Courtesy: World Aquatics
Medal winners at the World Aquatics Championships – Singapore 2025 and the World Aquatics Masters Championships will take home more than just a symbol of victory. Thanks to the ‘Trash to Treasure’ initiative, their medals will also carry a message of sustainability. For the first time at a World Aquatics Championships, podium athletes will earn distinctive medals crafted from recycled aluminum cans, underscoring Singapore 2025’s commitment to sustainable sporting practices.
The initiative launched by the Singapore 2025 Organising Committee aims to collect approximately 100,000 aluminum cans to produce 5,000 medals. Students from five PCF Sparkletots Preschool centers, eight primary schools, and three secondary schools are leading the charge in this effort through the School Recycling League. This program encourages students to actively participate in recycling activities, fostering environmental responsibility from an early age.
A Collective Effort for a Sustainable Future
highlighted the significance of integrating sustainability into major sporting events:
“Sustainability is a key consideration for organizers of large-scale events as we strive to reduce our environmental impact. The ‘Trash to Treasure’ initiative demonstrates how simple, greener habits can be seamlessly incorporated into daily life while driving meaningful change. The enthusiasm of students and schools in this program is truly inspiring and underscores the power of collective action.”
Angela Yang, Director of Professional & Education Development at PCF Sparkletots Preschool, echoed this sentiment:
“At PCF, we are committed to nurturing environmentally responsible individuals from a young age. Through the ‘Trash to Treasure’ initiative, children learn the value of sustainability in a hands-on way, understanding how small efforts contribute to a lasting impact. We are proud to be part of a program that combines sustainability with community spirit.”
Transforming Trash into Medals
The collected aluminum cans will undergo open-loop recycling, which will be processed, cleaned, and smelted into medals. The final medals will be manufactured by sustainable design company ipse ipsa ipsum, ensuring that each medal—approximately 150 grams in weight—incorporates recycled materials instead of new raw aluminum. On average, 20 recycled cans will be used to create each medal.
“Responsible recycling practices are simple actions that can have a lasting impact on the environment,” said Saurabh Mangla, Founder and Creative Director of ipse ipsa ipsum. “Recycling waste aluminum into medals is one way to showcase sustainability in action, and we are proud to contribute to this initiative at the World Aquatics Championships.”
Sustainability Beyond Medals
Beyond the ‘Trash to Treasure’ initiative, Singapore 2025 partnered with green fintech company MVGX as its Sustainability Solutions Partner. MVGX will provide digital tools, reporting systems, and sustainability services to ensure that the event meets the highest environmental standards. Additionally, MVGX will facilitate voluntary carbon offsets aligned with internationally recognized sustainability frameworks to reduce the championships’ overall carbon footprint.
“Partnering with experts allows us to measure and track our environmental impact more effectively,” Chay noted. “With MVGX on board, we have the expertise and resources needed to implement sustainable practices throughout the championships.”
As part of its sustainability efforts, Singapore 2025 will also launch educational campaigns and training sessions for vendors and sponsors, equipping them with the necessary knowledge and resources to adopt eco-friendly practices.
A Landmark Event in Aquatics
Image Source: Ann Yvette Chong and Xuan Jia Kiera Lee of Singapore compete in the Woman Duet Free Final at the World Aquatics Artistic Swimming World Cup Super Final in 2024 (David Balogh/Getty Images)
The World Aquatics Championships – Singapore 2025 will bring together more than 2,500 elite athletes competing in 75 medal events across six aquatic sports: swimming, artistic swimming, water polo, diving, high diving, and open water swimming. For the first time, the World Aquatics Masters Championships will run concurrently, welcoming approximately 6,000 athletes aged 25 and above across five aquatic disciplines.
With sustainability at its core, Singapore 2025 is setting a new standard for environmentally responsible sporting events, ensuring that the impact of these championships extends beyond the competition pool and into a greener future.
