Since the very first days of the bid, the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) was committed to holding the world’s first truly sustainable Olympic and Paralympic Games. Sustainability has therefore underpinned the entire delivery of the London 2012 Games, and Deloitte, as a key partner, has played a central role in helping the Organising Committee achieve its goals.

With our help, LOCOG’s procurement programme has set new sustainability standards. From the outset, we provided integral support for LOCOG’s £700m procurement programme – sourcing goods such as 1.8m pieces of sporting equipment, 10,000 ceremonial flags, 200,000 temporary seats, 5,000 victory bouquets and 14m meals. We supported LOCOG in the design and implementation of its Procurement Governance Model – a model that established sustainability as one of the five factors in the assessment of value – and helped to draft the Sustainable Sourcing Code.

Beyond creating this overarching framework, we also supported the delivery of sustainable practise across specific functions. Catering for London 2012, for example, was a challenge of epic proportions – 330 tonnes of fruit and vegetables were required, along with 100 tonnes of meat and 75,000 litres of milk. In fact, London 2012 was the largest-ever peacetime catering operation in Britain. We helped create the sustainability strategy for this, committing LOCOG to sourcing only caterers that follow strict environmental and ethical codes: of the 82 tonnes of seafood served at the Games, there were no fish that the Marine Conservation Society classifies as 'fish to avoid'. No event of this size and complexity has ever placed such an emphasis on the environmental and social impact of its food provision and, by doing so, London 2012 has helped leave a real legacy for the Catering industry.

The Olympic and Paralympic Games have always been about much more than sport. They are about what human beings can accomplish together, and about advancing the values associated with the Olympic and Paralympic Movements. Sustainability is a key part of this and, in addressing the issue so boldly, LOCOG has set new standards for future events.

At Deloitte, we’re also committed to embedding sustainability at the heart of our business, and we’re proud of the part we’ve played in helping the London Organising Committee lead the way in this area.