Plogging RRevolution: combining sport, fun and care for the planet
Did you know that taking care of the planet can also be a sport? Plogging is the combination of physical activity (usually running or jogging) with the collection of waste such as cigarette butts or plastics. It started in Sweden (from the Swedish "plocka upp") about 4 years ago and since then has spread all over the world, mainly due to the awareness of the problem of plastics.
To know more about plogging, we have talked to David de Castro and Alice Staffa, the founders and coordinators of Plogging RRevolution, the biggest Spanish plogging movement.
How does Plogging RRevolution start?
It started with the idea of doing something different. Two years ago, I moved for work to Alicante and discovered a city with beaches and mountains and also quite a lot of dirt. As a result of the social networks, I discovered plogging, which from Sweden was starting to become famous all over Europe.
I began to investigate, I thought that in Alicante plogging would fit quite well. It is true that there were people who met occasionally to clean up, but there was no such thing as treating it as a movement, creating a community of sportsmen and women and responsible people. So we made a couple of cleanups with my colleagues and we were gaining visibility little by little.
How has the evolution been?
It is a very grateful movement because people like it. They approach it on their own initiative. People have joined little by little and after these two years we look back and many things have happened. Now people are asking us for events and we are delighted.
What kind of person approaches plogging?
At first, it was very familiar, but now there are all kinds of people, even older people. We have been evolving towards younger people who like the sport. That's why we do different types of events: from just pickups with little exercise to others more focused on physical activity.
How do your events work?
They have been changing, from working with very broad profiles to focusing on a younger, more restless audience that fits better with what we propose. Now we are looking to do different types of events: from cleanups with very basic exercises to a more competitive model, where you compete by groups and there are prizes. For example, the group that collects cigarette butts competes with the group that collects paper, etc.
If you had to convince someone to plogging, what would you say?
That it is a very original type of event. Doing something good for the planet doesn't have to be boring or a job, it can be fun. We recommend it because it is the union of sport, fun, and care for the environment.
What do you recommend to someone who whats to start plogging?
Well, it's very simple. You can set small goals within your normal training. For example, you can aim to collect 10 cans during your training. And you can use the course to do push-ups, burpees...
How many people are in Plogging RRevolution?
As a team to lead the movement we are 4 people. At an active community level, we usually summon about 30 people at each event in Alicante. In the future, we hope to add more.
What kind of waste do you usually find in your events?
There is everything, but plastic is the most abundant, along with cigarette butts, ear-sticks, bags of dog poo... We have also collected very rare things, such as electrical appliances in the middle of a mountain.
What will the future of Plogging RRevolution look like?
In the short term, we have launched our own online shop to raise awareness of more responsible consumption. About the events, we would like to organize a championship between different groups, with scoring events and a national plogging ranking.
All the 📷:: Plogging RRevolution.