This year, Luke Douglas-Home, known as The Coastline Runner, elevated his mission to combat plastic pollution, achieving remarkable milestones through clean-ups, school engagements, media outreach, and global competitions. The initiative inspired meaningful change across the UK and beyond. Here’s a look back at the standout achievements of 2024.
Kicking Off with a Beach Clean
In January, The Coastline Runner started the year by joining a Marine Conservation Society clean-up at an OSPAR-designated beach. With 30 participants, nearly 50 kilograms of litter were removed, setting the tone for a year of action.
Empowering Communities and Inspiring Change
Luke combined his passion for running with impactful community engagement:
April: Running along the Forth and Clyde Canal that links Edinburgh to Glasgow, Luke visited Twechar Primary School, speaking with pupils and learning about local litter initiatives from Councillor Susan Murray.
May: In Lowestoft, Luke collaborated with St. Mary’s RC Primary School, where students presented innovative ideas to combat pollution. Mayor Barker and the council joined forces for a beach clean.
June: On the Windsor Trail route, Luke took part in the Half Marathon River Clean Up, uniting schools, councils, businesses, and community members in a collaborative effort to tackle plastic waste.
June: At Rokeby School, Luke engaged with local leaders and students from neighbouring schools to discuss plastic pollution's impact on oceans. Using waste collected from plogging along the Thames beforehand, the event inspired participants to rethink their plastic use and disposal for the summer days ahead.
Spreading the Message on Media Platforms
The Coastline Runner’s mission gained momentum through media coverage, bringing the fight against plastic pollution to a broader audience:
BBC Scotland’s Nine Show and BBC Breakfast: Luke showcased the plastic crisis and how plogging drives positive change.
London Live News and GBNews Breakfast: Luke shared stories of his journey from London’s canals to its coastlines.
BBC Look East: During a revisit to St. Mary’s School, Luke highlighted the continued fight against pollution.
Performing Art Meets Environmental Activism at the Edinburgh Festival 2024
At the Beautiful World Cabaret, created and led by Janie Dee, Luke used his performances there to blend creativity with environmental advocacy. While in Edinburgh, he organized a beach clean at Portobello Beach and trained up Arthur’s Seat alongside fellow artists, showcasing the intersection of art and activism.
Global Impact: World Plogging Championship
Representing the UK at the 4th World Plogging Championship in Italy, Luke joined 80 runners in collecting an incredible 1,289 kilograms of waste, with 66% recycled. Achieving 4th and 25th place in two categories, Luke helped prevent nearly 686,000 grams of CO2 equivalent (CO2e)—highlighting the global potential of local actions in addressing environmental challenges.
Expanding Plogging Across the UK: Partnership with Planet Earth Games
This year marked a significant collaboration with Planet Earth Games, amplifying plogging—a combination of jogging and litter picking—across the UK. Together, they formed the GB Team to represent the UK in the 2025 World Plogging Championship Teams Edition, promoting the union of physical activity and environmental stewardship on a global scale.
Locally, this partnership launched monthly 5 km plogging events in Brent, Bristol, and Exeter, held every third Sunday of the month from 10 am to 11 am. These events empower communities to tackle pollution together while fostering environmentally conscious habits and deepening participants’ connection to our environment.
Looking Ahead: Building Momentum
2024 has been a transformative year, setting the stage for even greater achievements in 2025. From preparing the GB Team for the World Plogging Championship Teams Edition to strengthening partnerships, The Coastline Runner initiative continues to drive collective action and inspire change.
What began as a single run with a reusable bag has grown into a movement, proving that no effort is too small to protect our environment. Together, let’s keep running with purpose!
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