The 2024 Paris Olympics will be a milestone as it aims to become one of the most environmentally friendly and low-carbon Olympic Games to date. At this moment of global concern for environmental issues, the Paris Olympics adheres to the concept of sustainable development, integrating environmental protection and low-carbon concepts throughout the entire event preparation and implementation process.
The 2024 Paris Olympics will open on July 26th and close on August 11th. Last May, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo vowed to make the Olympics the first major event to not use disposable traditional plastics as part of her efforts to address the global plastic pollution crisis.
Viewers carrying plastic bottles will not be allowed to enter the competition venue. Coca Cola is no exception. The organizers of the Paris Olympics have stated that they hope to halve their carbon footprint compared to the 2016 Rio Olympics and the 2012 London Olympics.
Olympic sponsor Coca Cola will provide reusable glass bottle beverages, with 700 water dispensers and soda nozzles installed throughout the entire audience area and athlete's village. Moreover, refreshments are also served in reusable cups.
According to a recent article in the French newspaper Le Monde, Coca Cola and the Olympic Organizing Committee stated that if all other methods fail and "when operating conditions prevent the installation of fountains," recycled plastic bottles can be used.
Coca Cola's goal is to distribute approximately 18 million drinks, half of which are free, to athletes and registered customers. However, this American Coca Cola company cautiously did not specify that almost half of these beverages will be packaged in plastic bottles.
According to Le Monde, a French environmental activist group apparently has access to a confidential memo verified by Le Monde, which states that three-quarters of the 9 million Olympic drinks will come from plastic bottles, but these drinks will be packaged in so-called eco-friendly cups. Accusations of greenwashing have poured in one after another.
Coca Cola and the organizing committee responded to Le Monde by stating that these plastic bottles will be made of recycled PET and will not be distributed to audiences. On the contrary, these bottles will be "captured from the source" and recycled. This may be shocking, but the activists did not leave a deep impression. Through this event, we will further strengthen the environmental awareness of the people in our jurisdiction, make them aware of the importance of garbage classification and plastic reduction treatment, actively guide residents to practice the concept of green development and civilized life, encourage them to develop habits of cherishing resources and saving energy, and create a good atmosphere of "everyone knows, everyone participates, and everyone takes action".
