Host a Plogito!
Plog it together - Just Plogito!
Plogging has very recent origins, in fact it was conceived in 2016 by Swedish athlete Erik Ahlström! Tired of seeing so much litter in the city of Stockholm, Ahlström decided to start cleaning up streets and parks with his group of friends during their daily runs and training.
What is plogging?
Plogging is an activity that consists of collecting litter while running and owes its name to the combination of the English word “jogging” with the Swedish word “plocka upp”, which means literally ‘to collect’.
Plogging can be practiced by everyone since it requires no special skills or equipment, and it is an activity that can be done either alone or in a group.
The purpose of this endeavor is to keep the environment clean by taking advantage of time usually spent on outdoor physical activity. Basically, plogging proposes to optimize time spent running in order to do something positive for the planet.
Benefits of plogging
Plogging is a well-rounded activity that provides both physical and psychological benefits, not to mention the important environmental aspect. Among the benefits of plogging, it is impossible overlook the following:
Plogging helps you lose weight
Just like jogging, plogging involves a significant calorie expenditure and thus helps you to lose weight. In addition, this activity is very rhythmic and involves the plogger alternating stretches of running with small breaks, keeping the heart exercised and stimulating the heart rate.
Plogging trains different movements than simple jogging
Jogging mainly trains the leg muscles and always makes you perform the same movements, whereas plogging involves the plogger bending over to pick up litter, thus performing squats and lunges. These movements are not typical for traditional running and train the leg muscles that are usually not stimulated much, as well as the buttocks, shoulders, and arms.
Plogging is good for the environment
The act of litter collecting is very simple, but at the same time it is very important because it keeps the environment clean and prevents soil and water pollution, which can have serious consequences for animals, plants, and human beings.
Plogging is a stress reliever
Just like walking, which we talked about in the article ‘Walking is good for you: the benefits to the body and mind’, plogging also reduces anxiety and stress because the body releases endorphins, known as ‘happy hormones’, during physical activity. Plogging is also associated with doing a good deed, so it helps to increase self-esteem and self-confidence.
Why not host a Plogito -“Plog it together” ?
It would be so much as friends get together.jog and collect litter tathe same time. Good for us and Good for the planet
What do we need?
Choose a date – Choose a location that would be a good place to jog- Grab a plogging kit – Create a Plogito event on hellogive – Send the invite to your friends and family
Give it all to Plogito !
Here are some cool ways to make the Plogito event fun, and collaborative. These are some games that could be played that keep you laughing and still get the job done!
1. Trash Treasure Hunt
Give each team a list of “rare finds” (like bottle caps, straws, a specific color plastic, etc.). Each item has points. Most points wins!
2. Speed Sweep Challenge
Set a 5–10 minute timer. Whoever collects the most unique items within that time wins a small prize.
3. Color Quest
Assign each team a color (green items, blue items, white items). They can only pick up that color for the round. This makes it more strategic and fun.
4. Alphabet Sweep
Participants try to find trash items starting with each letter of the alphabet—A to Z. Great for mixed-age groups!
5. Mystery Bag Mission
Prepare small envelopes with “missions” inside—like
- “Pick up 15 lightweight items”
- “Find 3 items that don’t belong on a beach”
- “Clean an area shaped like a heart”
People open their missions and complete them secretly.
6. Before & After Photo Challenge
Teams pick small zones. They take a “before” and “after” picture, and everyone votes for the most dramatic transformation.
Lastly, here are some resources to ensure a smooth flow:
https://www.iberdrola.com/social-commitment/what-is-plogging
Have an idea? Share your story at – connect@hellogive.co