Public education and climate-positive activities set for this year’s event.

 

The Income Eco Run (IER) is calling Singaporeans to run their distance-of-choice again at this year’s edition at the Marina Barrage on May 26, 2024, ahead of World Environment Day on June 5.

Expounding the challenge, “How Far Will You Go for Zero Waste?”, IER is Income Insurance’s event that drives climate-positive awareness and actions amongst Singaporeans. It will have five run routes – 3km, 5km, 10km, 15km and 21.1 km – and allowing participants to clock their preferred distance flexibly in support of a zero-waste lifestyle.

In addition to building wheelchair-friendly ramps at targeted run routes, this year’s edition will be even more inclusive with a new Kids Category that encourages children aged between four and 12 years old to run either 700m or 1km for the cause. So go ahead, grab your grandchildren and take a run.

Income Insurance will also be matching one dollar (S$1) for every kilometre (1 km) clocked at IER 2024 to the Singapore Environment Council (SEC) in support of green initiatives. Last year, IER donated S$40,000 to the SEC which went to its diverse outreach and training programmes.

This year, the size of running bibs will be 65-percent smaller than the industry standard to minimise material wastage. It was only 30-percent smaller in 2023. To make it fun and action-oriented, running bibs for the Kids Category will be made from seed paper which can be planted at home to grow flowers, fruits or vegetables. IER 2024 will also continue to use only plastic-free recyclable cups at its hydration stations. These 55,000 cups fully support the zero-waste cause as they can be easily recycled unlike conventional paper cups which have a waterproof plastic lining that hinders recycling.

Additionally, Income Insurance will offset the carbon footprint of the event tees and participants’ commute to bib collection and IER on event day. The event tees are made from 100-percent recycled materials and are available only as an opt-in purchase. IER encourages participants to run in their own orange T-shirts or past Income Eco Run tees to promote reusing and to reduce waste. The event also does not offer commemorative medals to runners for their participation but award e-certificates instead and participants verify their personal-best timings on the event website.

This year, the IER Village will host interactive and eco-friendly activities to educate and engage Singaporeans on sustainability beyond the run. Participants can look forward to eco exhibits that showcase practical applications of 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) such as turning PET bottles into blankets, as well as a marketplace of diverse organic and zero-waste products and food items, such as meatless options, that champion mindful consumption and responsible resourcing to reduce our collective environmental impact. The event will also avoid all use-and-throw cutlery and will feature an organised washing system at the IER village to educate the public about waste avoidance and efficient water usage. The Marina Barrage will recycle the water used for washing at the event.

The run route will take participants on a journey through the iconic landmarks of Singapore, such as Gardens By The Bay and the Singapore Flyer. The finish point for the run is the IER Village.

Registration for IER is open at www.income.com.sg/ecorun with registration fees starting from S$45 for adults and S$24 for children.