When you’re thirsty during a marathon and reach for a cup at a hydration station to quench your thirst, where it ends up after you bin it is likely not the first thing on your mind. However, each disposable cup, of which the majority are made of plastic, contributes to a much larger issue — plastic waste polluting our environment.
As part of continuous initiatives to nurture a greener future by creating sustainable products, APP Group (APP) is once again making an effort on a larger scale by partnering with Charta Global, APP’s exclusive sales channel for the US and Latin America; Visstun, one of APP’s core converting partners; and Foopak, APP’s flagship innovation brand. The three-way partnership will result in a sponsorship of 800,000 fiber based plastic-free Foopak Bio Natura cups for the fourth largest marathon in the United States — the Los Angeles (LA) Marathon that will take place March 14-16.
In the United States, California has been shown to be one of the most sustainable states, even accelerating its goals for a transition to a 100% clean energy by 2035 . California was also one of the first states to implement a statewide ban on plastics, highlighting a collective effort to be more sustainable.
Additionally, the McCourt Foundation, organizers of the LA Marathon are making concrete efforts to make the annual marathon more sustainable, making an appropriate fit for Foopak Bio Natura to help runners stay hydrated without contributing to plastic waste by eliminating plastic cups at the marathon.
“We can see the global market, and especially California, shifting away from traditional plastics as consumers seek more sustainable solutions. That being said, 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,” said Karen O’Connell, Head of Sponsorship, McCourt Foundation.
During the event, 800,000 Foopak Bio Natura cups were available at 23 water stations throughout the marathon course. All Foopak Bio Natura cups are compostable and certified plastic-free, ensuring that no plastics from drinking ware at the race end up in our oceans. Additionally, these cups are PFAS-free and qualified for direct food contact, reassuring runners that they won’t be ingesting nano-plastics when they hydrate themselves.
To show their support for the LA Marathon, 20 employees from Charta Global were participating in the 5K category on 15 March, while 2 Charta Global employees were joining the full marathon race on March 16th.
“We are pleased to be partnered with APP for the sponsorship of the Foopak Bio Natura cups at the 2025 LA Marathon,” said Paula Thompson, Director of Sales, Visstun.
“Charta Global is one of our valued suppliers in the United States, supporting us in effectively reaching the sustainable consumers of today and tomorrow.”
Aside from providing support for marathon participants to be sustainable during the race through providing plastic-free cups, APP and Charta Global will also have a booth at the Lifestyle Expo from 14 to 15 March 2025 at the Los Angeles Dodger Baseball Stadium. Here, APP’s various paper products will be on display for interested consumers to find out more about APP’s offerings, and exciting souvenirs will be given out to visitors.
Marathons are traditionally thought of as an activity for those who are the epitome of health with strong mental resilience. APP’s goals closely align with this, as the company strives to provide products that are good for the health of the planet, through innovations such as Foopak Bio Natura.
