Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle Receives Gold Certification from the Council for Responsible Sport

March 4, 2025

CHICAGO (March 5, 2025) /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – The Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle and the Council for Responsible Sport announced today that the event has once again been certified at the Gold level. The certification, based on an objective and independent verification process conducted by the Council, recognizes the event’s commitment to environmentally and socially responsible practices. The Shamrock Shuffle first received certification in 2016.

“Our team is excited to receive Gold Certification from the Council for Responsible Sport,” said Carey Pinkowski, executive race director of the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle. “Our continued commitment to environmentally and socially responsible practices would not be possible without the support of everyone from our participants to our partners. We share this recognition with them, and we look forward to continuing the work to make the Shamrock Shuffle a more sustainable event.”

“We are proud to recognize the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle for its strong commitment to sustainability in the events industry,” said Rico Tesio, the board president of The Council for Responsible Sport. “This event sets a powerful example of how large-scale races can prioritize environmental responsibility while creating an exceptional experience for participants and the community.”

Certification is achieved by complying with standards across five categories: planning and communications, procurement, access and equity, resource management and community legacy.

Highlights from the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle’s sustainability initiatives include:

• Waste Stream Education: Green Teams are stationed at Zero Waste Stations throughout Grant Park to educate participants on event waste streams (recycle, compost and landfill). Volunteer teams collect items, working with participants to identify the proper disposal method. The education process encourages thoughtful disposal methods in the future and supports the event’s goal of diverting waste from the landfill.
• Composting Organic Waste: Compostable materials like food scraps and hydration cups are collected by the event and taken to The Urban Canopy, a local compost service. The organic waste from the event will break down into finished compost, a nutrient-rich soil amendment that is donated to Chicago area community gardens.
• Sustainable Sourcing: Event participant shirts are made from 100% recycled polyester. In addition to reducing waste, recycled polyester reduces carbon emissions by up to 30% compared to virgin polyester, and helps Nike divert an average of 1 billion plastic bottles annually from landfills and waterways. Learn more about Nike’s Move to Zero journey towards zero carbon and zero waste, including how they are working to design product with sustainability in mind and help protect the future of where we live and play.

The Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle is part of the Bank of America Chicago Distance Series. The commitment to environmental and social responsibility is a key aspect of each event, with each race having received recognition from the Council for Responsible Sport. To learn more about each event’s commitment visit: shamrockshuffle.com, chicago13point1.com and chicagomarathon.com.

About the Council for Responsible Sport
The Council for Responsible Sport is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization with a vision of a world where responsibly produced sports and events are the norm. Since 2007, the Council has helped event organizers measure, manage, and verify their events’ social and environmental impacts. The Council provides independent verification and certification for events, ensuring they meet high standards of environmental, social, and economic responsibility. Hundreds of certified events are among the world’s leading examples of responsible sport. In partnership with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), the Council has digitized its certification process with the ReScore App, a platform that simplifies event reporting and enhances sustainability tracking. councilforresponsiblesport.org

About the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle

Long recognized as an annual rite of spring, a celebration of St. Patrick’s Day and the kickoff to the outdoor running season in Chicago, the 44^th annual Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle treats participants to a scenic 8K run through downtown Chicago and a two-mile walk along Chicago’s lakefront. The 8K Run will kick off at 8:30 a.m., followed by the 2-Mile Walk at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, March 23, 2025. Following the race participants can enjoy live music at the Post-Race Party in Grant Park. In advance of the event, the two-day Packet Pick-up will take place in Grant Park on Friday, March 21 and Saturday, March 22. In addition to attending Packet Pick-up, participants are encouraged to join The Mile on Saturday, March 22. For more information about the event and how to get involved, go to shamrockshuffle.com.

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Reporters May Contact:

Michelle Sandquist, Council for Responsible Sport, 512.560.4802
michelle@councilforresponsiblesport.org

Alex Sawyer, Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle, 1.312.992.6618
alex.sawyer@cemevent.com