King’s Baton Relay shortlisted for 2026 BASIS Sustainable Sport Awards
The Royal Commonwealth Society is delighted to see the King’s Baton Relay shortlisted in the Impact category at the 2026 BASIS Sustainable Sport Awards.
As a flagship sustainability initiative delivered by the Royal Commonwealth Society in partnership with Commonwealth Sport, the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign harnessed the reach of the King’s Baton Relay to mobilise communities across the Commonwealth to tackle plastic pollution through local action.
The campaign achieved significant environmental and community impact, including:
1 million+ pieces of plastic removed from Commonwealth waters
23,000kg+ of plastic collected
15,000+ volunteers mobilised
95,335 volunteer hours
50 organisations engaged
activity across 74 countries and territories
We are delighted to see the impact of the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign, delivered through the King’s Baton Relay, recognised among this year’s shortlisted initiatives.
The campaign’s legacy continues as Commonwealth leaders gather for CHOGM 2026, where ocean health, sustainability and climate resilience remain key priorities. Community-led action to protect the marine environment will be reflected in discussions at the Blue Finance and Innovation Summit, while the power of sport to drive sustainability and environmental action will be explored at the Commonwealth’s Sport Side Event.
The campaign’s impact will also resonate at the Commonwealth Business Forum, where the Sustainable Markets Initiative Pavilion will host a Commonwealth Sustainable Events Alliance panel exploring how major events can drive positive environmental outcomes. As a member of the Sustainable Events Alliance, the Royal Commonwealth Society is proud to contribute to these discussions and champion partnerships that deliver lasting impact across the Commonwealth.
Images accompanying this story are from a beach clean-up in Antigua and Barbuda, led by campaign partner Good Humans 268. They demonstrate how local action can contribute to a cleaner, healthier and more resilient Commonwealth, and serve as a reminder that tackling plastic pollution begins with communities taking action on the ground.
The BASIS Sustainable Sport Awards take place on 5 November 2026 at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, Wimbledon.
Read the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign Impact Report to learn more about the campaign, its partners and its impact.
