It's so green at the Linz Marathon

In keeping with the spring awakening, preparations for the Oberbank Linz Danube Marathon are also "greening up". On April 16, thousands of people will once again be on their feet - be it actively on the running course or alongside it in the spectator area. The organizing team of the country's largest sports event, which was "invented" by OÖNachrichten together with the city of Linz 22 years ago, has set itself an ambitious goal. In 2024, the Lauf-Volksfest is to be certified as a "Green Event". Many measures are already being implemented on the way to the "green badge". Of course, the project is not a solo effort; all partners of the marathon are moving in step towards sustainability.

• Oberbank: The main sponsor of the marathon made it possible to improve the course record in the fall of 2022, but for the independent regional bank, implementing the sustainability strategy defined in the company in 2020 is more important than any best time. The certification of the marathon as a "Green Event" is a milestone for Oberbank General Manager Franz Gasselsberger for the major event. For every registration for one of the running events on the marathon weekend, one square meter of flowering area is created as part of the "Food for the Bees" initiative. Since 2018, busy city bees have populated four hives on the roof of Linz's Oberbank headquarters. The number is soon to be doubled. Oberbank is also an important pacesetter as a partner of the OÖN sustainability award Feronia.

• Borealis: one of the world's leading suppliers of advanced and circular polyolefin solutions and the European market leader in polyolefin recycling has been committed to the Linz Marathon for twenty years. In addition to its global research center, the title sponsor of the popular half marathon also houses several production facilities in Linz and employs people from over 35 nations. In the sustainability strategy updated in 2020, the health of employees is also an important point. Running has almost become part of the corporate culture for the marathon partner in recent years.

• voestalpine: The voestalpine Group was a pioneer and midwife in the Linz Danube Marathon. Since last year, Austria's only crude steel producer has again been involved as a sponsor and is now running its very own marathon in the direction of CO2-neutral production. The technology shift to green production poses major challenges for the entire European steel industry. For this purpose, voestalpine has developed an ambitious step-by-step plan for green steel production under the term "Greentec Steel". In a first step starting in 2027, the existing blast furnace route in Linz and in Donawitz will be partially replaced by hybrid electric arc furnaces. Subsequently, the use of green hydrogen in the steelmaking process will be successively increased to enable CO2-neutral steel production by 2050.

• LINZ AG: On the marathon weekend, endurance is also called for at the municipal supply and waste disposal company. A specially coordinated transport concept with modern shuttle buses will be used, and the start number will also be valid as a ticket on the day of the marathon. As a partner, LINZ AG will supply the marathon with energy and water, and will also ensure professional waste disposal. Incidentally, the marathon running course runs through the water forest, which is an important "green lung" of Linz.

• SPAR: The long-standing marathon partner is once again supplying the active participants with a special "fuel" this year: Five tons of organic bananas will be provided. Sustainability has been an important part of the company's strategy for years. The organic product range is being continuously expanded, and eggs from caged hens have already disappeared from the shelves. All packaging is to be recyclable by 2030.

• Hyundai: The mobility partner of the marathon and "namesake" of the relay marathon is setting a good example in the truest sense of the word. The lead car, a Hyundai Nexo, runs on zero-emission electricity, with the power generated by a fuel cell.

Source: nachrichten.at

Photo: FlightLab e.U.