A Plogging pandemic! Combining litter-picking with jogging, Plogging is the latest Scandinavian lifestyle trend that’s rapidly spreading around the world.
A COMBINATION OF JOGGING AND PICKING UP LITTER AS YOU GO IS CATCHING ON AROUND THE WORLD IN 2018
Plogging — a portmanteau of jogging and the Swedish ‘plocka upp’, meaning ‘pick up’ — began as an organised activity in Sweden around 2016 and spread to other countries in early 2018, following increased concern about plastic pollution. As a workout, it provides variation in body movements by adding bending, squatting and stretching to the main action of running. Already there are dozens of Plogging groups and events beginning to spring up on social media.
GREAT FOR YOUR HEALTH AND BENEFITS THE ENVIRONMENT — EVERYONE’S A WINNER!
Plogging: This rapidly spreading fitness trend from Sweden encourages people to pick up litter while out running or walking, which is not only is it good for your health, it also benefits the environment!
Called ‘Plogging’ — a portmanteau of jogging and the Swedish phrase plocka upp, meaning ‘pick up.’ — it’s presence is being felt on social media.
On Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, people worldwide are posting photos of themselves and others bending over to pick up trash while exercising.
So popular is this new trend becoming that fitness app Lifesum is allowing its users to log and track their plogging activity as a workout. Plogging combines going for a run with intermittent squatting or lunging (to collect trash, which actually seems like a reasonable workout.
A typical user will burn 288 calories in 30 minutes of plogging, which is about the same as what’s burned off while jogging. — say Lifesum
There are already plenty of #plogging pics on Instagram, offering a glimpse of what this trend looks like IRL. Ploggers take plastic bags along with them so they can store the collected litter they find along their route.
Source: Mashable
JUST IMAGINE IF EVERYONE PICKED UP A FEW PIECES OF TRASH EVERY TIME THEY WENT FOR A WALK OR RUN…
Certified personal trainer and behavioral change therapist Charles F. Porter told Moneyish: “There are two great things about this type of exercise. You get the added benefit of carrying a few extra pounds and you’re bending over and doing squats, which is a move that’s fundamental to your everyday life. You’re getting a full body workout.”
Another bonus, it’s beneficial for the environment. “You’re helping the planet and that can encourage others to participate, especially if it’s a social media phenomenon, everyone wants to jump on that bandwagon,” said Porter.
And since Sweden has ranked first among the global contribution to health and wellbeing according to The Good Country Index, it seems they’re onto something with this eco-friendly fitness method.
According to Statista, more than 64 million Americans went running or jogging in 2016, while 110 million used walking as a form of exercise. Had each of these people plucked a few pieces of garbage every time they pounded the pavement, cities and communities would likely see less litter.
The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that Americans generate 4.4 pounds (2 Kg) of trash per person per day, with the most common items consisting of food, paper, plastics, wood, metals and yard trimmings.
On social media, people around the world aren’t just commenting on Plogging, they’re posting photos of themselves and others bending over to pick up trash while exercising.
Source: Moneyish
8 Other Ways to Keep the Earth Clean
Let’s challenge ourselves as consumers to make better daily choices so that we can collectively lessen our impact on the planet! It only takes a few consistent choices to develop new sustainable and earth-friendly habits. Here are a few easy and effective ways you can choose to reduce your daily impact and make a world of difference.