We are A.SO. UK – the UK’s leading mass participation event organisers, putting on major events in Running and Cycling
We bring together an active and diverse community of people each taking part for their own individual reasons. Our participants vary from nervous first timers through to World Champions, and we are proud that across our events participants raise millions of pounds for charities every year.
As the organisers of the Manchester Half and its sister event, adidas Manchester Marathon, we are constantly striving to improve the sustainability of the Manchester Half, continuing to work closely with stakeholders and councils in Greater Manchester, along with all our suppliers, to reduce the impact on the environment. Our overall approach every year is to reduce, re-use and recycle wherever possible.
For this event we work closely with stakeholders and councils in Greater Manchester, along with all our suppliers, to reduce the impact on the environment. We have made a conscious decision to not make changes for PR reasons, or to appear disingenuous on the subject. We realise there are many different areas and aspects to be worked on and improved over time, and endeavour to do so, and be open and transparent about our progress.
Within the environment pillar we commit to ensure our company and events are run as sustainably as possible to minimise our impact on our planet.
MANCHESTER HALF RUN SPECIFICS
We are busy looking thoroughly at all areas of the event to find ways to reduce our impact. Below is an overview of each of the areas, and how we are progressing on our sustainability journey, which will be continually updated as we go on the run up to the event
Tesla’s mission is to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy. Now, Tesla are helping the Manchester Half accelerate their sustainability journey providing zero-emission vehicles throughout the race, meaning runners and fans can breathe easy with less pollution.
With over 250,000 Tesla vehicles sold, 2,000 Superchargers, and over 1GWh of energy under Megapack management, Tesla leads the way to less fossil fuels and emissions in the UK.
All Tesla products are designed to not just replace fossil fuel products, but to outperform them and be better in every way. This manifests in a performance car like the Model S, the fastest production car in the world, or the Model Y, a mid-size SUV which was the best-selling car in the world for 2023 and 2024.
All Tesla vehicles are also designed to be the safest in the world, achieving the highest safety ratings across all continents. Our autopilot technology, which is built into every car, actively helps our customers avoid traffic incidents and collisions, leading to a safer world.
The combined global fleet of Tesla vehicles, solar panels and battery storage enabled our customers to avoid emitting nearly 32 million metric tons of CO2e in 2024. That’s the same as driving an internal combustion engine vehicle about 78 billion miles. Premature deaths from air pollution are avoidable. The air pollution from burning fossil fuels leads to 8 million premature deaths globally each year. That’s 1 in 5 premature deaths worldwide
Our products are not just about the future of the planet, but also about addressing preventable deaths today. This is a major advantage of zero direct-emission products that is often overlooked.
Join us in the event village after you have finished to discover more about Tesla’s vision for a cleaner, safer future and experience it up close.
You can find out more here or experience Tesla yourself with a test drive.
Recycling and Reducing Waste
- Working with the relevant stakeholders & councils, the waste from the event will be recycled where possible
- We have put in place more infrastructure than ever before in order to enable recycling in all key areas. For example, we have quadrupled the number of bins available at the finish line for runners to recycle their water cans.
- We will be separating waste at our Event Village to ensure we are recycling as many items as possible
- We have chosen to work with a specific water supplier whose natural mineral water is lovingly drawn from and bottled on organically farmed land. Their site is completely self-sufficient by renewable energy, and they were the first Welsh water supplier to launch 100% recycled & recyclable bottles. Each bottle is made from at least 51% recycled plastic. The Finish Line bottles are from 100% recycled plastic, and 100% of each bottle can be recycled after use.
- Only clean water bottles can be recycled. Those thrown into hedgerows, gardens and trees cannot be!
- Please look out for the drop zone and target bins just after the water stations. Whilst there are no prizes for the distance you can throw your water bottle, by aiming it at the target bins, you will be helping us to recycle and run a litter free race. This also helps our local residents as it means we can get the roads cleaned up and reopened swiftly.
- Our extensive event and supporter guides are 100% digital and sent to participants via email, removing the need for any printing
- Participants register exclusively online, and all further event updates are sent via email and/or are posted on social media
- Essential physical items such as running bibs are posted out in a recyclable paper envelope
- Your personalised run number included is made from firstron material which is recyclable, however the timing chip attached is currently not, so this will need to be removed before recycling the rest.
- Our welcome letter is now made from recyclable material
- Medals are ordered early to ensure they can be delivered by sea rather than air freight. They are designed to be kept as a memento by participants. Any remaining medals after the event are recycled
- No leaflets or paper will be given out at the event
- Our Finisher T-Shirts are eco-friendly, and are manufactured using 50% recycled polyester. Any remaining t-shirts after the event are donated to charity.
- All leftover/unclaimed medals will be recycled by an external company
Donate your start line clothing to raise money for charity!
We know how important it is to keep warm while you wait for the event to start but we hate to see your no longer needed start line clothing go to waste! We are on a mission to keep your pre-loved clothes out of the bin and instead donated to charity who are able to turn these clothes into much needed funds to support their amazing work.
How can you help?
- To keep you warm before you start, wear a top you no longer want. In the start process, keep an eye out for the signed clothing donation area on your way to the start line.
- Drop your top in the designated area – to help out our volunteers, please keep hold of your top until you see the signs and the specified wheelie bins. Please don’t leave or drop your top anywhere else.