Cardboard Beds, Recycled Medals: Tokyo Games Put Sustainability Front and Center

SEATTLE (Waste Advantage):  From modular cardboard beds for athletes in the Olympic Village to medal podiums made from recycled plastic, the Tokyo Games are putting sustainability measures front and center. Even the event’s name and logo are recycled, with organizers opting not to rebrand after the 2020 Games were postponed to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

While the cardboard bed frames have been drawing the most media attention, the sleeping equipment isn’t the only innovative solution that will be on display in Tokyo. The Games’ sustainability plan set a target of reusing or recycling 65% of waste generated during the event, and organizers are also aiming to recycle or reuse 99% of goods procured for the games.

Some of the Games’ most high-profile moments will incorporate clever examples of “reduce, reuse, recycle,” including the Olympic torch relay, with torch bearers decked out in gear made from recycled plastic bottles.  The Japanese public had been heavily involved in the sustainability campaign, which launched prior to the pandemic. People across Japan dropped off plastic waste at collection bins placed at retailers and schools, contributing 13 tons of material that, combined with another 11.5 tons collected by organizations and businesses, was ultimately transformed into the Games’ 98 medal podiums, all constructed using a 3-D printer. After the Games, the pedestals themselves will be recycled back into shampoo and detergent bottles, organizers said.

Courtesy: www.wasteadvantage.com