on site. Each type of material was color-coded with match- ing waste bins to help consumers return their waste to the correct bins. For instance, PET plastic bottles were marked with orange lines and were disposed of in orange bins, which were transported to a PET reprocessing facility in northern England. “Coca-Cola bottles used and disposed of early in the Olympics were transformed into new bottles by the time of the Paralympic Games, six weeks later,” Stubbs said. “All the PET plastic went to the same place and was made into new products; it’s a closed-end process.” That type of “closed-loop” solution was what the organiz-
ing committee had in mind with its zero-waste goal. LOCOG established “a dedicated line” for waste, Stubbs said, by sending all waste to one nearby processing facility, where every recyclable item was extracted and other waste was reused or composted. In addition to seeking such solutions, organizers worked
with partners to develop tools, and undertook public education and outreach initiatives to encourage London residents and visitors from around the world to live more sustainable lifestyles. While organizers aimed to send zero waste to landfills
from “closed” venues, or those venues operated by the London Olympics, there were also many situations in which Games-related waste was generated at “open” sites across the U.K. For instance, the committee could not control the types of materials entering the waste stream at sites such as the road-race routes, torch relays, official hotels, cultural events, transport hubs, and approach routes to venues. In those cases, LOCOG worked with suppliers, partners, and local authori- ties to encourage the alignment of waste-management prac- tices at open sites with those adopted for closed venues. Also on site, Olympic organizers paid attention to what
would become of signage, souvenirs, temporary structures, and other items that may be left behind. “Having such a big focus on sustainability means we need to be sure about what will happen after the Olympics,” Stubbs said. “We are mak- ing sure we maximize opportunities, such as selling items as memorabilia or donating items to causes that can use them. We don’t want to end up with a lot of rubbish.”
BEYOND THE GAMES Not only did the London Games make history as the green- est Summer Olympics yet, but the event also helped to leave a legacy for sustainable event planning around the world. LOCOG’s aggressive focus on sustainability inspired the development of ISO 20121, a new international standard for sustainable event management. International standards, developed by the International Standards Organization (ISO) through global consensus, give state-of-the-art speci- fications for products, services, and good practice, helping
78 PCMA CONVENE OCTOBER 2012
London’s Top 10 Below are the “top 10 tips for events,” from the sustainability guidelines provided to organizers of corporate and public events by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Access Ensure communication methods and physical access facilities mean everyone is welcome.
Local area Look after your local community. Try to reduce congestion, litter, and noise.
Energy and water Think of inventive ways to reduce your energy and water usage.
Transport Walking, cycling, and public transport are healthy and more environmentally friendly ways to travel to an event.
Reduce and reuse Think about what you really need — buy only what is needed and hire/reuse everything else.
David Stubbs
‘Our vision was to use the power of the Games to inspire lasting change.’
Responsible sourcing Try to support local businesses and socially responsible organizations.
Food and beverage Try to showcase local, seasonal, and fair-trade produce, and provide free drinking water.
Keepsakes Ensure giveaways add to the customer experience, are useful, reusable, and/or recyclable.
Make it easy to recycle Try to provide recyclable packaging and provide recycling and general waste bins.
Health, safety, and security A safe environment is a happy environment. Assessing the risks in advance can help ensure everyone can enjoy the event.