John,
Every four years, the world comes together to witness extraordinary athletes compete at the highest level.
The Olympic Games embody international camaraderie and cross-cultural connection. But they can also result in tremendous waste.
In Rio de Janeiro, the 2016 Summer Olympics produced more than 6,000 metric tons of trash -- that's equivalent to 165 fully-loaded semi-trailer trucks.[1]
With the 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games on the horizon, we're calling on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to take a dramatic step toward sustainability.
Tell the International Olympic Committee: Make the LA Games single-use plastic free.
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We have a big plastic problem. Plastic waste is entering our oceans at a rate of one garbage truckload every 30 seconds.
The best way to solve this waste problem? Use less plastic in the first place, and especially less single-use plastic.
With nearly half of the plastic we produce today being designed for single use, turning the tide on plastic pollution is no small feat. This is where the IOC can take the lead.
Already, the IOC has proven that plastic reduction is possible -- the Paris 2024 Games achieved a 70% reduction in single-use plastic bottles used compared to London 2012.[2]
But we know we can do better. Urge the International Olympic Committee to commit to making the LA 2028 Games the most sustainable Olympics yet.
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Here's what the IOC can do to help move the world beyond plastic at the 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games:
* Prohibit single-use plastics in all venues, fanzones, and Olympic Village dining areas.
* Create a closed-loop food and drinkware system in the Olympic Village, solely utilizing diningware that is durable, reusable, and sanitizable.
* Ensure widespread access to water refill stations so visitors can use their own bottles instead of buying wasteful single-use plastic bottles.
* Incentivize attendees bringing and using their own reusable containers through discounts, perks, or refill bonuses.
The steps the IOC takes to make the Olympics more sustainable will extend far beyond the summer of 2028. Water refill infrastructure will continue to benefit residents and visitors, keeping millions of plastic water bottles from entering our landfills and waterways.
A zero-waste Olympics may sound impossible, but the Olympic and Paralympic Games are all about showing the incredible accomplishments humans are capable of, both on the field and off.
Call on the International Olympic Committee to make the 2028 Games single-use plastic free.
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Thank you,
Faye Park
President
1. Fiona Hines, "The 2028 Olympic Games organizers can lead the way on preventing plastic pollution," CalPIRG, October 24, 2025.
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2. Fiona Hines, "The 2028 Olympic Games organizers can lead the way on preventing plastic pollution," CalPIRG, October 24, 2025.
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