FEDERATION FOR THE HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
First-of-its-Kind Study Shows Latest Plogging Trend Breaks Down Age Stereotypes, Unites Millennials and Boomers in Common Environmental Goal

Sydney, Hamilton researchers' work to be presented at Congress 2025, Canada's leading academic gathering, taking place May 30 - June 6

If young climate activists like Greta Thunberg have you convinced that there's a deep intergenerational divide when it comes to tackling climate change, think again.

After spending time with Canadians who take part in plogging a growing global movement to pick up litter while walking, jogging or hiking an interprovincial research team is finding that people of all ages are uniting in their efforts to save the planet, and they're breaking down stereotypes in the process.

"It's been very pleasing to discover that people are coming together towards a common environmental goal that transcends age divides," said Kelsey Harvey, an assistant professor at Cape Breton University and principal investigator of a first-of-its kind study on plogging in Canada.

"Our study shows that, regardless of their age, ploggers are overwhelmingly motivated by a sense of civic duty, and the more time they spend together cleaning up garbage, the more it's helping to bridge the perceived generational gap," she added.

Initial findings from the novel study by Harvey and McMaster University researcher Kaneera Uthayakumaran which is based on interviews with plogging participants in Ontario, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick will be presented at the upcoming Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences (Congress 2025), Canada's leading academic gathering and one of the most comprehensive in the world, taking place May 30 to June 6 in Toronto.

Billed as a leading conference on the critical conversations of our time, Congress 2025 themed "Reframing togetherness" serves as a platform for the unveiling of thousands of research papers and presentations from social sciences and humanities experts worldwide. With more than 7,000 scholars, graduate students and practitioners expected to participate, the event will challenge attendees to model togetherness by working across differences, questioning hierarchies, and bridging divides in knowledge and experience to tackle the world's most persistent challenges.

The study is supported in part by funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.

In their Congress presentation, Uthayakumaran will illustrate the important impact plogging is having on Canadian communities, as well as the benefit to participants. The study is based on roughly 30 go-along' interviews where researchers take part in litter cleanup activities alongside participants as they chat. To date, interviewees have ranged in age from 27 to 78.

"There's this boomer versus millennial mentality out there about climate change that people start to believe," said Harvey, explaining how a 27-year-old plogger was surprised by how many older people showed up at a cleanup event they organized in their local community. "They came into it believing older people didn't care about the environment and it changed their thinking," she said.

Plogging originated in Sweden and comes from combining the Swedish verbs plocka upp (pick up) and jogga (jog). In Canada, the activity shows up in a variety of ways, from organized community litter cleanup days where participants use gloves and grabbers, to individuals who prioritize picking up garbage as they walk, run or cycle as part of their daily routine.

Not only do study participants mention health benefits such as weight loss, improved eyesight and balance, and better mental health from being outdoors, but they also report a feeling of empowerment from being able to make a tangible difference. In addition, contrary to what some young climate activities portray, older ploggers actually express remorse over the fact their generation may have contributed to the negative repercussions of climate change.

The researchers are applying a broad definition in their study to include adults of all ages, a variety of demographics and different local affiliations. Some ploggers separate garbage from recycling as they go along, while others simply collect everything in one large bag and deal with it later.

"What we're finding is that plogging is encouraging people of all ages to get outside and engage with their communities in a way that contributes to both environmental and personal well-being," said Uthayakumaran, who is now making an effort to attend more litter cleanup days in her local community as a direct result of being involved in the research.

Overwhelmingly, the study shows plogging as an activity that promotes community solidarity and intergenerational learning, and contributes to a shared sustainable future, said Harvey.

"One message that's really coming through from everyone we've spoken to is that this is something positive we can take on together, and the more the merrier," she said.

Organized by the Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences in partnership with George Brown College, Congress 2025 is sponsored by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, Universities Canada, Colleges and Institutes Canada, University Affairs, the Canada Foundation for Innovation, Sage, and The Conversation Canada.

Registration - which includes 100+ keynote and open Congress sessions, with a virtual attendance option for many presentations - is $30. Visit https://www.federationhss.ca/en/congress2025 to register for a community pass and access the program of events open to the public.