You may have heard by now the uproar over the Team USA's Olympic uniforms being made in China. This is not a political blog, so don't worry, I won't be adding my voice to that issue. I only bring it up because that side of the story has overshadowed another side which is way more positive. All USA track and field uniforms are partially made from upcycled materials, including plastic bottles and recycled fabrics!
These uniforms are just a small part of a new change in environmental attitude we're seeing from the Olympics this year. Due to the scope of the games, the Olympics have a hugely negative environmental impact - from the venue construction to the transportation of all the participants and spectators to the waste created at the event itself. The 2012 London Olympics are billing themselves as the first sustainable Olympics, and this was a major factor in why London won the 2012 summer games. Under the program, "Towards a One Planet 2012" the London Olympics have built sustainable practices into every stage of the games. To list just a few: cycling programs are in place for spectators, permanent green spaces have been built alongside venues and all food vendors are required to use compostable packaging. I applaud this long overdue change and expect future Olympic cities will follow suit.
Full details on these sustainable plans and the environmental impact of the games can be found at London 2012.
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