Environmental pioneers
Torino 2006 has been recognised as an example of environmental compatibility and considered a best practice by the EU.
The Turin Organising Committee was the first OCOG to obtain both an ISO 14001 international environment standard certification and an EMAS certification for its environmental systems and programmes (the European equivalent). This was largely due to the fact that the Organising Committee made good use of EU voluntary environmental tools, in particular the EU eco-management and audit system (EMAS) and the European Ecolabel.
TOROC developed a series of planning tools to implement the measures identified in its Strategic Environment Assessment. As per the Torino 2006 Official Report, each tool addressed an environmental aspect that was considered crucial for the execution of the Olympic Games: water, natural hazard prevention, site safety and landscaping, inert materials (including waste), sustainable transport, etc. TOROC also developed a Green Procurement system.
Sponsors adhering to the TOROC sustainability programme, and who demonstrated that they shared the Organising Committee’s environmental policy, were permitted to use the “Ambiente environment 2006” (“Environment 2006”) logo by TOROC. In 2004, Kyocera Mita Italia was the first company to win this recognition, to be followed a year later by Iveco, the Italian State Railways, McDonald's, Coca-Cola, Kodak and Fiat.
Additionally, the Organising Committee promoted the European Ecolabel seal of quality throughout the territory where the Games were held, using the platform provided by the Olympic Winter Games to promote sustainable tourism.
Five accommodation facilities (30 per cent of the total facilities used for the Games) participating in the Ecolabel Programme for Tourist Accommodation Services and promoting sustainable tourism obtained the EU Ecolabel certification before the Games began. In 2007, 12 structures in Piedmont bore the Ecolabel seal of quality. The number had reached 16 by 2012.
The HECTOR programme (HEritage Climate TORino), coordinated by TOROC and involving the Piedmont Region and the United Nations Environment Programme, featured initiatives to raise public attention about climate change and to compensate the carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions produced during the Olympic Games (operations during the 14 days of ceremonies and competitions) in Turin. The organisers calculated that the 2006 Games generated the equivalent of 103,500 tons of carbon dioxide, with the main sources of emissions coming from transport and the operation of the Olympic venues, which were offset.
HECTOR programme initiatives included renewable energy and sustainable energy-use projects for the Piedmont, which were financed by the administration of the region, who allocated EUR 5,000,000 for these purposes. The town of Pinerolo delivered energy efficiency and carbon sequestration projects. The programme also involved a tree-planting event, “Plant for the Planet”, managed by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) across Kenya in March 2006. Other funds collected from individuals were used to buy Verified Emission Reductions (VERs) for voluntary climate action from certified projects in Mexico, Sri Lanka and Eritrea.
Olympic construction projects adhered to TOROC’s sustainability guidelines. However, the development of the subsequent procedures with regard to construction was a major challenge. This was due to a shortage of environmental standards at European and national level at the time, resulting in delays to some works. The condition of many of the buildings deteriorated rapidly after the Games due to the use of short-lived materials during their construction, and lack of maintenance.