As Glasgow prepares to welcome athletes, spectators and communities for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, around 120 volunteers took to the River Clyde, in paddleboards and kayaks and on foot to help protect the city's most iconic waterway, removing litter in time for the Games.
As part of Commonwealth Sport and the Royal Commonwealth Society’s Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign, removing one million pieces of plastics from entering Commonwealth waterways, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) led the final clean-up event on the River Clyde, in partnership with Keep Scotland Beautiful. The Commonwealth-wide initiative has been running alongside the King’s Baton Relay, with the final leg of the year-long campaign coinciding with the 21 July pick-up in the 2026 host city.
Volunteers were joined by former Team Scotland cyclist and Commonwealth Games silver medallist, Charline Jones, who said: “The Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics campaign is a fantastic way to bring the Commonwealth together for a common cause and show the power of people working together to achieve this milestone today.
It gives the King’s Baton Relay extra meaning and seeing the enthusiasm of the volunteers today really shows the appetite in and around Glasgow to look after our waterways for future generations.”
Throughout July, CCEP colleagues, local community groups, customers and partner organisations joined a series of River Clyde clean-ups coordinated by Keep Scotland Beautiful, helping prevent litter from entering rivers and oceans while encouraging responsible behaviours across the city.
Beyond the clean-up programme, CCEP will also install interactive ballot bins at Games venues, encouraging spectators to recycle their empty drink containers through fun, engaging voting stations. CCEP will also work closely with the venue waste management teams to support recycling efforts throughout the Games. All CCEP bottles sold at venue outlets will be recyclable, with the 500ml range made from 100 per cent recycled plastic.
"Seeing so many volunteers out on and alongside the River Clyde sends a powerful message about what can be achieved when businesses, charities and local communities come together," said Jo Padwick, Senior Sustainability Manager at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners. "As a local GB business, we're thrilled to support this initiative, together with Keep Scotland Beautiful, helping keep the River Clyde clean and helping to leave a positive environmental legacy for the Commonwealth Games.”