The Olympics, as a global event that brings together nations and athletes from all over the world, have a significant environmental and social impact. In recent years, there has been a growing emphasis on integrating sustainability into the planning and execution of events, including the Games. This involves adopting practices that minimize environmental impact, promote economic stability, and foster social inclusivity.

Accordingly, the Paris 2024 Olympics united people worldwide to celebrate outstanding achievements. Nearly 600,000 spectators and over 11,200 athletes gathered in Paris for the opening ceremony, with an additional 14 million visitors arriving to witness the Olympics and Paralympic events. However, venue construction and the influx of international visitors have significant environmental costs. The London 2012 and Rio 2016 Games each generated an average of 3.5 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent emissions. Although the Olympics Movement aims to “contribute to building a peaceful and better world,” such high emissions can severely impact the environment. The estimated carbon footprint for this summer’s games was approximately 1.75 million metric tons of CO2, half that of the London and Rio events.

The organizers of the Paris 2024 Olympics adopted innovative strategies to mitigate environmental impacts. The Paris 2024 organizing committee was committed to establishing a new paradigm for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, aiming to host an event that is more responsible, sustainable, unified, and inclusive. These games presented a unique chance to drive a new social initiative, fostering the development of innovative solutions and accelerating sustainable transformations. Notably, Paris 2024 was the first Olympic Games fully aligned with the Olympic Agenda 2020.

Let’s dive into some of the strategies that made the Paris 2024 Olympics sustainable!

1. Aiming for a 50 percent reduction in CO2 emissions in comparison to the norms of London 2012 and Rio 2016, Paris 2024 has tackled the broadest range of emissions, including the indirect footprint of the Games (namely, scope three emissions), such as spectator travel. Consequently, Paris 2024 hosted the first Olympics aligned with the Paris Agreement on Climate Change (2015).
2. For the first time in Olympic and Paralympic Games history, Paris 2024 has assessed its “material footprint.” Organizers developed a detailed resource map for each venue, focusing on minimizing and managing the life cycle of materials before, during, and after the Games. The organizers meticulously planned every asset, including spectator seating, tents, beds, chairs, tables, and even tennis balls. Notably, the medals awarded to athletes each contain a piece of metal from the Eiffel Tower. Specifically, each medal includes 18 grams of original iron from the Eiffel Tower, integrated into the design to emphasize circular economy principles. Prior renovations salvaged and preserved this iron, and the Eiffel Tower operating company repurposed these historic fragments for the medals, giving them a “second glory.” Additionally, the gold and silver used in the medals are 100% recycled and certified by the Responsible Jewelry Council. The Monnaie de Paris, the government institution responsible for minting France’s coins, crafts the bronze medals from an alloy of copper, tin, and zinc, reclaimed from metal scraps from other productions.
3. The Paris 2024 organizers implemented an innovative energy model. They used 100 percent renewable energy throughout the games, significantly reducing the use of diesel generators. Biofuel, hydrogen, or batteries powered the few generators that were operational. Additionally, the grid connected all venues, eliminating the need for temporary energy solutions.
4. Ninety-five percent of the Paris 2024 competition venues are either pre-existing or temporary structures. They constructed new venues  using low-carbon methods. The Aquatics Center, built specifically for the Olympics, primarily uses energy from 4,680 square meters of solar panels on its roof. The seating was made entirely from recycled local plastic waste, and the structure heavily incorporates wood to reduce construction emissions. After the games, the Aquatics Center will serve the Seine-Saint-Denis community, providing a multi-sport facility where currently half of the 11-year-olds cannot swim. It will offer swimming, climbing, fitness facilities, and individual and team sports spaces.
5. Sports federations rented or supplied 75% of the two million pieces of sports equipment. Additionally, sports federations rented over three-quarters of the electronic equipment, which included screens, computers, and printers. This approach also applied to all stands, tents, and bungalows.
6. After the Games, the Olympic Village will transform into a new residential and business district, providing workspaces for 6,000 individuals and housing for an additional 6,000. Public housing will occupy a quarter of these residences, catering to the 40 percent of current Saint-Denis residents who rely on it. Government-affiliated agencies will manage another third of these residences as affordable housing for students and low-income workers. Including restaurants, shops, and leisure centers, it aims to revitalize the district, where unemployment currently exceeds 20 percent.
7. The Olympic Games accelerated efforts to clean the River Seine, resulting in substantial investment in pollution remediation. This initiative aims to make the river accessible for all Parisians by 2025 and is a crucial component of the city’s future climate resilience strategy.
8. The organizers provided meals with half the carbon emissions of an average French meal by doubling the use of plant-based ingredients and offering more plant-based options for everyone, including spectators and staff. Furthermore, local agriculture sourced 80 percent of the ingredients, with a quarter produced within 250 kilometers of each venue.
9. The organizers reduced food waste by accurately estimating food quantities, redistributing surplus, composting, or repurposing unconsumed food.
10. The organizers reduced single-use plastic in catering by 50 percent and will reuse all catering equipment and infrastructure after the Games. Coca-Cola, a Worldwide Olympic Partner, installed 700 water and soda fountains and free drinking water stations across Paris 2024 venues. Additionally, all venues allowed spectators to bring their own reusable bottles, a departure from current French regulations.
11. Finally, over 80 percent of the Olympic venues were located within 10 kilometers of the Olympic Village, reducing travel time for athletes. All venues were accessible via public transport, which has increased by 15 percent compared to regular summer service levels in the Paris region.

The Paris 2024 Olympics implemented numerous additional sustainable strategies and initiatives. Notably, Paris 2024 achieved ISO 20121 certification for sustainable event management systems in 2022 and received an “exemplary” rating for adhering to the ISO 20400 standard on responsible procurement. It is interesting for anyone who wants to gain comprehensive information on the Olympic Games’ sustainability aspects to look at the Olympic Pre-Games Report that the organizers have published.

EcoSkills always aims to highlight all the sustainability news that is in the limelight and reflect the essence of sustainability involving the environment, economy, and society. Stay tuned for all the insightful news that we bring to our blog each week about sustainability and ESG.