London Olympics 2012: The First Green Games

Here at WegoWise, we are very excited about the Olympics, particularly this year. 2012 marks the year of the first Olympic Games committed to sustainability and the environment. Did you know that the most sustainable Olympic Stadium ever built is now in London?

Read more about sustainable initiatives in the other London 2012 Venues. 

                                          London 2012 Olympic Stadium

In addition, LONDON 2012 is the FIRST OLYMPIC GAMES to:

• Make a committment to improving the site of the Games, even after it's gone. 

The natural landscape of the London Olympic Park will give London a brand new wildlife habitat, and will help alleviate flooding. It is also the largest new urban park to be built in Europe in 150 years.

• Measure its entire carbon footprint. 

This has allowed the London 2012 Games to dramatically reduce and manage its carbon emissions. They will reduce emissions by 50% in permanent buildings on the Olympic Park.

• Use Renewable Energy from on-site sources

After the Games, 20% of the Park’s energy will be powered from renewable sources.

• Convert the Olympic Village into Affordable Housing and private rental properties.

By achieving the Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4 in the Olympic Village, 44% of carbon emissions will be eliminated.

• Provide sustainable transportation. 

London is taking advantage of the Olympic Games hosting opportunity to change the way people move throughout the city. 100% of the transportation during the games is aimed at being provided solely by trains and buses. The launch of the Active Travel Program will encourage people to walk and bicycle throughout London to the Games, and will remain in place for many years afterwards, promoting fitness and physical activity.

• Implement sustainability requirements in food operations. 

14 million meals will be served, all from sustainable sources of food. Most food packaging will be compostable and most waste will be recyclable. All unrecyclable waste will be converted into electricity.

• Generate ZERO waste to landfills. 

As stated in the Zero Waste Games Vision, London will achieve a 98.5%-99% rate of re-use and recycling of materials involved in demolition and construction. 

• Reduce potable water use by 40% (against 2006 standards).

The 2012 London Olympics will reduce water usage by using water-efficient appliances and collecting rainwater. A new on-site treatment plant was even constructed (which uses biomembranes) to make the sewage meet the non-potable standard for water used in toilets and irrigation.   

• Have an Organizing Committee actually committed to sustainability. 

They became British Standard 8901-certified in 2011 which will ensure that the Games meet and deliver a high standard for sustainability. The 2012 Green Games are in order.

• Receive a U.N.E.P. Global 500 Award for setting a new environmental standard in Olympic history.

The Lillehammer Olympic Organizing Committee set a new precedent in environmental preservation and sustainability for Olympic Games to come, by taking into account every detail of the Games to save energy. A few examples among many of the green innovation that took place during the organization of the Games were: an ice rink built inside a mountain to conserve energy, fines applied to the number of felled trees, and the plates, utensils, and cups were designed to be able to be fed to livestock after use.