Paris 2024 pledges to halve catering carbon footprint across 13 million meals

The Paris 2024 Organising Committee committed to halving the carbon footprint of 13 million meals through six sustainability commitments including local sourcing and reduced plastic. The framework demonstrates how large events can embed measurable ESG targets, offering a template relevant to Indian event organisers and hospitality firms.

Paris 2024 committed to serving 13 million meals and snacks while halving the average carbon footprint versus previous editions, part of a broader pledge to cut the Games' carbon emissions by half. The 'Six Commitments' span spectators, athletes, staff, volunteers, media, and the Olympic and Paralympic community across all venues. Targets include halving single-use plastic, sourcing 80 per cent of catering products locally or within France, and recovering 100 per cent of unconsumed resources.

The commitments affect caterers, food suppliers, local French farmers and producers, and equipment providers serving the Games. Local sourcing supports regional economies while reducing transport emissions, and reusing all catering equipment fosters circularity. Inclusivity measures reserve 10 per cent of jobs overall, and 15 per cent in the Olympic and Paralympic Village, for people with disabilities or from disadvantaged backgrounds, integrating the social dimension alongside environmental targets across the catering operation.

Event organisers and hospitality providers should monitor how Paris 2024 operationalises these targets across food production, transport, waste, and equipment reuse over the four-week event. IOC Director for Sustainability Marie Sallois said the approach aims to raise the bar for sustainable catering at sports events and beyond. Indian event and hospitality companies can reference measurable commitments on local sourcing, plastic reduction, and inclusive hiring when designing their own sustainability frameworks.

Key figure — Local sourcing target: 80 per cent of catering products from France