This July, our team came together with the team from On to create a truly unique celebration of our shared value of sustainability in running. But we didn’t want to just talk about it- we wanted to live into it, together.
To kick off the celebration, we brought together young athletes form Forest Hills and East Grand Rapids High Schools for a special track workout, with Olympian and On athlete, Ben Flanagan. Complete with demos, swag, laughs, and lots of hard work, the group had got to hear from and run with the University of Michigan Alum and one of Canada’s fastest runners. It was a memorable event for all, and an incredible opportunity to celebrate On’s innovation on the track.
That evening, notably among the warmest of the summer, we gathered together stakeholders from across many aspects of the running community- from influencers, to policy stakeholders, community builders, top customers, and stewards of our movement space for a farm to table dinner on the rooftop at Terra GR. The conversation was centered on sustainability in the movement industry and communities. We shared stories about the love we have for our natural spaces, the impact that we can make individually and collectively on creating a better future for our industry and sport, and the work that On is doing to become the most sustainable footwear brand in running. We heard from special guest, Stacy Bare of Friends of GR Parks about the importance of local investment in the places and spaces we share. And of course, we donated to the cause! (you can too, by going to friendsofgrparks.org).
To cap off the celebration, our team gathered the following morning to get our hands (and maybe our On shoes!) dirty and work side by side with a crew from Grand Rapids Parks to do some trail maintenance and clean up in the old growth forest of Aman Park. In just an hour the crew picked up pounds of trash along the park's trails and roadways. Stacy Bare led this effort and shared the impact small groups can make with events like this, so his team can spend more time focusing on issues to keep our parks ecologically healthy and sound.
Through it all, we recognize the privilege that we have to run, walk and move in an incredible corner of the world called Michigan. It is with that privilege that we are committed to continuing to make sustainable choices, like:
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Zero Waste events
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Reusable cups for group runs, and use of reusable water bottles
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Recycled shipping materials and packaging
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Shoe recycling through Sneaker Impact
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Supporting active commutes in our communities
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Partnership with values aligned companies and organizations
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… and so much more.