First-ever in Olympics: Medals to be made 100% from recycled electronic devices

The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games is finally coming up next year. Japan is filled with anticipation and hope, yet bringing about various controversies at the same time. It is drawing attention in both positive and negative aspects. However, behind all these lies a project launched for sustainability.

Named “Making medals from urban mines! ‘Everyone’s medal’ project”, its concept is to produce all the medals for the Tokyo 2020 Games from discarded electronic devices, like smartphones and other gadgets.

E-waste such as smartphones, laptops, digital cameras, hand-held games and hair dryers are shipped to, or donated at municipal collection centers set up across the country. Collected devices are shredded and separated at operators authorized by the Home Appliance Recycling Law. Refining operators then extract the gold, silver and bronze to manufacture the medals.

The Project goal is to manufacture 100% of gold, silver and bronze medals, approximately 5,000 in total, from recycled waste which will be awarded at the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games. Started in April 2017, the project has collected 28.4 kg of gold, 3,500 kg of silver and 2,700 kg of bronze by October 2018. The targeted amount of metals to manufacture the medals is in sight.

According to the Tokyo Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the concept of using recycled materials for creating the Olympic medals were carried out in previous Olympics. However, it is the first-time ever to get the public involved; collecting small home appliances from the public and extracting metals from them to manufacture medals.

Recycling discarded products will contribute to resource circulation. In addition, this project is unique in a way that it offers each citizens a chance to make incomparable contribution. If the medals placed around the neck of the athletes are made from obsolete smartphones you donated, it is sure to be more affecting. As the concept of this project is implemented, awareness of environmental issues is apt to change.

This article was originally published on IDEAS FOR GOOD.
Translated by Chisato Shizume.