It’s here! April 22. Spring is in full swing. The 40th Défi sportif AlterGo kicked off yesterday with the mini-marathon for schoolchildren. But even more important: It’s Earth Day! Eager to respect its environmental and social commitments, the Défi sportif AlterGo has adopted a rigorous program of measures and actions to ensure that the principles of sustainable development are adhered to during the event.
One action at a time. That’s how we will do as much as we can. The Défi sportif AlterGo’s efforts take several forms.
To start, the event has a strict waste management program. No single-use bottles are accepted on-site during events. Athletes, guides, and volunteers can easily sort their rubbish into the appropriate bins. This way, we can ensure that recyclable, compostable, and other waste materials remain separate. The Défi sportif AlterGo also uses a tool to calculate the amount of waste produced during the event. The tool was provided by the Conseil québécois des évènements écoresponsables. It will be used to tally the results in order to make a final assessment.
There is more, of course. Throughout the event, efforts will be made to calculate greenhouse gas emissions.
Employees, athletes, spectators, and volunteers are all encouraged to use public transit. To this end, the Défi sportif AlterGo can count on its loyal partner of the past 30 years, the Société de transport de Montréal, which offers a comprehensive transportation service from the airport for athletes from elsewhere. A map shows the bus routes, as well as the locations of the metro stations, in relation to the competition sites. They are accessible to all. You can read the Défi sportif AlterGo’s article on the STM by clicking this link.
Another aspect of the Défi sportif AlterGo’s sustainable development plan is responsible sourcing. The number of meals required for employees, volunteers, and athletes is calculated ahead of time in order to avoid any surplus that could go to waste. The same goes for single-use packaging, dishes, and cutlery. We prioritize reusable containers and local suppliers, to avoid transporting goods over long distances. And of course, vegetarian options are always available. It should be noted that any excess meals will be donated to charitable organizations.
In the end, however, none of this would have the same impact without the efforts of the green squad and the activity booths to create awareness and ensure the information gets out. Despite their humble nature, these valuable efforts will extend from one Défi to the next, as well as throughout the year. The Défi sportif AlterGo intends to do its part for the Earth, by any means possible!
