The Dow Chemical Company has been selected to help the Olympic Organizing Committee reduce the carbon footprint of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, according to a recent announcement.The company says it will work with local companies and partners to mitigate the direct carbon footprint associated with Sochi 2014 through energy-efficient technologies and improved greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions performance in three key areas; upgrading building infrastructure, optimizing farming practices and enhancing industrial processes.
The Dow Chemical Company has been selected to help the Olympic Organizing Committee reduce the carbon footprint of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, according to a recent announcement.
The company says it will work with local companies and partners to mitigate the direct carbon footprint associated with Sochi 2014 through energy-efficient technologies and improved greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions performance in three key areas; upgrading building infrastructure, optimizing farming practices and enhancing industrial processes.
“We aim to be the most innovative Olympic Winter Games in history, and our long-lasting positive impact will leave behind an unparalleled heritage not only to Sochi and the Krasnodar Region, but to Russia and its people for generations to come,” said Dmitry Chernyshenko, president of the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games Organizing Committee.
Dow claims a long track record of enabling emissions reductions for its customers and improving its own performance worldwide. Since 1990, the company says its products and technologies have helped customers avoid over 1 billion tons of GHG emissions.
Public engagement will play an important role in minimizing Sochi 2014’s environmental impact, Dow says. The company will work with the Organizing Committee and other partners to engage Olympic fans around the world to learn how to improve their own carbon footprint and conserve energy.
Dow has also partnered with Offsetters Climate Solutions, which helped offset carbon emissions during the 2010 Vancouver Games, to develop the measurement tools to account for the carbon benefits of the solutions implemented in Russia. ERM, a global provider of environmental, health, safety, risk and social consulting services, will provide critical review and assurance for the partnership.
“One of our key goals with this project is to highlight the science behind our solutions to go beyond business as usual and accelerate the adoption of more efficient technologies across Russia,” said Peter de Groot, Dow Russia general manager. “Dow’s vast portfolio of innovative, technology-based solutions, combined with the highly-valuable contributions from our partners, will enable Sochi 2014 to deliver on its carbon commitments.”
Last summer’s London Olympic Games was one of the most eco-friendly to date. According to the London Games’ final sustainability report, the event saved a total of 400,000 tons of carbon dioxide, 100 percent of operations waste was diverted from landfill and 62 percent of all waste was reused, recycled or composted. Several stakeholders involved in the greening of London 2012 discussed the hits and misses of their sustainability strategies at last year’s Sustainable Brands London conference.
Published Mar 18, 2013 3am EDT / 12am PDT / 7am GMT / 8am CET
Managing Director, Sustainability & Social Impact
Deutsche Bank
Mike Hower is a sustainability communicator and connector committed to helping purpose-driven businesses and people unlock their full potential for positive impact. As founder and principal consultant at Hower Impact, he works with companies to translate sustainability strategy into stories that inform, engage and inspire investors, customers, employees, regulators and other stakeholders in the service of social, environmental and business goals. Through his Impact Hired initiative, he works to connect and engage corporate sustainability professionals at all stages of their careers.
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