The 2026 Running USA Industry Conference presented by haku is committed to advancing sustainability through thoughtful, tangible actions that reduce waste and promote environmentally responsible practices across the event experience.
This year, all meals and receptions will utilize reusable tableware and cutlery, eliminating the need for single-use plastics and significantly reducing landfill waste.
To further reduce disposable plastic use, refillable water bubblers will be placed throughout the venue for convenient access to drinking water. Attendees are strongly encouraged to bring their own reusable water bottles to support this initiative. While mugs will be available for morning coffee, a personal favorite reusable tumbler is another important item to pack.
Sustainability efforts will also extend to conference activations, including the Monday morning run, where participants will receive hemp bibs made possible through the partnership of Laurel Timing and RunVirt. These bibs offer a more sustainable alternative to traditional synthetic materials while maintaining durability and performance.
Recover Brands will be onsite collecting running clothing for recycling through their 360 closed loop program. Attendees can bring any old running apparel and Recover will put these items back into their supply chain to create new gear. Your worn tees are broken down into fiber and transformed into new Recover products, keeping materials out of landfills.
What you can recycle: Cotton, polyester, or cotton/poly blends only. What you can’t recycle: Items with elastic, zippers, or buttons.
Together, these efforts reflect the conference’s broader commitment to modeling environmentally responsible practices for the running industry and supporting partners who are actively working to reduce the environmental footprint of events.