The Hidden Cost of Single Use Plastics in Sport

The Hidden Cost of Single Use Plastics in Sport

Have You Ever Noticed...?

If you’ve ever prepped for a big race or a long training day, you know how quickly your fuelling plan can turn into a pile of wrappers—gel packets, snap lock bags, cling wrap, plastic containers. It’s easy to forget, in the rush to hit your g/kg of carbs, hydrate, and beat your PB, that each one of those wrappers may outlive you by hundreds of years.

This blog isn’t about guilt or blame. It’s about awareness. It’s about realising that we, as athletes (of every level), might have a bigger environmental footprint than we think—and how small changes, like using a Snacket, can help reduce it.

 

The Problem with Single-Use Plastics

This is not new information, we all know Single-use plastics are products designed to be used once and thrown away. They're cheap, convenient, and unfortunately, everywhere. From a sports nutrition standpoint, they’ve become the norm: energy gels, protein bar wrappers, cheap promotional drink bottles, ziplock bags filled with chopped up fruit or lollies.

But did you know:

  • Over 380 million tonnes of plastic are produced globally each year, and half of that is single-use (Geyer et al., 2017).

  • 91% of all plastic isn’t recycled, meaning it ends up in landfill, the ocean, or burned—releasing toxic chemicals (Jambeck et al., 2015).

  • Plastic wrappers are among the top 10 items found in coastal clean-ups (Ocean Conservancy, 2020).

That’s not just general waste—that’s wrappers from everyday items like the fuel we carry on our rides and runs.

 

Endurance Athletes and Disposable Fuel

As endurance athletes, we need to fuel consistently and conveniently. That’s non-negotiable. But the performance nutrition industry is built around single-serve, disposable packaging.

It’s estimated that a single Ironman competitor could discard more than 30 individual wrappers during the race alone. Multiply that by thousands of athletes across hundreds of events, and the scale becomes enormous.

Even on solo training days, it’s common to see used gel wrappers or bar packets tossed on the side of trails. Sometimes it’s accidental, sometimes it’s not—but either way, those plastics don’t disappear. They accumulate.


So What Do We Do About It?

The truth is, endurance training doesn’t have to come at the cost of the planet. We don’t have to give up performance to reduce waste. We just need to rethink the way we carry our fuel.

This is just one of the reasons I created Snacket.

Snacket is a soft, reusable, food-safe pouch designed specifically for athletes. Instead of loading up with individually packaged foods or ziplocked treats, you can pack what you need into your Snacket—real food, homemade energy balls, dried fruit, or even rice crispy bars.

And if you love taking your gels, thats where Snacket can save your expensive kit and hold those sticky used packets instead of them being tossed onto the ground.

Not only does the option of a Snacket reduce the number of plastic wrappers used during a session, but it also helps athletes:

  • Control what they eat (no mystery ingredients or preservatives)

  • Save money by buying or making fuel in bulk

  • Keep their pockets clean and organized

It’s a small change that has a real impact—on your body, your wallet, and the planet.


It’s Not About Guilt. It’s About Awareness.

At Snacket, we’re not here to blame or shame anyone for using gels or packaged products. Sometimes it’s the best or only option available. But we do believe in making informed choices. When we know the impact, we can decide what matters to us.

If cutting back on single-use plastics matters to you, then you might find joy in knowing your training session didn’t leave a trail of waste behind. And if it doesn’t resonate right now, that’s okay too—awareness is the first step.


You Don’t Have to Be Perfect to Make a Difference

The global plastic pollution crisis isn’t going to be solved overnight—and definitely not by one athlete on one run. But what if thousands of us made one small change? What if we swapped just one snap lock bag for a Snacket just a few times a week?

Progress, not perfection. That’s the endurance mindset, after all.

 

Where to from here?

This is just my take, based on what I’ve seen, read, and experienced as an athlete and business owner. I encourage you to look into it yourself, weigh the pros and cons, and see what fits your values and goals.

But if you’ve ever looked at your pile of wrappers after a big session and thought, there has to be a better way—there is. And you’re not alone in thinking it.

 

 

 

 

 

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