Plogging is a way to exercise while helping the planet. Basically, it's going for a run or jog and, at the same time, picking up the garbage you find along the way. Its name comes from the combination of "plocka upp" (which in Swedish means "to pick up") and "jogging".
This idea was born in Sweden around 2016, when Erik Ahlström started collecting waste while running around Stockholm. What started as a simple habit became a global movement, driven by environmental awareness and, of course, by social networks, where thousands of people share their experiences and motivate others to join in. Besides being a great exercise, it is a way to take care of the environment and demonstrate that small acts can make a big difference. Do you dare to try it?
How is Plogging practiced?
The great thing about plogging is that anyone can do it, regardless of age or fitness level. You just need a desire to get moving and do something good for the planet. Here's how:
- Be prepared: Wear comfortable athletic clothing and tennis shoes suitable for running or walking. It is also advisable to wear gloves to protect your hands from sharp or dirty objects.
- Take what you need: A waste bag is essential, but if you can take several bags to separate waste (plastic, paper, glass), so much the better! This way you facilitate recycling.
- Move and pick up: Start jogging or walking and, every time you see trash, bend down to pick it up. This movement not only helps the environment, but also strengthens your legs and improves your flexibility, as if you were doing squats without even realizing it.
- Choose your route: You can do it in parks, beaches, forests, mountains or in the middle of the city. There are no limits, any place where there is garbage is a good starting point.
- Commit to the end: When you finish your route, deposit the waste in the corresponding containers. If you separated them, make sure they go to the right place for recycling.
Plogging is even more fun when done in a group. You can invite friends, family or even join communities that organize cleanup days. In addition to exercising, you'll be raising awareness and motivating others to join in.
Benefits of Plogging
Plogging is not only a great way to exercise, but it also has a positive impact on the planet and our community. It's a simple activity, but with benefits that go beyond the physical.
- Complete workout: It's not just running or walking, it also involves bending, lifting and carrying objects, which makes you work different muscle groups without even realizing it. You strengthen legs, glutes and arms while improving your cardiovascular endurance - it's like functional training, but outdoors and with purpose!
- Increased environmental awareness: When you pick up litter while exercising, you become more aware of the amount of waste that ends up on streets, parks and beaches. Not only does this motivate you to reduce your own impact, but you can also inspire others to take better care of the environment.
- Connection and community: Plogging in a group makes it more fun and motivating. It also strengthens collaboration and creates a sense of community, as everyone works towards the same goal: to leave the world a little cleaner than they found it.
- Mental well-being: Being outdoors, moving and knowing that you are contributing to something positive generates a sense of well-being. Exercise releases endorphins, and the simple act of doing something good for the planet can reduce stress and improve your mood.
Who practices Plogging?
Tips to enjoy Plogging to the fullest
If you want your plogging experience to be more effective, fun and motivating, here are some key tips:
- Do it in a group: Going out to pick up litter while running or walking is a great experience, but doing it with friends, family or co-workers makes it even better. It makes it more fun, generates interesting conversations and, best of all, multiplies the impact.
- Take advantage of it to exercise more: Every time you bend down to pick something up, turn the movement into a squat or a stride. Not only does this help you strengthen your legs and glutes, but it makes plogging a more complete workout.
- Turn cleanup into a challenge: If you're out in a group, organize small competitions, such as who can pick up the most trash in a given time or who can find the oddest object. Making it fun helps keep motivation up and get more people on board.
- Share your experience: Posting photos or videos on social media not only helps document your effort, but also inspires others to join in. Use hashtags like #Plogging or #PloggingMexico to connect with more people who share your commitment to the planet.
- Use sustainable materials: Bring reusable or biodegradable bags to collect waste and, if you can, use cloth gloves instead of disposable ones. The idea is to clean up without generating more unnecessary waste.
Following these tips will not only be a way to take care of the planet, but also a motivating, effective and energetic activity. Ready to get started?
Plogging as inspiration
Picking up litter as we run or walk not only helps clean up our streets, parks and beaches, but it also opens our eyes to the amount of waste we generate and discard without thinking. Every bag full of trash is a reminder that we need to change the way we consume and manage our waste.
But plogging goes beyond cleaning. Those who practice it become agents of change, people who not only take care of their health, but also take action on a problem that affects us all: pollution. And the most powerful thing is that this commitment can inspire others to question their own habits and join a more sustainable lifestyle.
It's not just about picking up trash, it's about looking beyond it and understanding what brought us to this level of pollution. It's a starting point to generate bigger and more lasting changes. Here are some ways in which plogging can be the start of something deeper:
- Awareness and education: As we participate, we begin to notice the most common types of waste, which leads us to ask: where does it come from, could it be avoided? This helps us become more aware about separating waste for recycling and the importance of making better consumption choices.
- Community engagement: Plogging brings people together around a common purpose. By doing it as a group, we strengthen the sense of community and motivate more people to get involved in environmental cleanup and conservation actions.
- Collective action: As more people join in, the impact grows. What starts as a simple race to pick up trash can evolve into larger initiatives, such as demanding better recycling infrastructure, promoting public policies or even changing the practices of companies and governments.
- A more sustainable lifestyle: Integrating it into our routine helps us adopt more responsible habits. By seeing firsthand the impact of waste, it is easier to commit to small daily changes that, when added together, make a big difference.
Conclusion about plogging
In the end, we know that plogging alone won't solve all environmental problems, but it reminds us of something very important: each of us can make a difference. It's not just about picking up litter, it's about changing the way we see the world and inspiring others to join in.
More than an activity, it is a way to show with actions that we care about the planet. It is that small effort that, added to the efforts of many, can generate a big impact. Because when we make caring for the environment part of our daily lives, we are building a cleaner and more sustainable future for everyone.
So, as we move, exercise and collect waste, we are also sowing something bigger: the habit of taking care of what surrounds us. And if every step counts, let's keep moving forward together.
