Why Swedish Joggers Are Picking Up Litter

Leave it to fitness mad, nature-loving Swedes to create a fitness trend that is good for the body and the world around them. Plogging, a hybrid of plocka (picking) and jogging, is the latest exercise craze in Sweden.

Stockholm is a fairly clean city, but there is still trash to pick up

Unlike some of the more ridiculous crazes (we’re looking at you, planking) this one involves joggers picking up litter along their running route, which is about as positive as you can get in terms of giving back to both yourself and the world around you.

Recycling any trash you pick up would be ideal

To take part, all you need is a pair of running shoes and a trash bag, and maybe some gloves you don’t mind getting all mucky. Then you hit the road, and when you see trash along the way, you just grab it and stuff it in your trash bag, and dispose of it when you finish your jog.

With Sweden so into recycling – the country recycles 99% of all trash – it’s recommended you also recycle any trash you pick up, but if that’s not possible, just making the environment around you a bit nicer, and bit cleaner, a bit more friendly, is good enough.

And the good news? You can do this while hiking, biking or even stand-up paddle boarding; the trend is spreading, and as it makes everyone feel good in both body and soul, we’re hoping this one catches on like wildfire and never dies.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.