Running Toward a Greener Future: Foopak’s Environmental Impact in the First Half of 2025 Races

During the first half of 2025, Foopak supplied nearly a million compostable and recyclable cups at major races like the Los Angeles Marathon (800,000 cups), Napoli City Half Marathon (40,000 cups) and ORLEN Prague Marathon (80,000 cups).

Through ongoing global partnerships with organizers who care about going greener, Foopak from Indonesia is helping make big events more sustainable.

What Happens to All Those Cups After a Marathon?

Large-scale events like marathons only last a few hours, but the plastic waste they leave behind can stick around for hundreds of years. Every year, the world creates more than 400 million tonnes of plastic, and nearly half is used only once for items like cups and packaging before being discarded.

That’s why solutions like Foopak Bio Natura cups are stepping in to offer a more sustainable alternative. In addition to being compostable, recyclable, and repulpable, these cups can handle hot and cold drinks, resist grease and heat, and break down cleanly after use.

Real-World Impact Through Marathons All Around the World

Foopak has partnered with major races around the world to bring sustainable paperboard solutions to the finish line, replacing single-use plastics with eco-friendly alternatives.

1. Los Angeles Marathon 2025

As part of its global push for sustainability, Foopak Bio Natura paperboard was used to provide 800,000 compostable and recyclable cups at the 2025 Los Angeles Marathon, held from March 14-16. As the fourth largest marathon in the United States, the event marked a big step in Foopak’s mission to cut down plastic waste at large-scale races.

“We can see the global market, and especially California, shifting away from traditional plastics as consumers seek more sustainable solutions,” said Karen O’Connell, Head of Sponsorship at the McCourt Foundation. “A marathon seems to be a logical place to start championing this change with real results, and we look forward to supporting that through Foopak Bio Natura at this year’s 40th LA Marathon.”

2. Napoli City Half Marathon 2025

At the 2025 Napoli City Half Marathon, Foopak supported over 7,000 participants by supplying 40,000 eco-friendly paperboard cups, in partnership with the RunCzech race calendar. The move backed the event’s commitment to cutting down on single-use plastic and making race day more sustainable. As a result, the event was awarded the Eco Event Plastic Free stamp by Plastic Free Onlus, making it one of the few national podium races in Italy to receive this recognition. The shift away from single-use plastics, along with the use of compostable cups and a reduction of over 25,000 plastic bottles, marked a major milestone in responsible event planning.

Carlo Capalbo, President of Napoli Running, stated: “The Napoli City Half Marathon has always been about pushing the limits, and this partnership with Foopak allows us to push the boundaries of sustainability. Together, we aim to inspire runners and spectators to think greener, while celebrating the sport we love.”

3. Generali Prague Half Marathon 2025

Foopak teamed up with the RunCzech series in 2024, starting with the 24th Generali Prague Half Marathon, and supplied 120,000 biodegradable Foopak Bio Natura cups to support the event. The partnership continued in 2025, with Foopak once again supporting the Prague Half Marathon as part of RunCzech’s 10-race calendar.

Other races under the RunCzech series where Foopak contributed sustainable cups include the ORLEN Prague Marathon 2025, Mattoni Karlovy Vary Running Festival 2025, Mattoni České Budějovice Running Festival 2025, Mattoni Olomouc Running Festival 2025, UniCredit Prague Relay 2025, adidas Women’s 5K Run Prague 2025, Birell Grand Prix Prague 2025, Mattoni Ústí nad Labem Running Festival 2025, and Mattoni Liberec Nature Run 2025.

4. ORLEN Prague Marathon 2025

Also held in Prague, the ORLEN Prague Marathon took place on May 4, 2025. Foopak Bio Natura helped keep the race greener by supplying 80,000 compostable paper cups, showing continued support for reducing plastic waste at major running events.

5. ELLE Run 2025

Foopak’s initial participation in the ELLE Run dates back to 2022, making 2025 its fourth consecutive year supporting the event. For this year’s edition, Foopak provided 70,000 eco-friendly paperboard cups to help keep runners refreshed in the 5K to 21K categories.

6. Income Eco Run

Foopak has supported sustainability in sports through the Income Eco Run for three consecutive years. In the latest edition, it provided over 80,000 Foopak Bio Natura cups. Waste sorting stations along the route and event village helped guide proper disposal. Separate bins for cups, cans, plastic, food waste, and general trash supported cleaner, more effective waste recovery.

To help close the loop, the organisers teamed up with Ento Industries to compost the banana peels and paper cups. Ento uses black soldier fly larvae to turn the waste into animal feed and organic fertilizer, making the whole process more sustainable.

Foopak Supports Cleaner Race Days with Like-Minded Partners

Foopak has been part of some of the biggest races in early 2025, providing eco-friendly paperboard cups to help cut plastic waste. Race organizers like RunCzech, ORLEN, and Income Eco Run are also stepping up with efforts like waste sorting stations, specialized cleanup crews, free public transport, and even electric cars.

Together, they’re proving that big races can be better for our environment. Curious how it all comes together? Learn more about Foopak’s paperboard solutions here.

Running Toward a Greener Future: Foopak’s Environmental Impact in the First Half of 2025 Races

What Happens to All Those Cups After a Marathon?