The Race to Sustainability: Schneider Electric’s Marathon de Paris

On April 8, 2018, runners from nearly 145 nationalities will gather for the Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris. Now the second-largest marathon in the world, the 42.195 km course takes athletes through some of France’s most iconic landmarks including the Champs Elysees, Arc de Triomphe, and Notre Dame.

This year’s event will not only include 55,000 runners from around the world but also approximately 4,900 Schneider Electric employees — some of who have finished with blistering times of 3 hours and 8 minutes in previous races.

“The process of training for a marathon parallels the discipline you bring to work. It’s an extension of your day-to-day focus. The same dedication you bring to your clients, you apply to your race training,” says Boone Jones, Director of LEED Business Development, Schneider Electric Energy & Sustainability Services.

Boone will be running the Paris Marathon for the first time and looks forward to cruising past sustainable buildings that Schneider Electric helped reach LEED certification. “I got excited as soon as I saw the course and made a gut decision to sign-up. It’s been an incredible way to become a part of the Schneider family, connect with colleagues around the globe and share the world of opportunity Schneider offers with clients in an authentic way.”

This year, the marathon’s carbon emissions reduction plan includes increasing awareness of sustainable traveling among participants, using hybrid, biofuel, or electric vehicles for race transportation, and applying carbon offsets via the Gold Standard organization, Livelihoods, to displace CO₂ emissions.  Past marathon projects with Livelihoods have supported reforestation efforts and efficient stove installations in Kenya — home to many talented athletes and event runners.

The integrated sustainability and social responsibility approach of the Paris Marathon is rooted in both employee values and the expectations of participants who live as climate and air quality ambassadors.

For a detailed list of the 16 actions, Schneider Electric is taking this year to foster a responsible marathon, tune into the race page.