The Tokyo Olympics hope to be the greenest ever, beating the record set by London in 2012 A year later than scheduled, the 2020 summer Olympic Games are finally underway in Tokyo, Japan. The Tokyo Games has set out to ensure it is the most sustainable Olympics yet, with a number of measures in place to cut waste and emissions.
Cardboard beds
All of this year’s Olympians will be getting their rest in on beds made from cardboard
- Designed to withstand weights of up to 200 kilograms, the 18,000 cardboard single beds, made especially for the Games, are designed to be recycled into paper products after use
Plastic podiums
To claim their recycled medals, athletes will take to podiums made from recycled plastic waste recovered from oceans and donated by the public
Plastic uniforms
The uniforms were designed by Daisuke Obana and bear a chequered pattern that is known in Japan as ichimatsu moyo (the same pattern can be found in the Tokyo 2020 logos).
Renewable energy
The Games are being powered by electricity from renewable sources.
‘Greenwashing’ claims
A new study accuses the Games of “greenwashing” with its “superficial” sustainability efforts.
- Despite Tokyo’s efforts, it is still the third least sustainable Games since 1992
- The efforts the International Olympic Committee is making are important but they are limited and not enough
Recycling architecture
Many of the facilities being used for the Games already existed, and have been updated from the 1964 Tokyo Olympics
- New buildings, such as the main stadium, have been constructed using sustainably sourced timber
- Wood from other venues will be used to build public benches and other buildings once the games are finished
Aluminium torches
These are made from recycled construction waste from temporary housing used in the aftermath of the 2011’s earthquake and tsunami.
