Dow to Use UV-Curable Inks on Stadium Wrap for London Olympics
LONDON - The London Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) confirmed that Worldwide Olympic Partner The Dow Chemical Co., Midland, MI, will produce a sustainable, fabric wrap that will encircle London’s iconic Olympic Stadium during the Olympic and Paralympic Games, home to several athletic events and the opening and closing ceremonies.
The wrap will comprise 336 individual panels – each approximately 25 meters high and 2.5 meters wide – and will help the stadium become the visual centerpiece of the London 2012 Games. Installation will be completed by spring 2012.
In keeping with LOCOG’s goal to stage a sustainable Olympic Games, Dow will repurpose the wrap following the 2012 Olympic competitions. The wrap will include resins made by Dow’s Performance Plastics Division and will require fewer raw materials to manufacture. It will be up to 35 percent lighter and have a lower carbon footprint when compared to conventional materials. Other sustainable elements of the wrap include UV-curable inks replacing conventional inks to reduce emissions during the printing process and eliminate VOCs. The wrap will include post-industrial recycled content, and the hardware used to hang the wrap will be recycled in Europe following the Games.
George Hamilton, Vice President of Dow Olympic Operations, said the company is committed to finding a sustainable post-games use for the wrap and is investigating several options.
Hamilton said, “Our goal is to provide solutions that help make the Olympic Games more sustainable, safer and that will help improve performance. We’re providing this wrap as a sustainable solution for the Games, and we look forward to celebrating its completion with Olympic fans around the world. We’re proud that the wrap will have a lasting and sustainable legacy and one that will improve quality of life long after the closing ceremonies.”
Dow UK Managing Director Keith Wiggins said, “Dow has a strong commitment to sustainability, as documented in our 2015 sustainability goals. This commitment and our focus on innovation and scientific excellence are behind every stitch of the wrap. We’re proud that the wrap will be in compliance with the LOCOG Sustainability Source Code. We recognize the global importance of the Olympic and Paralympic Games and of the work we do in addressing global challenges through chemistry.”