Culligan International and Bank of America: A Sustainable Partnership
Culligan International, a leader in water solutions, is proud to announce its multi-year partnership with the Bank of America Chicago Distance Series. This collaboration aims to reduce single-use plastic water bottles across the city’s major running events while ensuring participants stay hydrated with clean, delicious filtered water.
Commitment to Reducing Plastic Pollution
Through this partnership, Culligan will supply filtered water in reusable aluminum bottles at event finish lines and via hydration refill stations during the series events. These include iconic races such as the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle, the Bank of America Chicago 13.1, and the Bank of America Chicago Marathon.
A Sustainable Alternative for Runners
Installing hydration stations will significantly cut down on plastic pollution while providing runners and spectators with access to high-quality filtered water. The aluminum bottles are a fantastic alternative to single-use plastics, which take centuries to decompose. In fact, during the previous marathon, Culligan successfully offset the use of an astonishing 150,000 plastic bottles. This partnership aims to continue this success. In 2025, participants can expect more than 200,000 aluminum bottles to be available for use.
Insights from Leadership
Scott Clawson, CEO of Culligan International, remarked, "Culligan was founded in Chicago nearly 90 years ago. Partnering with the Bank of America Chicago Distance Series is a remarkable way to showcase our commitment to improving water quality for people both locally and globally, while actively reducing our dependency on single-use plastic." The response from both teams has been outstanding and indicates a strong commitment to environmental stewardship moving forward.
Practically Implementing Sustainability
To support this initiative, the Bank of America Chicago Distance Series will implement several strategies to minimize single-use plastics:
- Distribution of co-branded aluminum bottles that participants can reuse and recycle, utilizing the significantly higher recycling rate of aluminum compared to plastic.
- Hydration stations spaced throughout the event to encourage refillable practices among participants and fans.
- Offering lightweight, collapsible silicone cups for ease of use on race day and beyond.
Positive Impact on the Community
Carey Pinkowski, Executive Race Director, expressed excitement about expanding the partnership, stating, "Sustainability has been a cornerstone of our events for years. Partnering with Culligan enables us to enhance our sustainability initiatives and significantly reduce our reliance on single-use plastics by providing refillable aluminum water bottles at race events. This effort is close to our hearts and vital for the environment." The continued support from Culligan further strengthens the series’ commitment to a greener future.
Culligan's Legacy and Future
Culligan International has long been recognized for its commitment to providing clean, sustainable, and great-tasting water. Operated in over 90 countries, the company reported $3.1 billion in revenue with an annual growth rate of around 30%. With more than 18 million active installations worldwide, Culligan's innovative solutions have saved an impressive 40 billion single-use plastic bottles and avoided over 5 billion kg of CO? emissions.
Conclusion
This partnership between Culligan and the Bank of America Chicago Distance Series sets a powerful example for sustainability in the running community and beyond. With innovative solutions and community support, both entities are working tirelessly to ensure that sustainability is at the core of their operations, promoting a cleaner environment while delivering the gift of hydration.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the focus of Culligan's partnership with Bank of America?
The focus is on reducing single-use plastic water bottles at running events, providing sustainable hydration through reusable aluminum bottles.
2. How many events are included in the Chicago Distance Series?
The series includes three major events: the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle, the Bank of America Chicago 13.1, and the Bank of America Chicago Marathon.
3. What initiatives will be implemented to promote sustainability?
Initiatives include providing hydration stations, reusable aluminum bottles, and collapsible silicone cups for participants.
4. How has Culligan contributed to reducing plastic waste?
Culligan offset the use of 150,000 single-use plastic water bottles in their previous marathon, demonstrating a commitment to sustainability.
5. What is the significance of this partnership for the local community?
The partnership aims to enhance environmental awareness and sustainable practices within the running community, benefiting both local and global audiences.
