At the 2024 Olympic Games, the focus on sustainability had been more prominent than ever before. And it’s no surprise why. Just under a decade ago, 196 parties at the United Nations Climate Change Conference near Paris, France negotiated and signed an international treaty on climate change mitigation, adaptation, and finance—the Paris Agreement. Today, as the same city hosted many of the same national guests, reinforcing the environmental goals that they pledged to work toward was only natural—especially for an event of that magnitude, which often leaves a huge carbon footprint.
So, what did they do differently this year? One key aim was to lessen that carbon footprint by 50% in comparison to the 2012 and 2016 games through means like utilizing existing arenas, sourcing local energy, and encouraging smarter transportation. Still, after the final numbers are crunched, will these adjustments prove to have been enough? It’s tough to say. While these efforts are sure to have made a sizable impact in the mitigation of adverse environmental impacts, in the end, meeting the 50% reduction goal will be moot if there is a mishandling of another key source of powerful greenhouse gas emissions and environmental pollution—waste.
Across the globe, two of sports’ biggest environmental offenders are energy use and travel, which is why this year’s games targeted those areas first.
Stadiums require significant amounts of energy for lighting, heating, cooling, and electronic displays; and the travel of teams, officials, and spectators to and from the event accounts for another considerable portion of direct emissions. Air travel, in particular, has an extremely high carbon footprint, often making it the largest single source of greenhouse gases (GHGs), especially for global events. But regular season sports are responsible for spitting out a lot too. For example, just 10 NBA games generate around 5,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
Now, where does waste fit in? While a much smaller portion of GHGs come from the waste generated by these events in comparison to those stemming from energy and travel needs, it’s important to note that the emissions from waste tend to be far more potent.
When landfilled, waste generates methane, a greenhouse gas that is 28 to 36 times more powerful than carbon dioxide over a 100-year period and 84 to 87 times more powerful over a 20-year period—the same timeframe many environmental experts deem instrumental in diverting climate change’s worst impacts. And sports generate enormous amounts of waste.
In the United States, sporting events produce an average of 39 million pounds of trash every year, with the Super Bowl alone accounting for 50 to 60 tons. Global events obviously generate far more. The 2020 Olympic Games, for example, generated approximately 70,000 tons of waste by its end—an amount that translates to 168,000 tons of CO₂ equivalent greenhouse gases.
Combine energy-, travel- and waste-derived emissions with those that come from the construction and implementation of event-inspired infrastructure and the figures get absurd. The 2022 FIFA World Cup, for instance, generated an estimated 3.6 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in total.
Fortunately, many of these concerns have already been considered for this year’s games, as mentioned above. But meeting the upfront 50% reduction target in addition to mitigating the waste-derived emissions that will continually release well after the last athlete is home will remain a challenge. It will come down to sticking to the waste reduction strategies outlined beforehand and effectively leveraging sustainable solutions for what cannot be avoided.
For the Olympics and sporting events in general—and for the businesses involved in their sponsorship, operation and other affiliations—sustainable waste solutions are essential. Waste naturally possesses risks and those risks affect those attending and participating in events, partnering with teams, selling products, and beyond. But how?
Such a partnership not only mitigates environmental risks but also enhances a company’s reputation by demonstrating a commitment to sustainability. A reliable waste management partner can also ensure compliance with stringent regulations, avoiding costly fines and legal issues. They bring expertise in waste reduction, recycling, and composting, which can significantly lower disposal costs and minimize the environmental footprint of events. Moreover, a sustainability partner can assist in creating tailored waste management plans that align with the specific needs of the event and the brands involved, guaranteeing that waste is managed efficiently and responsibly.
Still, the key to successfully doing those things comes down to possessing three features. The sustainability partner must have the size to support events at scale; they must have the network and capabilities to offer diverse solutions for waste challenges of every variety; and they must have a track record of reliability within their industry.
After all, achieving a green status at any sporting event—global or otherwise—requires a gold standard of support. Let’s hope that the waste partners of the 2024 Olympic Games deliver just that.