New, multi-year partnership with Culligan International reduces impact of 200,000 single-use plastic bottles with sustainable hydration
NYRR Team for Climate enters second year to support expanded forestry projects, waste reduction initiatives, and emission reduction programs
New York, Oct. 9, 2025 — New York Road Runners (NYRR), the nonprofit that “runs” New York City producing 60 annual adult and youth races, today welcomes Culligan International, the global leader in water services and solutions, as the Official Water Solutions Partner, as part of its newly expanded sustainability efforts for the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon, taking place Sunday, Nov. 2. Other efforts include initiatives focused on carbon, waste, and emissions reduction, as well as forestry restoration through the NYRR Team for Climate program.
“At New York Road Runners, we have prioritized sustainability for nearly a decade as part of our vision to achieve Net Zero by 2040 and ensure future generations have a healthy world in which to be active,” said Rob Simmelkjaer, New York Road Runners CEO. “With Culligan joining as a Strategic Partner, we are creating new opportunities to educate the running community on the importance of reusing and recycling. This year, we are also expanding the impact of NYRR Team for Climate in supporting our efforts to offset emissions, conserve natural resources, and set new sustainability standards for the sports industry.”
Anchored in a shared commitment to reducing reliance on plastic and doing what’s right for the planet, the Culligan partnership will educate and empower runners with cleaner, safer, great tasting water sustainably. Starting this year, Culligan will offset the use of more than 200,000 single-use plastic water bottles with recyclable aluminum bottles for all TCS New York City Marathon finishers and at race-week events like the Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5K and TCS New York City Marathon Kids Kickoff.
“At Culligan, our teams around the world innovate to improve water quality sustainably every single day,” said Scott Clawson, chairman and CEO, Culligan International. “Meaningful partnerships like this with the New York Road Runners bring our mission to life tangibly, putting great water in the hands of those who are so intentional about what goes in their bodies as they prepare for such an important run. Together, we can elevate and implement more sustainable water behaviors that are better for our bodies and our planet.”
Culligan and New York Road Runners will continue to explore additional plastic reduction and refill solutions in years to come, leveraging the partnership to pilot and refine new models for sustainable hydration at scale.
NYRR Team for Climate Expands in Year Two
In addition to announcing Culligan as its new, sustainable water solutions partner, New York Road Runners will bring back NYRR Team for Climate—the nonprofit’s dedicated entry method tied to its sustainability efforts—to the TCS New York City Marathon for the second year.
Since it was first introduced, NYRR Team for Climate has raised more than $1 million to reduce the carbon emissions and successfully offset the entire carbon footprints of the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon, the 2025 United Airlines NYC Half, and the 2025 RBC Brooklyn Half.
New York Road Runners continues to work with Anew Climate, a global climate solutions leader, to use a portion of funds raised to purchase carbon credits from four improved forest management projects: the Hartwood Forestry Project, the Eagle Mountain Forestry Project, the 100-Mile Wilderness Forest Project, and the Empire Riverlands Forest Project.
Additionally, New York Road Runners acknowledges offsetting alone will not tackle climate change and can only be credible while also avoiding, reducing, and substituting emissions. A portion of the funds will be used for carbon insetting on projects that reduce the total emissions generated by New York Road Runners’ events and operations, like transitioning to electric vehicles and generators during events and using Energy Star appliances at facilities.
For the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon, NYRR Team for Climate will expand its impact by introducing several new measures designed to reduce runner waste and emissions:
- Plastic waste reduction: To reduce plastic waste, all NYRR Team for Climate members will opt out of race-day baggage.
- Textile waste reduction: All NYRR Team for Climate athletes will be encouraged to bring at least one used pair of running shoes to donate at the TCS New York City Marathon Expo Presented by New Balance. During registration, runners had the opportunity to opt out of receiving the official race shirt, which is made from 100% recycled polyester.
The 200 NYRR Team for Climate runners will continue to enjoy a sustainable race experience, including taking the most sustainable transportation option—the Staten Island Ferry—to the start, and having access to a sustainable start tent powered by solar generators, with sustainable catering.
2025 TCS New York City Marathon Sustainability Initiatives Preview
The TCS New York City Marathon is the BEST DAY of the year, in the BEST CITY in the world. It’s one of the largest and most iconic marathons, drawing over 55,000 athletes, two million spectators, and hundreds of millions of viewers tuning in from home to experience the transformative power of running. Throughout the week leading up to the marathon, New York Road Runners will offer a variety of sustainability-forward activations to increase community engagement and raise awareness.
This year, New York Road Runners is teaming up with Protect Our Winters (POW), a leading nonprofit advocacy group that unites athletes, scientists, and outdoor enthusiasts to drive systemic solutions to climate change and safeguard natural ecosystems. In addition to POW joining as an Official Charity Partner, with notable advocates Ben Gibbard and Dave Depper of Death Cab for Cutie and The Postal Service fundraising as part of their TCS New York City Marathon run, POW will support NYRR Team for Climate to amplify their shared sustainability goals and connect the running community with broader climate action efforts.
NYRR will host a plogging event Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 from noon–1:30 p.m. with special guests including 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials Champion Fiona O’Keeffe, who will be competing in the TCS New York City Marathon elite athlete field, and former elite marathoner and NYRR Team for Climate ambassador Tina Muir. Plogging—the practice of picking up litter while running—originated in Sweden and combines the phrase plocka upp (“to pick up”) with the word “jogging.” The activity combines environmental action with physical activity, reinforcing NYRR’s message that small, everyday choices can reduce waste and protect shared spaces.
In addition, New York Road Runners will host a sustainability-focused panel on the Citizens Stage at the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon Expo presented by New Balance Saturday, Nov. 1, from 2–3 p.m. that will be free and open to the public. The Expo will also feature exhibits educating runners and spectators about New York Road Runners’ ongoing circularity work.
To reduce waste and emissions on race day, the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon sustainability initiatives will include:
- Nine Waste Diversion Stations at the start and finish, staffed by Green Team volunteers. In 2024, 190,120 pounds of material was recycled.
- Donation of all leftover food to charity partner City Harvest. In 2024, 22,531 pounds of leftover food was donated.
- Six all-electric Volvo EX90 lead vehicles and 14 hybrid Volvo XC90 support vehicles.
- Composting of all Gatorade and water cups at McEnroe Farms in Upstate New York. In 2024, 140,620 pounds of material was composted.
- Official race shirts from New Balance made with 100% recycled polyester.
- Collection and donation of discarded runner clothing at the start to All of Us clothing, which will be distributed to New Yorkers in need. In 2024, 96,000 pounds of clothing was collected and donated.
Throughout the year, New York Road Runners works in parallel with vendors and city agency
partners to be eco-friendly and divert waste, aiming to leave New York City’s streets and parks
cleaner than they were found. New York Road Runners encourages all runners to practice
sustainable behaviors year-round at its 60 adult and youth races, including bringing their own clear
reusable bags, taking public transportation when possible, utilizing reusable water bottles, air
drying their clothing, donating their old shoes, and disposing of gel wrappers following their runs.
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About New York Road Runners (NYRR)
A New York City-based nonprofit, New York Road Runners’ vision is to build healthier lives and
stronger communities through the transformative power of running – serving nearly a half a million
people annually through its races, free community events, youth running initiatives, and school-
based programs across the five boroughs. During its nearly 70 years, New York Road Runners has
grown from a local running club to the world’s premier community running organization, producing
more than 60 adult and youth races each year, including the TCS New York City Marathon. Held the
first Sunday each November, the TCS New York City Marathon features more than 50,000
runners—from the world’s best professional athletes to a vast range of runners across experience
levels, ages, genders, abilities, and backgrounds. To learn more, visit www.nyrr.org.
About Culligan International
Culligan makes a real difference to people and to the planet by providing clean, sustainable, great-tasting water and reducing reliance on single-use plastic. Culligan is one of the world’s most recognized, trusted names in water, a reputation built through a legacy of trust, innovation, service, and quality. Founded in 1936, Culligan International operates in over 90 countries and has more than 15,000 employees worldwide. In 2023, the company reported revenue of $3.1 billion, with an average annual growth rate of approximately 30% (from 2016 to 2023). With over 18 million active installations, Culligan solutions serve more than 155 million consumers annually — an 11% increase from 2022. This translates to an annual reduction of approximately 40 billion single-use plastic bottles, saving over 600 million kg of plastic and preventing more than 5 billion kg of CO₂ emissions.
The Culligan master brand covers a family of iconic brands and innovative technologies that include Quench, Zip Water, Purezza Premium Water and Culligan Zero which all share a mission to bring better water to consumers anywhere they need it – in the home, at work or on-the-go. Its product range includes under-sink filtration systems, water dispensers, multifunctional taps, bottle-free coolers, and water softening systems. For more information, visit www.culliganinternational.com or follow @HeyCulligan.