The 2024 Olympic Video games are upon us and like many individuals world wide, I’m excited to tune in and observe the motion. Like most, I’ll cheer for athletes from my house nation. Not desirous to miss the moments when new world information are set and stars are made, I’ll watch the sprinting. As a marine scientist, I’ve a pure affinity with something remotely associated to the ocean so I can even seemingly observe all of the watersports. Lastly, over the subsequent two weeks, I can be tuning in throughout all occasions to look at for one thing most won’t discover – reusable cups.
For a residing, I marketing campaign to cease plastic air pollution from devastating our oceans. As a part of this work, my colleagues and I try to get the world’s largest beverage corporations to promote extra of their drinks in reusable packaging as an alternative of single-use plastic. A ten p.c improve in reusable beverage packaging globally by 2030 can eliminate a couple of trillion single-use plastic bottles and cups and stop as much as 153 billion of those containers from polluting the world’s waterways and seas. Reusable packaging is one of the best resolution the beverage trade has for addressing its contribution to the plastic air pollution disaster at the moment going through our oceans. For six years working, Coca-Cola and Pepsi have been named among the many world’s top plastic polluters by the worldwide Break Free From Plastic motion. So, I used to be thrilled once I first realized that the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Video games would serve drinks to spectators in reusable packaging, probably changing hundreds of thousands of single-use plastic cups.
This choice by Paris 2024 is a vital milestone within the world battle in opposition to plastic air pollution, marking a shift in the direction of large-scale reuse techniques and away from the take-make-waste economic system the place packaging is used solely as soon as, then discarded. The 2024 Video games would be the largest sporting occasion in historical past to make use of reusable packaging, although recent reports have indicated that this effort can be lower than good, with some important flaws.
A key design requirement of efficient reuse techniques is that reusable packaging ought to exchange single-use packaging. That is essential to make sure that the system achieves its goal of maximally lowering packaging waste – and air pollution. To most, this would appear an apparent requirement however sadly, at Paris 2024, someplace within the planning course of, this goal obtained misplaced or was by no means prioritised within the first place. On the Paris Video games, reports have confirmed that most of the drinks served to spectators in reusable cups can be poured from single-use plastic bottles. The organisers have claimed that this choice was on account of operational restrictions in momentary venues the place fountain machines can’t be put in. This excuse is tough to swallow. Main sponsor Coca-Cola, its packaging and distribution companions, and occasion organisers ought to work more durable to develop modern options that enable them to fulfill demand with out the necessity for single-use plastic.
A further key reuse system design requirement is that reusable packaging doesn’t characteristic engaging occasion branding. Sadly, at Paris 2024 many reusable cups will feature the Olympic logo, making them attraction to spectators as souvenirs and lowering the probability they are going to be returned – and reused. Whereas followers are more likely to reuse these cups at house, reuse techniques can not attain their full potential of minimising waste – and carbon emissions – with out excessive return charges. Utilizing unbranded reusable cups is totally possible – these are already getting used at large-scale live shows and music festivals corresponding to these owned by the leisure firm Dwell Nation, the place a reusable cup system, TURN, has achieved return charges of more than 90 percent.
Regardless of the failings, the inclusion of reuse at Paris 2024 stays – for me – a beacon of hope for the oceans. Importantly, with the world watching, Paris 2024 presents an unparalleled alternative to place the highlight on reuse, increase consciousness in regards to the environmental advantages of reusable packaging, and improve client demand for extra of it. Earlier this month, greater than 100 sport organisations and elite athletes from world wide took benefit of this chance, calling on main beverage corporations and sports activities sponsors to extend reusable packaging instead of single-use plastic. This request was made by a letter despatched to the CEOs of the Coca-Cola Firm, PepsiCo, and Coca-Cola’s largest bottler – Coca-Cola Europacific Companions (CCEP). It particularly requested these corporations to dramatically improve reusable packaging, remove single-use plastic at future sporting occasions, and help an bold UN plastic treaty.
The letter despatched a robust message in opposition to single-use plastic from the game group, and I used to be heartened to see the large stage of help. It’s clear athletes care about this subject, and main sport sponsors ought to take word. Greater than 50 Olympians, Paralympians, world champions, and world report holders supported the letter, together with 23 athletes who can be competing on the Paris 2024 Video games. Over the subsequent two weeks, I can be cheering the loudest for these athletes – who’re champions not solely in sport, however for the oceans, too.
Plastic air pollution is a matter that impacts us all – athletes, and spectators alike. Within the spirit of the Olympics, it’s time for all of us to come back collectively and ditch single-use plastic in favour of reuse. The way forward for the environment, our local weather, and our well being will depend on it.