More Than 15,000 Races and Events Offered Incentives to Go Green
SAN DIEGO, CA – August 17, 2009 – The Active Network, Inc. (Active), a leading provider of technology and marketing solutions for community service and sports organizations, today announced the launch of its “Go Green” program in partnership with Athletes for a Fit Planet LLC, an organization that provides environmentally responsible solutions for endurance race and event organizers. Designed to encourage and enable the endurance sports community to embrace green practices, Active’s “Go Green” program recognizes and rewards race organizations that commit to adopting environmentally responsible practices, and gives consumers access to an extensive directory of green races around the country.
Active worked with Athletes for a Fit Planet, to identify criteria for its “Go Green” program that includes a Pledge of Sustainability. By signing up for the program and taking the Pledge of Sustainability, race organizations make a public commitment to initiate a minimum of 10 specific practices to reduce the environmental impact of their events. Active’s list of “Go Green” criteria range from the elimination of paper registration forms and providing onsite recycling bins to supporting local environment causes.
“Athletes for a Fit Planet is excited to be partnering with Active to integrate the Pledge of Sustainability into Active’s ‘Go Green’ program,” said Bruce Rayner, founder and chief green officer of Athletes for a Fit Planet. “This is the first program of its kind to provide event organizers with independent recognition for their commitment to a set of environmental initiatives. And athletes looking for green events can now register with confidence because the Pledge of Sustainability criteria will be available on Active’s Go Green listing and Athletes for a Fit Planet’s Green Events Directory.”
By registering for Active’s “Go Green” program and taking the Pledge of Sustainability, event organizations receive a number of benefits including:
- Pledge of Sustainability seal that can be featured on their event site, banners and other materials
- Events will be posted on a special Protect Your Playground section on Active.com, the largest participatory sports site in the world, and on the Athletes for a Fit Planet event calendar
- Access to the Athletes for a Fit Planet Resource Center that includes a Green Events Handbook, Green Business Directory and other valuable resources
- Exclusive discounts on Active and Athletes for a Fit Planet services and products
Upon completion of the event, the event organizer will provide Athletes for a Fit Planet with documentation that verifies that the event met its Pledge criteria. The event will receive a Verification Certificate and their seal will be updated with a “Verified” stamp on both Active.com and Athletes for a Fit Planet’s website to indicate the event has met its Pledge.
“Unlike any other organization in the nation, Active has relationships with more than 15,000 endurance races and events,” said Eric McCue, general manager of Active’s ActiveEndurance division. “We realized that by introducing a green validation program to race organizations and offering incentives to participate, we could make a significant impact in helping drive green practices. Interest from race organizers has been overwhelming, and we expect to see more and more participants seeking out races that feature the Athletes for a Fit Planet Pledge of Sustainability.”
Active’s “Go Green” program is part of Active Endurance, a division of The Active Network that delivers industry-leading online technology and marketing solutions to over 15,000 endurance events and organizations. Endurance race organizers interested in more information about Active’s “Go Green” program can contact Michael Wilson at (858) 964-3886 or go to www.ActiveEndurance.com.
About Athletes for a Fit Planet LLC
Athletes for a Fit Planet (AFP) is a leading provider of eco-services for athletic events in the US and Canada. The company offers support and validation for events that take the Pledge of Sustainability, including listing in the Green Events Directory. The company advises event organizers on cost-effective strategies for reducing, recycling and composting waste, reducing and offsetting greenhouse gas emissions, greening the supply chain, and minimizing the impact of the event on the local environment. And AFP works with event sponsors to provide opportunities to communicate their own green initiatives to athletes. Visit us at www.afitplanet.com or contact Bruce Rayner, Chief Green Officer, at bruce@afitplanet.com.
About The Active Network, Inc.
The Active Network delivers integrated technology solutions, marketing services and online media properties that enable and encourage participation in activities and events. For more information, please visit www.ActiveNetwork.com.
Media Contact
Tina Wilmott, The Active Network, Inc.
tina.wilmott@activenetwork.com or 858-964-3813