Seaweed hydration capsules are part of the marathon's efforts to launch the bottle

Tens of thousands of algae capsules containing energy drinks will be distributed to competitors at the London Marathon as part of efforts to reduce the amount of plastic used at the event.

Last year, approximately 650,000 plastic bottles were supplied and, while recyclable, their use was termed "waste of resources".

Organizers are experimenting with a series of innovations and measures to reduce the use of plastic and garbage at this year's marathon.

The event will be held the largest ever trial of edible and biodegradable Ooho seaweed capsules, of which more than 30,000 will be distributed at the 23rd mile.

The capsules are made from brown seaweed, which, according to the inventors, is one of the most renewable resources of nature.

Elsewhere on the road, three Lucozade Sport stations will use compostable cups instead of bottles.

The organizers said they wanted to reduce the number of plastic bottles on the course by more than 215,000 at the event this year.

We need to keep people hydrated, but using disposable plastics is a waste of resources.
Pauline Latham, MP

After the 2018 marathon, Conservative MP Pauline Latham criticized the sight of discarded bottles "dozens of times in the streets".

"We have to keep people hydrated, but using disposable plastics is such a waste of resources and there should be better ways to do it," she told the House of Commons.

In addition to efforts to reduce the number of bottles used, organizers are testing ways to recycle them more efficiently.

Using a "closed-loop" system, plastic bottles collected at Tower Hamlets, Greenwich, Southwark and Canary Wharf will be sent directly to a reprocessing plant for recycling to make new bottles.

Press Association