Silver, gold and bronze Olympic medals
From left to right: Silver medals are pure silver (Ag). Gold medals are made from silver coated with gold (Au). Bronze medals contain a blend of 95 percent copper (Cu) and 5 percent zinc (Zn).

COURTESY TOKYO2020

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Editor's Note: This story has been updated from the print version.

Editor's Note: This story has been updated from the print version.

Medals Go Green

The prizes for the next Olympic Games have been crafted from recycled metal

April 13, 2020
By  Jennifer Barone

AS YOU READ, THINK ABOUT how useful materials might be extracted from discarded electronics.

MIKE BLAKE/REUTERS

The summer Olympics were scheduled to kick off in Tokyo, Japan, this July. But on March 24, it was decided to postpone the games until 2021 due to a virus sweeping around the world. Athletes from around the world had hoped to compete in 33 sports and hundreds of events. In preparation for the games, nearly 5,000 Olympic medals were crafted so they could be presented to winners.

The summer Olympics were scheduled to kick off in Tokyo, Japan, this July. But on March 24, it was decided to postpone the games until 2021 due to a virus sweeping around the world. Athletes from around the world had hoped to compete in 33 sports and hundreds of events. In preparation for the games, nearly 5,000 Olympic medals were crafted so they could be presented to winners.

It takes a lot of metal to make all those awards. That’s why Olympic organizers decided to cast the 2020 medals from recycled materials. This would avoid depleting natural resources, making the competition more sustainable.

All the metal in this year’s medals was recovered from old phones, laptops, tablets, and other personal devices—a first in Olympic history (see Mining Electronics). Japan’s citizens donated their old gadgets as part of a nationwide electronics recycling program. Between April 2017 and March 2019, Japan collected about 80,000 tons of this e-waste—a weight roughly equivalent to 800 blue whales. A mobile network company provided an additional 6.2 million used cell phones.

A lot of metal goes into all those awards. So Olympic organizers decided to make the 2020 medals from recycled materials. That way, they wouldn’t use up natural resources. The competition would be more sustainable.

All the metal in this year’s medals came from old phones, laptops, tablets, and other personal devices. That’s a first in Olympic history (see Mining Electronics, right). Japan had a nationwide electronics recycling program. Its citizens donated their old gadgets for the program. Between April 2017 and March 2019, Japan collected about 80,000 tons of this e-waste. That’s about the weight of 800 blue whales. A mobile network company provided another 6.2 million used cell phones.

HOW MUCH METAL?

SOURCE: TOKYO OLYMPIC ORGANIZING COMMITTEE

Here’s how much metal Olympic organizers collected from e-waste to make the medals for the 2020 Games.

Here’s how much metal Olympic organizers collected from e-waste to make the medals for the 2020 Games.

HOW MUCH METAL?

SOURCE: TOKYO OLYMPIC ORGANIZING COMMITTEE

Here’s how much metal Olympic organizers collected from e-waste to make the medals for the 2020 Games.

Here’s how much metal Olympic organizers collected from e-waste to make the medals for the 2020 Games.

Recycling facilities extracted gold, silver, copper, and zinc from the electronics (see How Much Metal?). The elements were used to cast Olympic medals in gold, silver, and bronze—a mixture of copper and zinc.

“We believe that Tokyo 2020 has both a duty and an opportunity to actively contribute to global sustainability—and to leave a legacy for young people and future generations,” says Meredith Thatcher, of the Olympic organizing committee.

Recycling facilities removed gold, silver, copper, and zinc from the electronics (see How Much Metal?). Olympic medals were made from these elements. The medals are gold, silver, and bronze, which is a mixture of copper and zinc.

Meredith Thatcher is on the Olympic organizing committee. She says, “We believe that Tokyo 2020 has both a duty and an opportunity to actively contribute to global sustainability—and to leave a legacy for young people and future generations.”  

MINING ELECTRONICS

Workers in Japan followed this process to recover gold from used electronic devices.

Workers in Japan followed this process to recover gold from used electronic devices.

COURTESY SHUGO TAKEMI/TOKYO2020

Number 1    SORTING: Workers organize items according to what types of precious metals they’re likely to contain.

Number 1    SORTING: Workers organize items according to what types of precious metals they’re likely to contain.

REGIS DUVIGNAU/REUTERS

Number 2    DISMANTLING: Workers take apart the devices and harvest components such as circuit boards that are likely to contain gold. Heating melts away most non-metals, such as plastic.

Number 2    DISMANTLING: Workers take apart the devices and harvest components such as circuit boards that are likely to contain gold. Heating melts away most non-metals, such as plastic.

MONTY RAKUSEN/CULTURA CREATIVE/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

Number 3    MELTING: The remaining materials are put into an oven at more than 2,550°F to melt the metals. Chemicals are added to dissolve any remaining non-metal components like ceramic pieces.

Number 3    MELTING: The remaining materials are put into an oven at more than 2,550°F to melt the metals. Chemicals are added to dissolve any remaining non-metal components like ceramic pieces.

COURTESY TANAKA PRECIOUS METALS

Number 4    ACID BATH: After cooling, the metals are dissolved in an acid solution. Additional chemicals are added to separate the gold from other materials.

Number 4    ACID BATH: After cooling, the metals are dissolved in an acid solution. Additional chemicals are added to separate the gold from other materials.

COURTESY TANAKA PRECIOUS METALS

Number 5    REFINING: The resulting products are filtered from the liquid and dried, resulting in a powder that is mostly gold. The acid and filtration steps may be repeated to further purify the gold.

Number 5    REFINING: The resulting products are filtered from the liquid and dried, resulting in a powder that is mostly gold. The acid and filtration steps may be repeated to further purify the gold.

COURTESY TANAKA PRECIOUS METALS

Number 6    FINISHED PRODUCT: The powder is melted and poured into cold water, cooling into tiny spheres called shot. Shot is melted to make finished products, such as Olympic medals.

Number 6    FINISHED PRODUCT: The powder is melted and poured into cold water, cooling into tiny spheres called shot. Shot is melted to make finished products, such as Olympic medals.

MINING ELECTRONICS

Workers in Japan followed this process to recover gold from used electronic devices.

Workers in Japan followed this process to recover gold from used electronic devices.

COURTESY SHUGO TAKEMI/TOKYO2020

Number 1    SORTING: Workers organize items according to what types of precious metals they’re likely to contain.

Number 1    SORTING: Workers organize items according to what types of precious metals they’re likely to contain.

REGIS DUVIGNAU/REUTERS

Number 2    DISMANTLING: Workers take apart the devices and harvest components such as circuit boards that are likely to contain gold. Heating melts away most non-metals, such as plastic.

Number 2    DISMANTLING: Workers take apart the devices and harvest components such as circuit boards that are likely to contain gold. Heating melts away most non-metals, such as plastic.

MONTY RAKUSEN/CULTURA CREATIVE/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

Number 3    MELTING: The remaining materials are put into an oven at more than 2,550°F to melt the metals. Chemicals are added to dissolve any remaining non-metal components like ceramic pieces.

Number 3    MELTING: The remaining materials are put into an oven at more than 2,550°F to melt the metals. Chemicals are added to dissolve any remaining non-metal components like ceramic pieces.

COURTESY TANAKA PRECIOUS METALS

Number 4    ACID BATH: After cooling, the metals are dissolved in an acid solution. Additional chemicals are added to separate the gold from other materials.

Number 4    ACID BATH: After cooling, the metals are dissolved in an acid solution. Additional chemicals are added to separate the gold from other materials.

COURTESY TANAKA PRECIOUS METALS

Number 5    REFINING: The resulting products are filtered from the liquid and dried, resulting in a powder that is mostly gold. The acid and filtration steps may be repeated to further purify the gold.

Number 5    REFINING: The resulting products are filtered from the liquid and dried, resulting in a powder that is mostly gold. The acid and filtration steps may be repeated to further purify the gold.

COURTESY TANAKA PRECIOUS METALS

Number 6    FINISHED PRODUCT: The powder is melted and poured into cold water, cooling into tiny spheres called shot. Shot is melted to make finished products, such as Olympic medals.

Number 6    FINISHED PRODUCT: The powder is melted and poured into cold water, cooling into tiny spheres called shot. Shot is melted to make finished products, such as Olympic medals.

OBTAINING INFORMATION: Research sustainable options for recycling old electronics near you.

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Elements & the Periodic Table
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