SUSTAINABILITY

Melissa’s Road Race has established a very strong Sustainability Program (including Toward Zero Waste) adapted from the world-leading sustainability programs and best practices of its sister event, the Banff Half Marathon (the goal of the Banff Half Marathon is to be the “Greenest Running Event on the Planet”). The overall strategy of the Melissa’s Road Race continues to be to calculate and understand the environmental footprint and then reduce where possible and mitigate when it is not. Melissa’s Sustainability Programs include:

1. Waste Diversion from Landfill (Towards Zero Waste)

In 2025, the event achieved the gold standard of over 90% of waste diverted from landfill (as defined by the Bow Valley Waste Commission) with an excellent diversion rate of 95.3%. The event continues to explore methods of reducing and reusing any waste that is generated. In 2025, only 4.7% of all waste generated by the event went to landfill.

How is this possible?

It starts with lowering the amount of non-recyclable products used at the event, and trying to reduce the amount of waste in general. Then, all waste must be collected (no garbage cans allowed) through 12 different points of collecting waste and sorted. Through this sorting process, the goal is to send all of the recyclable products to their proper facilities. The tactics include primary waste diversion and secondary sorting where necessary.

2. Eliminating Single Use Items, Bio Digestible Water Cups and Good Practices

Melissa’s Road Race can utilize up to 20,000 disposable cups on a warm day and prior to 2018, the event utilized over 10,000 single serve plastic water bottles. The following practices have been implemented to reduce the impact of the beverage containers/cups that are needed by the participants to consume liquids during the event:

All single serve water bottles have been eliminated from the event
Participants have been encouraged to bring their own water bottles and self-serve water stations are offered for water bottle filling: single-use cup usage has decreased significantly
Reusable Cups were utilized at the finish line Post-Race Hydration Station, eliminating 6000 single use cups
Bio-digestible cups (yes, that is correct – “bio digestible”) are better than recyclable, compostable or in worst cases “coated” cups that are simply garbage. The bio-digestible cups are made from corn and compost very quickly – in a matter of a few days
All coffee suppliers are now required to provide enviro friendly (bio digestible) cups (this has been a large source of waste in the past)
Juice or any other containers at the finish line food station are now fully refundable
Food trucks/vendors are required to have fully recyclable materials (note, this has taken several years to educate all suppliers to choose products that are TZW compliant)
Reuseable options are being encouraged for food trucks/vendors

3. GHG offsets (Global Greenhouse Gasses)

Melissa’s Road Race continues to take steps to reducing non-essential greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and offsetting remaining unavoidable emissions. The event has teamed up with Karbon-X to allow participants to contribute to offsetting their emissions (created by travel to the event) with a user-friendly option at time of registration, and with a landing page on the event website. The ultimate goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and host a carbon neutral event.

4. Purchasing and Procurement Guidelines

Melissa’s Road Race utilizes a sustainability purchasing and procurement guiding document within the internal and external operations and partners. Sustainability is at the forefront when acquiring products and services. This includes sourcing products and services locally whenever possible, purchasing products that are environmentally responsible, and utilizing contractors that share these same philosophies.

5. Education and Engagement Modules

The event provides an opportunity for sustainability education and knowledge transfer to the participants of the race, their friends and families, the various staff and volunteers for the race, the media, and local members of the community, and all other stakeholders that are exposed to the event via various mediums. This takes place year-round in addition to race week, onsite on race weekend, and post-event via electronic newsletters, web, social media, direct participant communications, training manuals, media, advertising, print and on-site signage and programs. Through the event, we meet and educate influencers in other communities and share our sustainability knowledge. Our TZW stations are a great venue to discuss best practices. There have been many opportunities to discuss this with community leaders from throughout Canada and the US. It is our hope these conversations have led to the education of our best practices to other groups around the world.

6. Environmental and Wildlife Mitigation

All special events held in Banff National Park must undertake an EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) and develop a WRP (Wildlife Response Plan). Melissa’s Road Race utilizes Parks Canada Wildlife Resource Management Officers, other Parks Canada personnel and a subcontracted Environmental Monitor to follow the strategies outlined in these plans including participant education, wildlife monitoring and procedures for wildlife sightings and potential interactions.

7. Banff National Park Stewardship

The Melissa’s Road Race provides an excellent opportunity to promote an understanding and appreciation of Banff National Park through Park stewardship. The event promotes and fosters Park stewardship by sharing wildlife, historical and geographical features of Banff National Park through participant newsletters, social media, contests, Expo education, Mountain Wit performances, and other mediums.

8. Responsible Transportation

The Melissa’s Road Race heavily encourages participants to utilize responsible transportation when traveling to Banff, and when traveling within Banff. This includes:

Traveling to Banff:

Use Shuttles or other forms of Mass Transportation
Carpool – Travel with friends, other runners, and family together in the same vehicle
Do you have access to an Electric Vehicle – Use it!
Travel at non-peak times - Before 9am or After 5pm
Extend Your Stay - Travel on weekdays
Flying? Try to book direct, non-stop flights. And choose airlines with modern efficient aircrafts and those that have sustainability programs

In Banff:

Providing free shuttle service within Banff on race day (“The Melissa’s Express”)
Human Power - You can also walk, run or bike to the Expo/Race Site
Bike Valet is available on site
When in Banff or Canmore, utilize Roam Transit on race weekend for race participants, friends and families
Use hotel shuttles to travel to the Expo/Race Site

Access the event by the Nancy Pauw Pedestrian Bridge in Central Park

9. Virtual Event Bag

The Melissa’s Road Race utilizes an electronic “Virtual” Event Bag. This software eliminates the need for a physical race bag for each participant along with the significant reduction of paper and plastic waste.

10. Excess Food and Drink

All food and drink that is not utilized during the event is donated to local organizations including youth sports teams, charities and people in need.