WHAT IS PLOGGING? it’s not the latest trendy dance on social media but a new sport that is useful for us and our planet …
WHAT IS PLOGGING?
Plogging? No, it’s not the latest trendy dance on social media but a new sport that is useful for us and our planet. The name of the practice comes from a mix between “Plocka upp”, which means “to pick up” in Swedish, and “jogging”. The idea is to run while picking up trash.
There’s no point in running fast, it’s about picking it up on time! With an environmental focus, plogging is not a sprint. The pace is closer to 6 to 8km/h, so you still have a bit of breath left for extended bending and chatting with other ploggers. And don’t be surprised by the change in pace, it’s perfectly normal to have moments of walking.
WHY RUN AND COLLECT RUBBISH?
This fast-growing sport has many advantages:
– You act against pollution: by picking up rubbish on the roadside, you contribute to preserving the fauna and flora. If you love the outdoors and are looking for a way to deal with your eco-anxiety, this is a good start.
– You contribute to your health: there’s no secret about it, running is a physical activity. Gradually you will be in better shape, with a more toned body, your mind will be boosted and you will improve your cardio-pulmonary capacity.
– You discover nature: when you put it like that, it sounds like a discovery class in primary school… It’s a real opportunity to discover new places and also to take the time to look around. Observe the landscape, the trees, the flowers, the birds, and everything that nature offers us, in order to disconnect from everyday life.
– You meet people: plogging events are often organised in groups by associations or individuals who want to get involved. It is an opportunity to share a moment together with people who are running for the same cause.
A DIRECT IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT
It is modest, but very real. An eco-jog is “only” a few pieces of waste collected (we often talk in kilos after all), but it is as many micro-aggressions against the environment that we make disappear purely and simply.
Like that old plastic bag (450 years of life in nature) that will no longer hinder the growth of the little tree on the side of the road. That soda bottle (100 to 1000 years) that will no longer spread its micro-plastics in small, lethal doses in the grass (before leaving with the rainwater towards… the ocean).
Or this cigarette butt (1 to 2 years) that will not end up in a bird’s stomach. In fact, when you think about it, it’s hard to find a more effective environmental gesture… It’s mathematical: each piece of waste collected is one less pollution, and a healthier environment than one minute before.
If this article has motivated you to go for a run you’ll need a water bottle to stay hydrated and, our friends at EasyEcoTips have written an article that might interest you!
Source: DECATHLON.
