Flowers, happiness growing from Olympics recycling effort

TOKYO—Dow Japan will donate flowerpots manufactured from recycled 2020 Tokyo Olympics banners to local schools in Higashi Matsushima City, a result of Dow's circular economy project completed in conjunction with the International Olympic Committee.

Higashi Matsushima City is located in Miyagi Prefecture.

"Plastic is a valuable material and resource," said Hirokazu Shibata, Dow Japan technology leader. "The recycling of these plastic decorative banners exemplifies Dow's goal of helping to build a circular economy and to leave a positive legacy for the next generation."

Donating the first pot to the mayor of the city was Dow Japan President Eriko Sakurai, who offered the commemorative flowerpot during a Nov. 21 ceremony promoting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

More flowerpots will be given to students throughout 2022 as they plant and grow saplings to restore wetlands and forests damaged by the Great East Japan Earthquake.

The 2020 decorative Olympics banners, typically incinerated or buried in landfills, were recycled in partnership with Toppan Inc. The recycling process saves between 30 and 35 percent in carbon dioxide emissions that would have entered the atmosphere through incineration.

"Look and signage are essential to bring color to an event and engage participants, but can also be a major source of waste," said Marie Sallois, director of corporate and sustainable development at the International Olympic Committee. "This pilot project is a great example of collaboration between Olympic partners to showcase sustainable innovation at the games, while putting into practice the IOC's best practice recommendations for the lifecycle management of branding and signage materials."