River Clyde clean up ahead of 2026 Commonwealth Games

As Glasgow prepares to welcome visitors from across the world for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, we took to the River Clyde and its surrounding areas for a huge clean up.

In partnership with Coca-Cola Europacific Partners and Commonwealth Sport around 50 volunteers took to the River Clyde, in canoes 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, the event also saw the one millionth piece of plastic removed from Commonwealth waterways.

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.”

This event was one of several events, coordinated by Keep Scotland Beautiful, for CCEP colleagues, local community groups, customers and partner organisations to join a series of River Clyde clean-ups to help prevent litter from entering rivers and oceans while encouraging responsible behaviours across the city.

Heather McLaughlin, our Campaigns Manager, 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.”

Jo Padwick, Senior Sustainability Manager at 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.”

Martin Reynolds, Deputy CEO of 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.”