run.
On Saturday, NYRR sustainability influencer and former elite marathoner Tina Muir ran with slow-fashion designer Natalia Trevino Amaro, who was running her first half marathon. Together, they helped raise awareness about the Team for Climate program and sustainability as a whole.
The duo also led a plogging event at the RBC Brooklyn Half Pre-Party, joined by Ryan Cutter, the champion of the 2024 RBC Brooklyn Half, who raced the next day representing Team for Climate.
Plogging event at the RBC Brooklyn Half Pre-Party Presented by New Balance.
Other sustainability highlights from the 2025 RBC Brooklyn Half
- The two pace cars were fully electric Volvo EX90s.
- Over 28,000 medals were made in the USA from 100% recycled steel.
- Finisher medal ribbons were made from PET recycled material.
- 990 pounds of discarded runner clothing at the start was collected and donated to All of Us Clothing.
- 57 NYRR Green Team volunteers were stationed at the 4 start and 3 finish Waste Diversion Stations sorting discarded materials into separate categories (recycling, compost, heat sheets, waste).
- 9,887 pounds of leftover food and recovery bags were donated to City Harvest.
- Gatorade and water cups were composted at a compost farm in Upstate NY.
- Optional carbon offsets at checkout
To support our efforts to involve participants in our journey to Net Zero by 2040, NYRR now has launched an option for runners to to help offset the carbon emissions related to their travel to our events. On the NYRR sustainability website, runners can find a Donation Guide with a chart that estimates the carbon emissions of participating in an NYRR event, which are calculated based on travel, the scale and impact of the event’s production, and the rates provided by Anew Climate.
For more information on Team for Climate, email nyrrteamforclimate@nyrr.org.