Paris sets out Olympic Sustainability Plan
This summer will see the completion of the Paris 2024 Olympic & Paralympic games! Amongst the on-field excitement, it is easy to forget how much work goes on behind-the-scenes to organise the games. Increasingly, sustainability is becoming a key consideration with these games and Paris is no exception.
According to the official website for the games, the Paris 2024 organising committee has established a new model for the Olympic and Paralympic games this year, aiming to make it more sustainable. Their work to place sustainability at the heart of the games began when organisation for Paris 2024 first started - back in 2017.
We've taken a look into how the Paris 2024 games are trying to be more sustainable.
Paris 2024 sustainability planning
A 'Legacy and Sustainability' strategy has been devised for the games which has six core pillars to it. Amongst those pillars are the ambition to:
- deliver games that are eco-responsible by harnessing sustainable solutions. The main objectives around this pillar include:
- guaranteeing a carbon-neutral games,
- protecting, regenerating and recognising the value of biodiversity at the venues used,
- setting up a circular economy for the games,
- increasing the resilience of the games by anticipating and managing climate risks,
- guaranteeing a positive impact on the climate;
- leave a social and environmental legacy by using sport to drive the environmental transformation.
In order to achieve these objectives, organisers established several key initiatives, including systematic methods to evaluate environmental impact and the development of a zero waste strategy.
Sustainability delivery
Whilst sustainability planning has been ongoing since the early stages of organising the games, it is important that the strategies are actually delivered. As a result, a report was published in May 2024 to outline what work has been done.
Here's a summary of some of the strategies implemented in time for the games this summer:
- in 2022, Paris 2024 had their sustainable management system (SMS) certified to ISO 20121;
- 95% of the venues being used were already in existence. Any development that took place prioritised the use of wood from eco-managed forests, recycled or recyclable materials and low-carbon concrete. They even ensured that the use of carpet was kept to a minimum, and only laid in essential zones such as competition areas;
- all venues are connected to public electricity networks using power created from renewable sources. In the past, any events taking place in temporary venues were run on diesel generators, causing air pollution and emissions of carbon dioxide. The use of such generators has therefore been limited;
- every Paris 2024 venue is served by public transport, with 3/4 of venues in Ile-de-France located within 500 metres of a public transport stop. In addition, 415km of cycling lanes will be available and the use of bikes will be encouraged with 20,000 temporary bicycle parking spaces being created;
- it is estimated that around 13 million meals and snacks will have to be provided. As a result, 60% of sandwiches, hot and cold dishes offered to spectators will be vegetarian at most venues, with a 50% vegetarian offer for staff, volunteers and contractors. In addition:
- reusable bottles will be allowed inside venues and free water fountains will be available at all venues,
- 20% of the beverages served will be in returnable, reusable glass bottles,
- 100% recycled bottles will be used in concessions that cannot accommodate a water fountain,
- 80% of the food supplied will be from France, and 80% of the total food supplied will be labelled with a sustainability label according to law,
- athletes will use a "zero single-use plastic" route, encouraging them to use reusable bottles, with reusable bottles provided to them and refill stations available in all areas;
- the medals presented to athletes will be made of 100% recycled gold and silver, certified by the Responsible Jewellery Council;
- Paris 2024 will be the first sports event organiser to implement sorting of bio-waste and recyclable packaging across all competition venues;
- when it comes to the Olympic aquatics centre almost 5,000 m2 of roof space has been covered in solar photovoltaic panels, providing around 20% of the complex's electricity needs.
After the games
In addition to the sustainability strategies implemented during the games themselves, organisers have aimed to ensure the games have a lasting legacy. This includes ensuring new methods, guides and tools can be used by future sporting event organisers.
As part of the legacy strategies:
- a "material footprint" has been estimated in order to map objects and materials. This ensures that they produce only what is needed and that a second life for materials used can be anticipated. Circular economy is therefore important in these games which has ensured that 90% of the assets installed on venues (including sports equipment, temporary structures, uniforms etc) have a contractually guaranteed second life. For example, mattresses and pillows used across the 16,000 beds will be donated and distributed among various organisations;
- organisers have set a target carbon footprint upstream of the games, based on estimates;
- Paris 2024 identified environmental issues and potential impacts on biodiversity before the games began. This allowed them to formulate recommendations to avoid the impacts or to reduce them so that the games do not have a lasting negative impact on the environment.
Event organisers have promised to update their sustainability reports once the games have finished.
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