E.7Promoting sustainable business

(ii)Evidence available: Outputs & expenditure

Micro reports– technical reports which describe the approach to sustainability of a particular element of the construction process and lessons learned;

Sustainability Champion Products – the strategies, plans and procedures that have been applied to the construction of the Olympic Park and facilities that could be applied elsewhere;

Case Studies – narratives on the organisation and governance of various elements of the sustainability.

Details on the number of documents produced are set out in the table below.

Figure 4: Sustainability key outputs/KPIs achieved

Legacy programme/ initiative	Lead Organisation	Total Outputs/KPI achieved	Units	Time period
ODA Sustainability Strategy	ODA	Permanent venues to be at least 15% more energy efficient than 2006 building regulations;	-	2008-2012
		BREEAM excellent rating for all permanent venues	-	2008-2012
		At least 20 per cent, by value, of construction materials of a reused or recycled source;	-	2008-2012
		CCHP plant built as part of an onsite energy centre, allowing more efficient distribution of electricity and heat recycling;	-	2008-2012
		Major non-potable water network installed for toilet flushing in venues, irrigation and processing in the Energy Centre;		2008-2012
ODA Learning Legacy	ODA	Micro Reports	30	2008-2012
		Sustainability Champion Products	15	2008-2012
		Case studies	17	2008-2012

(iii)Evidence available: Evaluation and research

CSL has consistently praised the integration of sustainability into the planning, design and governance of the Olympic Park through a series of reports and reviews. As noted in the latest CSL Annual Review, the overall sustainability agenda continues to be led by the London 2012 Sustainability Group. This is now co-chaired by the GLA Executive Director of Environment and Development and Defra’s Director for Sustainable Development. It is attended by Heads of Sustainability for the Key Stakeholders and contributors from significant wider stakeholders such as DCLG, Defra and NHS London. CSL's assessment is that the London 2012 Sustainability Group provides clear leadership over all aspects of sustainability.⁸² CSL noted that the London 2012 Sustainability Group ODA has been instrumental in the publication of the ODA's learning legacy website and dissemination activities.

In respect of the legacy of the Olympic Park, CSL have been highly critical in the past of the lack of direction from the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) in relation to governance for sustainability. However, the March 2012 CSL review of legacy acknowledges the substantial strides made by OPLC towards a comprehensive approach to governance for sustainability.⁸³ CSL recognise that new governance structures have been put in place to ensure that environmental sustainability is considered in a cross-cutting manner across the organisation.

CSL also welcomes the organisation’s commitment to establishing an external Design Quality Panel to peer review the organisation’s spatial approach.⁸⁴ It is argued that this could be further strengthened by ensuring that the new LLDC Board includes a position with dedicated sustainability responsibilities, and by considering how its work can be externally assured as well as broadening its external advice beyond design/spatially related matters.

In the 2012 annual review⁸⁵ CSL notes that throughout the programme the ODA has demonstrated exemplary standards of construction sustainability. The report highlights that there is clear evidence that standards were applied and enforced through the procurement, risk management, and contract management processes, and in everyday construction on site, as confirmed by the Environment Agency and other statutory bodies such as the Health and Safety Executive and Natural England.

The report indicates that almost all the commitments in the ODA's Sustainable Development Strategy have been achieved or exceeded, or are on target to do so where work continues. Notable achievements include the Games achieving well over the 90% waste targets, the Velodrome being over 30% more energy efficient than 2006 building regulations and reducing potable water demand by 75%, the stadium having over 30% recycled content and the aquatic centre reducing potable water demand by over 30% through reuse of filter backwashing water for non-potable requirements.

The exception noted by the CSL review, is the target to have a 20% contribution to on-site energy from renewable sources, which was unable to be met following the failure of a tender process to deliver a large-scale wind-turbine on the Park due to legal issues relating to the design specification.

The CSL Annual Review highlights the following notable achievements in respect of the Park's infrastructure:

The ODA has been successful in providing a CCHP solution and heating infrastructure. This system combines with a similar system developed for the Westfield shopping centre and has the potential to act as a catalyst for efficient energy generation and distribution in the Lower Lea Valley;

The ODA has exceeded expectations in the area of non-potable water. By implementing park-wide non-potable water infrastructure and working with Thames Water to introduce the UK’s first large scale membrane bio-reactor, the Park is able to recycle black water for a wide range of non-drinking uses, including providing the water supply to the district heating system. However, it should be noted that this is an energy-intensive process and that the additional energy burden was a contributory factor to the ODA needing to seek solutions outside of the Olympic Park to meet the carbon target;

In order to achieve BREEAM⁸⁶ 'Excellent' ratings for the venues it was necessary for the ODA and BRE to work together to develop a bespoke version of BREEAM to be applied to sport venues and the Park itself. This provides a legacy for future construction of sport venues;

The Athletes’ Village is the UK’s first major housing development to be built to Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4. This has proved to be a significant challenge but CSL is currently confident that this will be achieved. This objective will need to be finally confirmed by post-occupancy reviews by the legacy owners.

Procurement Practices

In 2011 LOCOG was independently certified to the standard BS 8901:2009 ‘Specification for a sustainability management system for events’. LOCOG has noted that the standard itself was inspired by London 2012.⁸⁷ This was highlighted by CSL as a significant achievement for an Olympic and Paralympic Games, with London’s Games being the first to achieve certification to a standard of this nature.

In June 2012 LOCOG’s BS 8901 certification was novated to a new standard, ISO 20121. This new standard is designed to "support the organisers of events of all types – sporting, business, cultural, political – in integrating sustainability with their activities"⁸⁸.

In 2008, CSL recommended that "All users of the London 2012 Brand should be required to demonstrate how they will contribute to the London 2012 Sustainability Plan and relevant objectives". In its latest Annual Review CSL indicated that this is happening through the procurement and commercial processes, through functional sustainability targets and with partners such as existing venue operators. The review also highlighted the good progress the Cultural Olympiad programme has shown and evidence that sponsors and commercial partners are making increasing contributions to the sustainability agenda. Examples of this are support for the food vision and sustainable sourcing code, cultural Olympiad events addressing sustainability and provision of low emissions vehicles.

In February 2012 LOCOG established an agreement with the TUC and the Playfair 2012 Campaign which set out a package of measures to introduce fairer working conditions at its production locations. According to LOCOG’s pre-Games report this will create a valuable learning legacy for future Games.⁸⁹

Staging of the Games

LOCOG aspired to set new standards of sustainability for the Games and create a powerful knowledge legacy for more sustainable event management.⁹⁰ LOCOG adopted 10 sustainability objectives that were identified as being most material to the delivery of its overall aim of setting new standards of sustainability for the Games and creating a powerful knowledge legacy. In February CSL undertook a review of the sustainability commitments that needed to be delivered at or immediately around Games-time.⁹¹ This involved reviewing a sample of the preparations being made to ensure that London 2012 is on track to meet the commitments and to provide assurance over the likelihood that they will be met. This review focused on operational delivery at Games-time to ensure that sustainability commitments are met.

Key findings of the review reveal:

Good progress was being made towards meeting the challenging commitment to zero Games-time waste going to landfill, with at least 70 per cent to be reused, recycled or composted. The plans to deliver the 'food vision', which aims to achieve aspirational targets for the quality of food served at the Games, were developing well, with the main caterers on board and going out to the market for suppliers that can meet the requirements;

CSL expected LOCOG to be able to assure compliance with the Sustainable Sourcing Code. The Commission has not been able to fully verify sound assurance processes within LOCOG for the use of hydrofluorocarbons in cooling and refrigeration, to ensure that the Sustainable Sourcing Code will be complied with. This has raised concerns around the application of LOCOG’s assurance processes for other aspects of the Sustainable Sourcing Code such as timber and PVC;

It was confirmed that LOCOG would not meet its target to have 20 per cent renewable electricity at Games-time. CSL accepted that it was not practicable to achieve this but acknowledged that LOCOG would be aiming meet at least the equivalent carbon reduction through a detailed energy conservation plan.. The report notes LOCOG are working on several measures to reduce energy use but have not yet seen the detailed calculations that will enable CSL to give assurance that they will meet or exceed the target. The LOCOG Pre-Games Sustainability Report states that the energy conservation plan would be ready for implementation as venues went live during the spring and summer. According to LOCOG, "the development of this plan followed the summer test events and revisions to scope of power requirements, especially for technology and broadcasting. This now enables us to identify specific opportunities for energy saving measures across all venues. The focus of new measures is expected to be on operational protocols and ensuring these are communicated, implemented and reported through energy management procedures and workforce training." However in its review of preparations CSL re-iterated its 2010 Annual Review recommendation "That LOCOG calculates the carbon that would have been saved through the renewable energy target and demonstrates how this carbon will be saved through reducing Games time energy use."⁹²

The 2012 CSL Annual Review provides some early evidence on the wider impacts of the sustainability lessons from the preparation and delivery of the Games.

The impact on the property sector of building a 2,800 home development to Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4 has yet to be seen but it is anticipated that the skills and techniques learned will have a wide ranging impact on the construction industry. The Olympic Village project management partner is planning an exemplar sustainable development in Sydney (the Barangaroo project) based on learning from London 2012. The project has set challenging targets to be carbon neutral, water positive, zero waste and committing to high levels of Aboriginal employment. All of these aspects have been developed in the Olympic Village.

The 2012 Annual Report acknowledges early evidence of LOCOG’s influence on the event management industry, with events such as the America’s Cup sailing event in California and the golf Ryder Cup closely observing and replicating the best practices instigated by LOCOG.

CSL welcomes the ODA’s publication of its learning legacy website in 2011 and the efforts of organisations such as the UK Green Building Council and the Institution of Civil Engineers to disseminate the learning. CSL also welcomes the work by Government to establish key principles for future projects based on the ODA’s work and the work by projects such as Crossrail to adapt the ODA objectives to another major project for London. LOCOG has also stated that learning legacy case studies will be developed for every corporate sustainability objective (at least one for each objective).⁹³

The report expresses concern that there has yet to be a comprehensive roll-out in Government, either in London or nationally. However in September 2012 the Government announced that the Learning Legacy website will continue under the auspices of the Major Projects Authority (MPA), a partnership of the Cabinet Office, HM Treasury and other Departments with the aim of improving the delivery success rate of significant projects across central Government.

(iv)Conclusions: Outcomes and additionality

Overall, the review evidence indicates that the ODA has achieved its key targets for the sustainable construction of the Olympic Park venues and facilities. The CSL has highlighted a number of notable achievements in relation to carbon emissions and energy efficiency savings. The review evidence also indicates that LOCOG was on course to achieve many of the sustainability targets for staging the Games although CSL has highlighted some concerns in the area of renewable electricity. A full review of the sustainability outcomes of the staging the Games will be published by London 2012 in December 2012.

(v)Progress in answering the research questions

To what extent was sustainability integrated into the planning, design and governance of the Games, and what were the practical benefits of this?

CSL has consistently commended the integration of sustainability into the planning, design and governance of the Olympic Park through a series of reviews. The overall sustainability agenda continues to be led by the London 2012 Sustainability Group which has played an important role in ensuring that the principles of sustainability are captured through the ODA's Learning Legacy activities.

To what extent were the Olympic venues and Village designed and constructed in the most sustainable way, and what were the benefits of this?

CSL has indicated that almost all the commitments in the ODA's Sustainable Development Strategy have been achieved or exceeded, or are on target to do so where work continues. Notable achievements include the project achieving well over the 90% waste targets, the Velodrome being over 30% more energy efficient than 2006 building regulations and reducing potable water demand by 75%, the stadium having over 30% recycled content and the aquatic centre reducing potable water demand by over 30% through reuse of filter backwashing water for non-potable requirements. As well as the potential impacts on industry approaches, some processes such as the reduction of potable water demand will lead to long-run cost savings for the Park in legacy.

To what extent did the Games involve sustainable procurement practices, and what were the benefits?

CSL reviews have generally been very positive in their reporting of LOCOG’s sustainable procurement practices. CSL particularly welcomes LOCOG's BS 8901 certification, the British Standard specification for a sustainability management system for events, and has highlighted good practice in the organisation's sourcing approach.

To what extent did the staging of the Games embody principles of sustainability, and what were the benefits of this?

It is too early to fully address this research question. It was confirmed in April 2011 that LOCOG would not meet its target to have 20% renewable electricity at Games-time. CSL accepted that it was not practicable to achieve this but acknowledged that LOCOG would meet at least the equivalent carbon reduction through a reduction in energy use. The report notes LOCOG were working on several measures to reduce energy use but CSL had not yet seen the detailed programme approach that would enable them to give assurance that they would meet or exceed the target.

To what extent did this influence and benefit the wider construction sector, public and private sector procurement, and the staging of events more generally?

The 2012 CSL Annual Review provides some early evidence on the wider impacts of the sustainability lessons from the preparation and delivery of the Games. CSL welcomes the ODA’s publication of its learning legacy website in 2011 and the efforts of organisations such as the UK Green Building Council and the Institution of Civil Engineers to disseminate the learning. However there is some concern that there has yet to be a comprehensive roll-out of lessons in Government, either in London or nationally. The CSL Making a Difference report expected to be completed in early 2013 will assess the extent to which new standards of sustainability arising from London 2012 are beginning to be adopted by wider industries.

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