Plogging is a combination of two words: jogging and Swedish phrase for pick up, “plocka upp”. Plogging combines fitness and caring for the environment, as the jogger picks up the trash found along the run. As a form of exercise, plogging combines various bends, squats and stretches with running training, so it is a good workout.
Plogging started as an organized activity in Sweden around 2016. Thanks to social media, plogging has spread globally. With hashtag #plogging on Instagram, you can find people posting before and after pictures of the areas cleaned up after plogging. It is estimated that every day 20 000 people plog in 100 countries around the world. Also, some plogging events have attracted over 3 million participants.
It is effortless to start plogging. Just bring a trash bag for a walk or a jog and pick up the trash you see on the way. It is recommended that plogging is planned in a place where there is likely to be plenty of debris. Trails found near popular leisure venues are often better options than more remote trails. If needed, old garden gloves for example fit for the gloves for plogging. There are also many Instagram accounts to follow to get started and motivated.
Here are links to read more about plogging:
https://www.plogging.org/ (in English)
https://www.suomenlatu.fi/ulkoile/lajit/polkujuoksu/plogging.html (in Finnish)
