London 2012 sustainability plans on track

- zero waste to landfill at Games time- ‘green build’ on track with 15% reduction in carbon emissions already achieved as carbon footprint published

Dec. 2, 2009--London 2012 today published its updated Sustainability Plan – ‘Towards a One Planet 2012’, outlining the latest plans to ensure the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games will set new standards in sustainability. The updated version contains the latest plans across London 2012’s five themes of sustainability climate change, waste, biodiversity, inclusion and healthy living.

Two key areas addressed in the plan include the approach being taken to carbon management and waste management. For the first time for a summer Games, a study into what the potential carbon footprint of the project could be has been undertaken – from construction to staging.

This is an innovative approach to carbon footprinting: to use the methodology as a forward looking impact assessment, rather than a reporting tool. In this way we have been able to identify the main sources of carbon emissions in advance to inform many of our sustainability plans.

Findings have enabled detailed work on minimising carbon emissions, with the ODA already reducing potential emissions from construction work by 15% across the site and by more than 50% on the Olympic Stadium project alone.

The total carbon footprint ‘owned’ by London 2012 after sustainability and reduction measures have been taken into account is expected to be 1.9Mtonnes CO2e. These emissions are spread over the seven year duration of the project from bid win to Games-time. To give some context to this, over this seven year period, London 2012’s carbon footprint amounts to 0.05% of the UK’s total emissions.

A significant part of this is obviously from the work of the ODA to create the Olympic Park in Stratford, building thousands of new homes, world-class sporting venues, a 102 hectare public park with thousands of trees, as well as new and improved rail and water infrastructure and new pedestrian and cycle routes.

There is also a footprint from the investment being made in upgrading public transport infrastructure and from LOCOG’s staging activities at Games-time.

The ODA is on track or exceeding the wide-ranging set of sustainability targets for the London 2012 construction project. Among other achievements, the ODA is currently delivering 60% of materials by weight by rail or water transport, beating a target of 50% and dramatically reducing vehicle movements and the resulting carbon emissions. 90% of construction waste is being diverted from landfill and is being reused or recycled instead.

The ODA is also designing venues as sustainably as possible, including:

* Stadium – the most lightweight Olympic stadium to date, minimising the use of steel

* Velodrome – almost 100 per cent naturally ventilated

* Aquatics Centre – the concrete in the foundations of the venue has a high recycled content and the water used to clean the swimming pool filters will be recycled for toilet flushing

* In total, the sports venues will use at least 40% less water than equivalent building due to initiatives such as low flush toilets and rainwater harvesting.

Other measures taken to reduce the carbon footprint include using concrete and aggregate with a high recycled content and reusing materials wherever possible, for example un-used gas pipes recycled for the Stadium’s roof truss.

The Olympic Park area will also benefit from a significantly reduced risk of flooding with measures such as river widening, strengthening flood defences and sustainable urban drainage being implemented. More than 4000 trees, 74,000 plants, 60,000 bulbs and 300,000 wetlands plants will be planted to create new open green space for London – the largest planting project ever undertaken in the UK.

Earlier this year the Government published a progress report on the Strategy for Sustainable Construction, highlighting the achievements made on the Olympic Park. The report uses the London 2012 project to demonstrate how sustainability can be successfully integrated into large-scale construction projects.

For the Games LOCOG is working with its partners on the following measures:

– procuring materials for venue overlay and fit-out which have low embodied carbon and high reuse or recycling potential

– optimising amount of hired materials and equipment

– developing and implementing a Technology Sustainability Strategy (IT services are the second highest component of LOCOG’s footprint after overlay construction).

– additional new renewable energy sources.

– a low emission vehicle fleet: cars, logistics vehicles, buses etc

– ‘Green travel plans’ for ticketed spectators and workforce

– Cycling and walking will be encouraged via the Active Travel Programme

– Low/zero-carbon Olympic and Paralympic flames

LOCOG Chairman Sebastian Coe commented, “Sustainability has underpinned this project from day one. From construction to how we will stage the Games in 2012, we’re constantly looking at ways to ensure we’re setting new standards in how major events are staged – responsibly, with legacy in mind.”

ODA Chief Executive David Higgins said, “We have made sure that sustainability is at the heart of this project from the outset and the ‘green build’ is on track. As we create the Olympic Park, cleaning the area of contamination, creating world-class new sports venues, thousands of new homes, new infrastructure, transport links and a new green space for Londoners that will remain many years after 2012, we are doing so in as sustainable way as possible.

“Whether it is in the design of venues, the innovative use of sustainable building materials, using water and rail to reduce vehicle emissions, reusing and recycling waste on site or planting thousands of new trees and plants, we are determined to minimise carbon emissions and leave a green legacy for industry to follow.”

At Games-time, The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) has committed to a zero-waste to landfill policy and will be working with its contractors and suppliers to ensure the measures are in place to achieve this. An initial scoping study has shown that during the Games an estimated 8,000 tonnes of waste is likely to be generated, of which around 40% is likely to be food waste or food contaminated waste. The study also looked at the use of temporary materials and packaging. Work is underway to carefully select materials and packaging used for the Games to enable significant reductions in carbon footprint, reduce waste and create reuse and recycling opportunities.

The document is a project-wide plan developed by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG), the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the Greater London Authority (GLA). Launched in 2007, ‘Towards A One Planet 2012’ outlines London 2012’s sustainability goals and sets out how they will be achieved in preparation, staging the Games and legacy.

Olympics Minister Rt Hon Tessa Jowell MP said, “The London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games is an iconic project taking place at a time when the world is faced with the global challenges from climate change. That’s why they must be more than just six weeks of sport, they must also provide a blue print for sustainable working and living.

“This report shows we are on track to achieving a zero waste Games, and have significantly reduced the carbon footprint through reduction measures, such as using rail and water routes to get materials on to the Olympic Park, building an Energy Centre to provide low-carbon power and designing park venues to be as energy efficient as possible.

“The standards achieved in the building of the Park also have the potential to be a major influence on the construction sector in the UK. This would be a major legacy not just for Britain, but the whole world.”

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: "The 2012 Games are transforming the east of London as we create a brand new vibrant quarter, with thousands of new homes and jobs in the coming decades. This updated Plan shows how far we've come since the first edition was published in 2007, and the ODA continues to introduce innovative measures on site to ensure the construction project is as environmentally, socially and economically sustainable as possible.

"I want London to be recognised as a world leader in setting new standards in the reduction of carbon emissions, as well as stimulating a low carbon economy and creating green jobs. This is one of my key priorities before, during and after the 2012 Games."

Simon Lewis from WWF, which worked with London 2012 on the bid for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games said, "WWF recognises the strides that London 2012 is making towards the goal of a One Planet 2012 - and the first sustainable Olympic and Paralympic Games. The 2009 sustainability plan brings achieving this goal closer to reality. WWF look forward to working with London 2012 on the next stage, engaging sponsors and audiences in creating a new Olympic and Paralympic movement for the planet."

BioRegional also worked with London 2012 on its sustainability strategy since the bid and Jill Savery from BioRegional welcomed the update,

“BioRegional are pleased that the Sustainability Plan has been updated to show commitments aimed at achieving the One Planet 2012 vision we jointly developed during the bid. The opportunities available to set new sustainability standards for the construction industry are significant and we support the prompt dissemination of lessons learnt across the UK. We look forward to continuing our work with London 2012 in support of a truly sustainable 2012 Games and maximising legacy benefits.”

For more information visit www.london2012.com.

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