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We went plogging with plogging pioneer Erik Ahlström in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Here you can find out what the trend is all about and how you can start plogging yourself.
I can’t count how many times I’ve walked outside to the nearest rubbish bin with my hands full of rubbish. To throw away the rubbish that I collected by the river, in the forest, on the trail. Left there on purpose by other people, or ended up there due to an unfortunate circumstance. For my son, it has now become a game to collect rubbish along the way and put it in our rucksacks. It’s a way of making the world a little cleaner when we’re out walking and cycling. Plogging was born from a similar idea. Simple and effective.
What is Plogging?
Plogging is an environmentally conscious combination of jogging and litter picking. In other words, you do nothing other than collect rubbish while you run. The term comes from Swedish (“plocka upp” = to pick up + jogging) and was founded by Swedish environmental activist Erik Ahlström. He launched plogging in 2017 to draw attention to environmental pollution – and to motivate people to actively do something about it. There are now plogging events almost everywhere in the world.
Jogging and collecting rubbish at the same time – that’s plogging. Photo: Sport Conrad
Why should you try plogging?
Plogging is effective, suitable for everyday use and motivating. It combines exercise with environmental protection, improves fitness and posture – and makes an immediate impact in your neighbourhood.
It doesn’t always have to be a plogging event, you can also collect rubbish by the roadside on your own. After all, small actions make all the difference: cigarette butts, for example, are extremely harmful to the environment – just one can pollute up to 5 litres of water. Plastic bottles take up to 400 years to decompose. And they never disappear completely – they break down into microplastics, which ultimately end up in soil, animals and even our bodies.
Did you know that one cigarette butt can pollute up to 5 litres of water? Photo: Unsplash
Did you know? This is how long rubbish takes to decompose in nature
In the mountains in particular, rubbish often remains lying around for decades. Here we have summarised a few figures based on the Austrian Alpine Association:
| Type of waste | Decomposition time |
| Tissue | approx. 1–5 years |
| Cigarette butt | 2–7 years |
| Banana peel | approx. 1–3 year |
| Chewing gum | 5 years |
| Newspaper | 1–5 years |
| Can (rusted) | 50–500 years |
| Aluminium can | 200–500 years |
| Plastic bag | 100–500 years |
| PET-bottle | approx. 500 years (never completely gone) |
| Glass bottle | up to 50.000 years |
Plogging in practice – 5 tips we took with us from the event with Erik Ahlström
Plogging together in Garmisch made it clear: plogging is fun and can be done by anyone – with minimum effort and maximum impact.
- Take a bag or bucket with you – a simple cloth bag is enough for spontaneous rubbish collection.
- Don’t forget gloves – this will keep you hygienic and safe when travelling.
- Keep an eye out in popular areas – there is often a lot of rubbish, especially on hiking trails, in car parks or on popular riverbanks and lakeshores.
- Two minutes is enough – you don’t have to spend an hour plogging, just a few minutes can help.
- Sharing motivates – whether as a team or on social media, it’s more fun together.
Plogging is of course much more fun together, like at our event in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Photo: Sport Conrad
Living more sustainably – even before & after your run
Plogging is more than just a trend – it represents a mindful and conscious approach to our environment.
Our CSR manager Maria has a few simple tips on how you can easily be more environmentally conscious in your everyday life and avoid waste:
1. use your own drinking bottle & lunch box
Instead of disposable bottles or take-away packaging, opt for refillable bottles and durable containers made of stainless steel or glass – saves plastic and money.
2. always have a cloth bag with you
A foldable cloth bag fits in any bag or jacket – and prevents spontaneous plastic bags when shopping.
3. less to-go – make more yourself
Whether it’s coffee, snacks or lunch: What you prepare yourself produces less waste – and is usually healthier and cheaper.
Sport Conrad CSR-Manager Maria at our Plogging Event with Erik Ahlström. Photo: Sport Conrad
4. repairing instead of throwing away
Whether it’s clothes, shoes or bags – a small touch is often enough to give them a second life.
5. be a role model – and achieve more together
Your behaviour counts: If you consume consciously, avoid waste and use sustainable alternatives, you inspire others. Together as a team – whether at work, in the family or with friends – small ideas quickly lead to big changes.
Conclusion: Simply start plogging – and set an statement
All you need for plogging is a bag, the right shoes and, of course, motivation. You can easily set an example for a clean environment in just a few steps.
You can find more information about plogging on Erik Ahlström’s website.