ChronoTrack Taps Athletes for a Fit Planet to ‘Green” the D-Tag

FitPlanet partners with ChronoTrack Systems to develop a recycling program to minimize the environmental impact of the innovative single-use timing system

July 8, 2009 - Evansville, IN-based ChronoTrack Systems, maker of the popular D-Tag event timing system, is working with Athletes for a Fit Planet to develop a comprehensive strategy to reduce the environmental impact of the single-use D-Tag.

Working with ChronoTrack Systems, FitPlanet will introduce a program that encourages event organizers to collect used D-Tags post race and return the D-Tags to ChronoTrack for recycling and reuse.

“ChronoTrack Systems is committed to providing the highest quality timing system for timers, race directors and athletes,” said Dan Howell, President of ChronoTrack Systems. “We feel strongly that our commitment to quality includes minimizing the environmental impact of the D-Tag.”
The single-use D-Tag contains a UHF generation 2 radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag manufactured by Seattle-based Impinj, Inc. The RFID tag includes a silicon chip and aluminum antenna placed on a PET (polyethylene terephtalate) substrate. The RFID tag is encased in laminated paper to create the single-use D-Tag. The D-Tag is attached to the race bib, which is shipped to a race. At race registration, the athlete receives their bib, peels off the D-Tag, and attaches the D-Tag to their shoe.

The popularity of the D-Tag timing system has been increasing dramatically for a variety of reasons, including the time and resource savings it affords race directors. Earlier this month, ChronoTrack announced it had shipped 2 million D-Tags since introducing the technology in September 2008. That figure is expected to top 8 million in 2010 as more races adopt the single-use technology.

“Until now, the athlete has been responsible for the safe disposal of the D-Tag,” said Bruce Rayner, founder and chief green officer at Athletes for a Fit Planet. “While the electronic components in the single-use D-Tag are relatively environmentally benign, ChronoTrack recognizes that as the number of D-Tags in landfills rises into the tens of millions of units, the environmental impact also rises.”

“ChronoTrack is doing the right thing by addressing the waste issue head on with a formal take-back and recycling program.” said Rayner.
FitPlanet will work with ChronoTrack Systems to immediately implement a recycling program for events in 2009.

# # #

About Athletes for a Fit Planet
FitPlanet is the leading provider of eco-services for athletic events and festivals in the US and Canada. The company advises event organizers on cost-effective strategies, and products and services for reducing, recycling and composting waste, reducing and offsetting greenhouse gas emissions, and minimizing the impact of the event on the local environment. In addition, FitPlanet works with event sponsors to provide opportunities to communicate their eco-initiatives to athletes and festival goers.
The FitPlanet website provides environmental and health-related information, including a Green Events Directory, so athletes and festival goers can make informed choices about the events they participate in. Visit us at www.afitplanet.com or contact Bruce Rayner, Chief Green Officer, at bruce@afitplanet.com.

About ChronoTrack Systems:
ChronoTrack Systems, Inc. the pioneers of disposable timing, is a timing and tracking company that has developed a system for timing athletic events including road races. ChronoTrack offers full-service race timing packages including over 50 internationally certified race timers, tags and race timing equipment. To find a certified ChronoTrack Systems Timer in your area please visit http://www.chronotrack.com/timers