What plogging is, and why you should know about it
Sustainable ideas are working their way into our routines at remarkable speed. At GoRandom we are pleased that looking after ourselves and looking after the planet have become the same thing, so today we want to talk about plogging, a way of exercising that started in Sweden and that has entirely won us over. Not sure what plogging is? Read on.
Plogging joins running to sustainability: it means running while picking up the litter you pass. It started in Sweden and now has more than 20,000 followers in over 100 countries. The mechanics could not be simpler and anyone can join in: go out with your running shoes and a bin bag.
If you are wondering about the name, the word ‘plogging’ is Swedish and comes from joining plocka upp (to pick up) to the English jogging.
It began with Erik Ahlström, who moved to Stockholm and started picking up the litter he passed while out running. Bit by bit it caught on across the city and then the country. Today it is going global.
You may not have seen anyone doing this new sport in the Basque Country yet, but it is already established in Spain: the first official Plogging Tour meet-up drew around 1,500 people in Ibiza.
Why we like it so much
At GoRandom we believe in a more sustainable, healthier and fairer world, which is why this strikes us as both interesting and needed. It is proof that a lack of time is no excuse: if you can find a slot to exercise, you can use the same slot to leave your town cleaner. And it is not only running — the people who do it plogging point out that bending down to pick things up burns calories and works muscles running does not.
One of the best things about plogging is that you can do it anywhere , because litter is unfortunately everywhere and no town escapes it. So you can do it at any time of year, holidays included. And if running is not your thing, you can walk, skate or cycle. There are litter-picking clubs whose whole point is a walk with bottles, cigarette ends and the rest picked up along the way.
What GoRandom does
We have joined a cause that is more necessary than ever given the number of discarded face masks left by the pandemic. On our adventure activities at GoRandom — the surprise adventure we invite people to plog during the outdoor activities. Mountain biking, trekking or a kayak trip with friends are all good moments to pick up the plastic and litter you find out there.
You will find activities where you can plog in our Go Yellow and Go Orange packs, both outdoors.
Plogging on social media
Like a good many other ideas around sport and leisure, plogging has a large following on social media, which is how ideas worth knowing about spread now. So if you take it up, share your photographs and videos with #TrashChallenge and #Plogging and help spread something that is badly needed.
Do it carefully, though. With covid-19 taking up every part of life at the moment, wear gloves and disinfect your hands afterwards.
Want to book your GoRandom surprise with plogging included?
