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Sustainability

  1. Getting ready
  2. Games time
  3. Legacy

Building a sustainable Games

London 2012 is committed to creating venues and infrastructure in a sustainable way, while also looking to what will be left after the Games.

Climate change


To reduce the greenhouses gases associated with the Olympic Park and venues we are:

  • designing buildings to use less energy;
  • using lower carbon alternatives;
  • building a wind turbine; and
  • selecting materials that require less energy to produce them.

We also aim to transport half of the materials (by weight) we will need to construct the venues at the Olympic Park by water or rail.


Waste


Tyres that have been dumped by riverside
We aim to reduce our waste during the demolition, remediation and construction phases, as well as designing venues efficiently. At least 20 per cent (by value) of demolition materials used in permanent venues will be reused or recycled on-site or at other locations.


Biodiversity


The Olympic Park site is mainly former industrial land which was badly degraded and highly polluted. However, there are still areas of important natural habitat which will be conserved where possible and will form key parts of the future landscape of the Park. They will be linked to the wider countryside through natural corridors.

Enhancing biodiversity is central to our programme. Land and waterways will be improved. We will not only protect where possible, but enhance much of the most valuable natural resources where they are found. Where areas are cleared, we will try to relocate wildlife temporarily and re-introduce them at a later stage.


Inclusion


We have already started to ensure that communities around the Olympic Park, and across London and the UK, can feel part of, contribute to and benefit from the Games.

For example, an online service has been established to help people living in the five Host Boroughs around the Olympic Park (Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest and Greenwich) to access jobs on site.


Healthy living


We are committed to maximising the health benefits of the Games for the construction workforce and local communities. Locating the Olympic Park in east London, which currently lacks good quality open space and high quality sporting facilities, should make a large contribution to encourage healthy living. 

We are also developing an Occupational Health and Safety Strategy to promote better health among construction workers.

Building a sustainable Games

Relocating fish

While preparing the Park for the Games, aquatic experts cleared and prepared the Pudding Mill River.

The fish were taken out unharmed and relocated in the nearby River Lea.

12 key areas of focus

The ODA will focus on 12 areas:

1. Minimising the carbon emissions
2. Efficient water use, reuse and recycling.
3. Protecting and enhancing biodiversity
4. Prioritising walking, cycling and the use of public transport
5. Optimising the reduction of waste through design
6. Creating new, safe, mixed-use communities
7. Environmentally and socially responsible materials
8. Creating a highly accessible Olympic Park and venues
9. Optimising land, water, noise and air quality.
10. Creating new employment and business opportunities
11. Providing healthy lifestyle opportunities
12. Involving the communities

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