At least 78,985 tonnes of Japan’s “technological waste” were used to make the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games medals
One of the most anticipated sporting events worldwide is the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the sports event had to be delayed.
The event is currently taking place with the necessary sanitary measures to avoid contagion. However, the pandemic is not the only reason why this ceremony will pass to posterity.
It was revealed that for the making of the medals of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics at least 78,985 tons of the “technological waste” from Japan.
That is, for the creation of medals of gold, silver and bronze, the garbage from cell phones, laptops, computers and other technological elements were used.
This concept is not new, as at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, 30% of the silver to make the gold and silver medals was obtained from recycled materials, such as auto parts and mirror surfaces.
However, those used in Tokyo 2020 Olympics They are the first to be created all from recycled materials.
How were the Tokyo 2020 medals created?
It was possible to collect 32 kg of gold, 3,500 kg of silver and 2,200 kg of bronze. 90% of the regions that divide Japan participated in this project for the sports fair.
“The gold ones have a silver base bathed with more than six grams of gold; the silver ones are made up entirely of this material, while the bronze ones have a red brass that is manufactured with 95% copper and 5% zinc “
Regarding weights, the gold one oscillates 556 grams, the silver one 550 and the bronze one, 450.
The organizers revealed that to achieve their goal, the “Tokyo 2020 Medal Project” was created, with which – between April 1, 2017 and March 31, 2019 – small electronic devices such as used mobile phones from all over Japan were collected.
In this way the Tokyo 2020 Olympics They are the first in history to involve its citizens in the production of medals and in making them with recycled metals.
Private companies also participated in this project, who donated more than 6.21 million used cell phones.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) reported that approximately five thousand medals were created for the sporting event.
Not only medals They are recycled since the ribbons that adorn them were also made with Recycled material.
“Chemically recycled polyester fibers, which produce less CO2 during their manufacturing process”
Rest facilities for participating athletes are also made of garbage.
It is expected that Tokyo 2020 Olympics be an example for the next editions and in this way create an awareness about the importance of recycling.
