Olympic Update: Tokyo Vows For Sustainability, Technology

by Tomas Rodriguez 3

September 02nd, 2019 Asia, International, News, Tokyo 2020

In addition to medals made out of recycled cell phones, podiums made out of recovered shampoo bottles, or an Olympic Torch made of aluminum waste from temporary housing that was built in the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games aim to be the most sustainable Games to date. Here are the latest sustainable and technological updates you won’t want to miss ahead of Tokyo 2020:

OLYMPIC UNIFORMS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC BOTTLES

The uniforms of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic torchbearers will be produced in part from recycled plastic bottles collected by Coca-Cola.

Per the organizing committee, the Tokyo 2020 staff and volunteer uniforms will also include sustainable materials, which include recycled polyester and materials derived from plants. A special dyeing process which requires a minimum amount of water will be used to produce the uniform shoes.

FROM THE OLYMPIC VILLAGE TO A PARK BENCH

The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Village Plaza will be built with sustainably-sourced timber donated by local authorities across Japan. After the Games, the timber will be returned to be re-used. The goal of the initiative is to create a lasting and sustainable Olympic legacy that will be shared across the country.

TOYOTA, TOWARDS A ZERO-EMISSIONS OLYMPIC FLEET

Some vehicles, like the hydrogen fuel cell-powered Mirai, are already commercially available. Others, like the Accessible People Movers (APMs), are being developed specifically for Tokyo 2020.

Toyota will provide a wide range of zero-emission vehicles for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, in line with Japan’s carbon reduction goals.

RENEWABLE ENERGY TO BE STORED AND USED IN THE FUTURE

Tokyo 2020 is promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy, with the aim of achieving carbon-neutral Games with projects such as Toyota’s aforementioned initiative.

Electricity used during the Olympic Games will be supplied by renewable sources, such as solar, biomass and hydropower.

BARRIER-FREE HOTEL ROOMS FOR ACCESSIBILITY

A Tokyo Metropolitan Government law came into effect on Sunday expecting to boost the number of hotel rooms in the capital accessible for disabled and elderly people ahead of the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The new law is the first ruling to apply standard hotel rooms in Japan.

 

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Sun Yangs Hammer
4 years ago

But will the venues be left to rot like Rio, Beijing, Athens, Sochi, and every other Olympics? Throwing out an entire stadium probably negates and effect of making uniforms from water bottles.

Reason077
Reply to  Sun Yangs Hammer
4 years ago

The London 2012 venues are doing rather well!

Jay Turner
4 years ago

All moot. Lived in Tokyo for 9 years now. Even their hyper, back-end recycling culture does little to stem the MASSIVE waste on the front end with single-use plastics. All produce (veggies) are wrapped INDIVIDUALLY at supermarkets. One carrot… individually wrapped. One avocado… individually wrapped. At convenience stores, everyone is given plastic spoons / forks, and plastic bags as a default, without fail, and without choice and at the normal stores, everything is double or even triple wrapped in plastic. Vending machines every 20 meters, nationwide, using PET bottles…. None of this is being addressed by Tokyo 2020 and it’s a national disaster.