As the postponed 2020 Tokyo Olympics are underway, Asao Tokolo's upcycled podiums are revealed. The Japanese artist designed and made the podiums out of 24.5 tonnes of discarded household plastics, which conforms to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games' Sustainability Plan. The goal is to deliver a more sustainable sporting event than previous years while showcasing innovations.
The Games will use Asao Tokolo's podiums to crown Olympic and Paralympic winners. Over a period of nine months, Japanese households donated the equivalent of 400,000 bottles of laundry detergent for the project. The Games committee installed 2,000 collection boxes across stores and schools in Japan. The material was then turned into filaments and 3D printed for the Games' 98 podiums. Small cube-shaped modules are connected to construct each podium.
Artist-Designed Upcycled Podiums
Asao Tokolo Designed Sustainable Podiums for the 2020 Olympics
Trend Themes
1. Upcycling Plastic Waste - Asao Tokolo's upcycled podiums from discarded household plastics demonstrate a shift towards sustainable and eco-friendly design through upcycling.
2. Sustainable Sporting Events - The Tokyo 2020 Olympics' Sustainability Plan and use of upcycled podiums sets a trend towards creating more sustainable and eco-friendly sporting events.
3. Innovative 3D Printing - The use of 3D printing to create Asao Tokolo's podiums demonstrates a disruptive opportunity for innovative and eco-friendly manufacturing processes.
Industry Implications
1. Sports and Athletics - As more sporting events adopt eco-friendly and sustainable practices, there is an opportunity for innovation in sustainable sports technology and equipment.
2. Sustainable Design and Manufacturing - Upcycling and 3D printing present disruptive opportunities for innovation in sustainable design and manufacturing, particularly within product and furniture design.
3. Waste Management and Recycling - Innovative approaches to waste management and recycling, such as upcycling, present new opportunities for sustainable and cost-effective waste management solutions.