Japan looks to set its best foot forward in showcasing the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as a model event through its plan to utilize materials from electronic waste to manufacture its Olympic medals - one that would depart from the tradition of using metallic elements.
Promoting environmental sustainability stands as among Japan's objectives for exploring the use of electronic waste for making the medals. Such also serves as an appropriate move when considered alongside the country's lack of mineral reserves.
Recycling metal from electronic waste falls well within the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) rigid sustainability rules for the production of medals. Currently, Japan's organizing committee for the Tokyo Olympics is looking to back such proposal.
Having one of the world's highest recycling rates, Japan's plan to make Olympic medals out of electronic waste may seem tenable from the outset. However, the country only recycles around 100,000 tons out of 650,000 tons of electronic appliances and gadgets yearly, as reported by Nikkei. With failed efforts to raise collection, the country is looking to tap more companies and other countries to contribute recycled material in time for the Tokyo Olympics.
Collection efforts must meet the required number of Olympic medals needed, which in turn have to be determined in terms of size. Japan expects to produce a larger number of medals compared to the Rio Olympics, since the IOC approved the inclusion of five new sports for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics: baseball, karate, skateboarding, sport climbing and surfing.
The use of electronic waste for making Olympic medals will understandably be a cheaper option compared to spending more resources to procure metals from mining companies. Considering that the IOC requires the use of at least 6 g of gold for making gold medals, sourcing from discarded electronics might turn out to be cost-efficient as well.
