CASE STUDY

Sustainability practices during a mass participation event: the case of Rome Marathon

runners in rome
CASE STUDY 05/03/2026

How Run Rome the Marathon is winning the race to become a fully sustainable event

From ISO certification to community-led initiatives, Run Rome the Marathon has built a comprehensive approach to sustainability that’s reshaping how major city marathons operate.

Run Rome the Marathon’s sustainability work is built around three priorities: Long-term carbon neutrality, activating runners to take responsible actions and supporting wider economic and social initiatives across the city.

The organisers follow a clear ISO 20121 framework, strengthening the programme each year with better data, cleaner operations and partnerships that deliver measurable impact.