CCEP volunteers led final river cleanup ahead of Glasgow 2026
Paddleboards, kayaks and CCEP volunteers joined environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful to help clean the River Clyde ahead of the Games
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.
CCEP joined with Keep Scotland Beautiful to lead the final clean-up event on the River Clyde 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. 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.”
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% recycled plastic*.
These activities support Glasgow 2026’s commitment to a greener Games and Commonwealth Sport’s wider ambition to leave a positive environmental legacy for Glasgow, Scotland and future host cities and nations, by bringing stakeholders and local communities together to benefit society as a whole.
Jo Padwick, Senior Sustainability Manager, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, said: “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. 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.”
Heather McLaughlin, Campaigns Manager, Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: “We’re extremely proud to be playing our part to clean up the River Clyde and surrounding areas ahead of Glasgow hosting the Commonwealth Games.
“We live in a beautiful country and it’s imperative that we show spectators and visitors how much we appreciate and care for our environment. Stopping litter at source is crucial to keep our waterways and oceans free of litter pollution, and being involved in preventing the millionth piece of plastic from entering the water shows what’s possible when we all work together.”
Martin Reynolds, Deputy CEO, Commonwealth Sport said, “Seeing the culmination of over a year’s work from our member nations and territories across the Commonwealth today has been incredible. Together, preventing a million pieces of plastic from entering our oceans and waterways is a feat that we can all be proud of. A love of sport is something we all share; the planet is another – and we aim to continue this work as part of our commitment to a more sustainable Games model.”
*Excluding caps and labels. Smartwater 600ml bottles contain 30% recycled content excluding caps and labels.
CCEP Charline jones Heather McLaughlin Jo Padwick Keep Scotland Beautiful Martin Reynolds