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It’s so green at the Linzer Lauf festival

It’s so green at the Linzer Lauf festival
Good mood at the Linz marathon
Image: VOLKER Weihbold

In keeping with the awakening of spring, things are also “greening” in the preparations for the Oberbank Linz Donau Marathon, where thousands of people will be on their feet again on April 16th – whether actively on the running track or in the spectator area. The organizing team of the country’s largest sports event, which was “invented” 22 years ago by the OÖ Nachrichten together with the city of Linz, has set itself an ambitious goal. In 2024, the running folk festival is to be certified as a “Green Event”. Many measures are already being implemented on the way to the “green sticker”. Of course, the project is not a solo effort, all partners of the marathon are moving in step towards sustainability.

  • Oberbank: The main sponsor of the marathon made it possible to improve the course record in autumn 2022, but for the independent regional bank the implementation of the sustainability strategy defined in the company for 2020 is more important than any best time. The certification of the marathon as a “Green Event” is a milestone for the major event for Oberbank General Manager Franz Gasselsberger. For every registration for one of the running competitions on the marathon weekend, one square meter of flowering area will be created as part of the “Feed for the Bees” initiative. Busy city bees have been inhabiting four beehives on the roof of the Oberbank headquarters in Linz since 2018. The number will soon be doubled. As a partner of the OÖN sustainability award Feronia, the Oberbank is also an important pacesetter.
  • Borealis: One of the world’s leading providers of advanced and circular polyolefin solutions and European market leader in the field of polyolefin recycling has been involved in the Linz Marathon for twenty years. In addition to its global research center, the title sponsor of the popular half marathon also has several production facilities in Linz and employs people from over 35 nations. The health of employees is also an important point in the sustainability strategy updated in 2020. Running has almost become part of the corporate culture for the marathon partner in recent years.
  • voestalpine: The voestalpine group was a pioneer and midwife at the Linz Donau Marathon. Austria’s only crude steel producer has been a sponsor again since last year and is now running its very own marathon towards CO2-neutral production. The change in technology towards green production poses major challenges for the entire European steel industry. To this end, voestalpine has developed an ambitious step-by-step plan for green steel production called “Greentec Steel”. In a first step from 2027, the existing blast furnace route in Linz and in Donawitz will be partially replaced by hybrid electric arc furnaces. Subsequently, the use of green hydrogen in the steel production process is to be gradually increased in order to be able to produce CO2-neutral steel by 2050.
  • LINZ AG: On the marathon weekend, endurance is also required at the municipal supply and disposal company. A specially coordinated traffic concept with modern shuttle buses is used, the start number is also valid as a ticket on the day of the marathon. As a partner, LINZ AG supplies the marathon with energy and water, and professional waste disposal is also guaranteed. Incidentally, the marathon course leads through the Wasserwald, which is an important “green lung” of Linz.
  • SAVE: The long-standing marathon partner is once again supplying the athletes with a special “fuel” this year: five tons of organic bananas are being made available. Sustainability has been an important part of the corporate strategy for years. The organic range is constantly being expanded, and eggs from caged hens have already disappeared from the shelves. All packaging should be recyclable by 2030.
  • Hyundai: The mobility partner of the marathon and “patron” of the relay marathon sets a good example in the truest sense of the word. The lead car, a Hyundai Nexo, is electrically powered with zero emissions; the electricity is produced by a fuel cell.

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