Next Year’s Olympic Medals Are Going To Be Made Out Of Something Surprising

There’s a slim chance you’ve been able to see an Olympic medal up close, but you know how they work. Three Olympic medals are awarded — gold, silver, and bronze — to the first, second, and third place finishers. It may seem surprising, then, when the Olympic committee announced that they were moving in a different direction when it comes to the material of the sought-after medals — instead of gold, silver, and bronze, the new Olympic medals are feeling a little bit more… green.

That’s right, the Olympic medals will now be made of recyclable materials — and we are already cheering.

It’s more important than ever to try and use recycled and reused objects. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 254 million tons of trash was generated in 2013. Of that, 87 million tons were later recycled. That’s huge, but still not enough. That means that 167 million tons of trash still managed to hang out on the planet, be it in massive landfills, garbage islands in the middle of our oceans, or litter on the side of a highway.

Before recycling, 12.8% of that estimated garbage was plastic. Glass made up 4.5% of the garbage, and metals were just over 9%. The biggest waste was paper, with food following right behind.

Tokyo 2020 came up with a green plan to help cut down on waste when it comes to creating Olympic medals. For the 2020 Olympics, they’ve created medals out of recycled cell phones.

Just think about it. These days, everyone has a cell phone — and probably a few old ones lying around.

And it’s not just one phone, the way it was back when landlines were a thing. We need to buy new phones because after only a few short years, many models become obsolete or will not update due to antiquated technology. Plus it’s hard to pass up new features, like that sweet portrait mode. Why not recycle all your old phones just sitting in the junk drawer?

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Back in 2017, those working for Tokyo 2020 asked locals to donate their cell phones for the cause. And they collected a lot.

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According to CNET, around 5,000 medals in gold, silver, and bronze were then created. “Manufactured from recycled mobile phones and small electronic devices, these medals are 100% sustainable and would not be possible without the generosity of the people of Japan,” Tokyo 2020 explained in the caption of a video they posted on YouTube.

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“We hope that our project to recycle small consumer electronics and our efforts to contribute to an environmentally friendly and sustainable society will become a legacy of the Tokyo 2020 Games,” Tokyo 2020 said.

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It’s always a treat to take a look at the medals before the big event. But this year, it’s even better — and proves that everything we make can have a second life.

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Curious about how the medals were designed? It’s actually an interesting story.

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Tokyo 2020 held a competition between designers. In total, they received 400 entries.

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According to their site, they looked for designs that could showcase light and brilliance. Each medal also had to instill a sense of energy, much like the athletes themselves.

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“The medals collect and reflect myriad patterns of light, symbolising the energy of the athletes and those who support them; their design is intended to symbolise diversity and represent a world where people who compete in sports and work hard are honoured,” they wrote. “The brilliance of the medals’ reflections signifies the warm glow of friendship depicted by people all over the world holding hands.”

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These aren’t the only medals that Tokyo 2020 is responsible for, either. They plan on revealing the design for their Tokyo 2020 Paralympic events at the end of August.

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Phones weren’t the only things recycled. Tokyo 2020 also asked for small electric devices, which means there may be a beeper or two in the mix.

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If anything, using cell phones might for Olympic medals might make you see your device in a completely different light.

If you have a drawer filled with old ones that you’ve been meaning to sell, maybe this is a better way to get rid of them.

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Even bigger electronics, like laptops, can be easily recycled. The first step is finding an organization that’ll help you with the process.

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One organization is called Call2Recycle. Their website is built to help people find the closest electronics recycling center.

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You can also “reuse” you phone by donating it to someone who may need it — whether it’s a younger sibling or a parent who doesn’t care much for new features. Then, after it reaches the end of its life, you can dispose of it the proper way.

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Hopefully, Tokyo 2020 will help set the pace for Olympic events in the future.

These medals look so good that there’s no reason why this shouldn’t be the standard procedure in the future.