Tokyo 2020 Olympics go Green

By Eduardo Cobos & David de Aguinaga

As the date draws closer to one of the most awaited events around the globe hand in hand with the World Cup begins, the Olympics will take off in Tokyo on July 24 this 2020. Yet although such large events have been seen as a threat to the society and general ecosystem of the country, Tokyo is making a change to both people as well as visitors from around the world during this time.

Tokyo has implemented a plan which is aimed towards a concept working alongside tourists to become eco-friendly and non-damaged during this event of sports and peace or as they say it “Be better, together - For the planet and the people”. All through which is stipulated to be done with the following strategy; No poverty, Zero Hunger, Good Health & Well-being, Quality Education, Gender Equality, Clean water and Sanitation, Affordable and Clean Energy, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Industry Innovation and Infrastructure, Reduced Inequalities, Sustainable cities and Communities, Responsible consumption and production, Climate Action, Life below water, Life on Land, Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions and Partnership for the goals.

Taking steps for their community as well as for the games in order to result in a successful Olympics regardless of such drastic changes currently being made.

Achieving a 100% eco-friendly game with the following strategies. Starting with recycled materials, Tokyo used many materials to build many important things that will be used in the Olympic Games, they used waste materials which would otherwise have gone to the incinerator.

The first thing they did was the medals, the used around 50,000 tons of unwanted electronic devices, that include around 6.21 million used mobile phones, that were collected from the public. The second was the podiums, the ally with P&G, and with tons of shampoo bottles that were recycled the created the podiums for all the Olympic Games competitions. The third was the uniforms, the did a collaboration with Coca-Cola, the torchbearers will be made partially with recycled bottles. The fourth, is the Olympic torch that its made with aluminum wasted obtained from temporary housing built after the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011. And the last one is the Plaza, that was made with sustainably-sourced timber from 63 municipalities across Japan.

Secondly by using renewable energy. These Olympics will be one of the cleanest thanks to all the recycling tools and everything that the Japanese did to be able to use all the solar energy, biomass and hydroelectric energy. Thanks to the use of these energies, very little carbon is generated and with these aids they do not contribute to air and water pollution.

In conclusion, we hope that these Olympic Games, mark and give clues to the next Olympic Games (Paris 2024) and future, so that all are greener and see that everything is possible with a good organization and good ideas on what to recycle.