Sponsors of the Beijing 2008
Olympic Games, in messages conveyed to the organizing committee (BOCOG),
expressed their will to do their best to make the Games ozone friendly.
Seeing ozone layer protection one of the most important efforts to implement
the concept of "Green Olympics," BOCOG has worked with UNEP-OzonAction Program
and the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) for the course. As
a result, a number of guidebooks were compiled for the purpose in venue
construction, marketing, catering and other areas.
In recent moves to protect the ozone layer, BOCOG advised Worldwide Olympic
Partners Coca Cola and Mc Donald's, Beijing 2008 Olympic partner Volkswagen
(China) and sponsor Haier to carry out the effort in their own businesses.
In response, Volkswagen (China) promised that R134a or a better refrigerant
will be used in the air-conditioning system of the vehicles it provides for the
Games during the Games-time. The 1,1,1, 2-Tetrafluoroethane, also known as
R134a, is a new type of refrigerant that has insignificant ozone depletion
potential in contrast with Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) compounds, which is believed
to cause damage to the ozone layer, and is commonly applied in developed
countries. CFC was no longer used in Volkswagen's auto air conditioners since
2002.
Coca Cola is mooting to partially adopt such natural refrigerants as carbon
dioxide other than ozone depleting substances (ODS) for nearly 4,000 freezers to
be provided during the Games.
In addition to its pledge not to use any ODS during the Games, Mc Donald's
currently has a team dedicated to dealing with the use of any ODS.
China's top home appliance manufacturer Haier is planning to develop a new
generation of refrigerators by adopting natural refrigerants from solar energy.
So far, all refrigerators produced by the company do not use CFC.
BOCOG will continue to collaborate and do follow-up checks with the sponsors
in the days to come.