Reducing Environmental Impact at HPR Events

At Human Powered Racing we recognize that endurance events—while centred on human effort—can still carry an environmental footprint. Over time, we have taken a series of practical steps to reduce that impact while maintaining safe, high-quality race experiences for participants and spectators.

Transitioning Away from Generators
Where access to the public power grid is not available, HPR has transitioned from fuel-powered generators to battery-based energy systems. This shift reduces emissions, noise, and fuel transport requirements at our event sites.

On-Water Operations Without Gas Engines
For safety and support on the water, we have replaced gas-powered boats with electric and human-powered watercraft wherever possible. This approach minimizes water pollution and emissions, and reduces noise disruption for both participants and local ecosystems.

Reducing Single-Use Plastics
HPR has eliminated traditional plastic and plastic-coated cups at our events. In their place, we use compostable bamboo cups. We provide and encourage athletes to use reusable water bottles. This change significantly reduces landfill waste and aligns with broader efforts to limit single-use plastics.

Encouraging Shared Transportation
Participant travel can represent a significant portion of an event’s environmental impact. To help address this, we actively encourage carpooling to and from our race venues.

Waste Sorting at Events
At all HPR events, we provide clearly marked receptacles for compost, recycling, and landfill waste. This system helps ensure that materials are disposed of appropriately and increases the likelihood that compostable and recyclable items are processed correctly.

Reducing Packaging at Nutrition Stations
We continue to refine our approach to on-course nutrition by reducing unnecessary packaging while maintaining food safety standards. This balance is an ongoing effort, with incremental improvements made as new options become available.

Compostable Race Materials
Race packages provided to participants are made from compostable materials rather than plastic bags. This change reduces waste and aligns with our broader material-use strategy.

Designing for Reuse
Where possible, HPR prioritizes durable, high-quality items that participants are more likely to keep and reuse. This includes silicone swim caps and well-made race garments designed for long-term use rather than single-event disposal.

These initiatives reflect a practical, evolving approach to sustainability. While no event can eliminate its environmental impact entirely, HPR remains committed to reducing it through thoughtful planning, material choices, and operational changes.