But whereas the direct carbon footprint of Vancouver - offset by Offsetters Climate Solutions - was reportedly 118,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emission, that of Sochi 2014 will be more than twice as much.

Step forward The Dow Chemical Company.

Having signed a 10-year deal in 2010 to become the International Olympic Committee's (IOC's) Official Chemistry Company, Dow is now committed to reducing the carbon footprint of the first Winter Games in Russian history, on the coast and in the mountain ranges of the Krasnodar region.

"There are two significant areas for us as far as the Sochi Games are concerned," the technology and sustainability director for Dow Olympic Operations, Nicoletta Piccolrovazzi, told insidethegames.

"The first is carbon partnership, and the second is making sure that our range of solutions is used in the Olympic venues.

"We will mitigate the carbon footprint attributed to the Sochi Organising Committee by creating greenhouse gas reductions that are equivalent to the committee's owned footprint," Piccolrovazzi added.

"At this point of time the Organising Committee has not produced official figures, but we are estimating it will be between 250,000 and 360,000 tonnes of Co2 emission."

And in order to monitor the effectiveness of this strategy Dow is also partnering Offsetters Climate Solutions to develop the measurement tools to account for the carbon benefits of the solutions implemented.

ERM, an environmental, health, safety, risk, and social consulting service, will provide critical review for the partnership.

A carbon partnership is one of the significant areas for Dow as partners of the Sochi 2014 Winter Games



The three broad means by which the carbon footprint will be balanced are a series of upgrades using Dow technology which will optimise agricultural practices, improve building infrastructure and enhance industrial processes.

As far as the first of these areas of influence is concerned, there are plans to alter one of the most ancient means of agriculture, namely tilling the soil - a process which can lead to its oxidisation and subsequent loss of richness.

"Agriculture is a major global contributor to greenhouse gas emissions," Piccolrovazzi said. "Changing agricultural practices leads to better yields - which means more food – while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

"Traditional farming practices that are currently employed in Russia, including full tillage, are associated with substantial GHG emissions due to soil oxidation, fuel consumption, extensive use of pesticides and herbicides and soil erosion.

"After extensive research and intense planning for this project, we believe that projects in this area can contribute significantly to more sustainable farming practices in key agricultural regions of the country, like Stavropol and Voronezh, and may subsequently be expanded to other regions.

"In addition to the implementation of farming practices which will result in reduced greenhouse gas emission, we also have plans to help stimulate the production of healthier cooking oils in Russia from sunflower and canola, promoting unsaturated oils in Russia and, consequently, contributing to healthier lifestyle."

Dow technology which will optimise agricultural practices in Russia







There are major moves afoot, too, when it comes to improving the energy efficiency of buildings within Russia through advances in insulation.

"Dow announced in June a groundbreaking project with Profflex, a strategic customer in Russia, that includes industrial improvements and a consumer-facing campaign to introduce high-performance polyurethane foam as insulation material for windows and other potential sources of cold air infiltration," Piccolrovazzi said. "This will ensure less energy usage by making numerous apartments in Russia more energy efficient."

On the industrial processes front, Dow also plans to make the production of material that will be used for insulation more efficient. The company has introduced what Piccolrovazzi described as "an innovative, less GHG-intensive product for the formulation of this customer's main line of products, comprised of polyurethane straw foam and gun foam insulation products.

"This replacement enabled by Dow solutions will result in a reduction of the product's carbon footprint by over 500,000 metric tons (MT) of CO2 equivalent emissions over the next two years."

Elsewhere within the area of industry, Dow is working to introduce high performance chemistry solutions that can lead to significant reductions of energy consumption in oil and gas refining and energy-efficient insulation solutions to improve building enclosure for manufacturing plants.

"All those projects offer a huge opportunity to build a positive legacy for such a key area in the Russian economy," Piccolrovazzi added.

Last summer, Dow's input to the 2012 London Games was primarily in terms of their technology. But the company has had more time to plan for the Sochi Games - and, indeed, is already in detailed discussions with the organisers of the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Certain lines of approach to offset the carbon footprint - particularly the "indirect" footprint created by emissions from flights and accommodation for spectators, competitors, media and sponsors - are not practical options for Dow.

To reduce the "indirect" footprint created by emissions from flights and accommodation for spectators, competitors, media and sponsors - are not practical options for Dow




James Tansey, the chief executive of Offsetters, said that while it had been possible to offset the direct footprint of 118,000 tonnes in Vancouver, only a "small dent" had been made in the indirect footprint of an estimated 150,000 tonnes.

One of Tansey's proposed future strategies to improve performance in this area was to offset by adding to ticket prices, with increases governed by how great a carbon footprint purchasers had created - in other words, local spectators would pay only a nominal amount, but those who had travelled in would be liable to pay proportionately more.

Piccolrovazzi pointed out that this was not within the remit of Dow to determine, adding that, as far as Sochi was concerned, such calculations and arrangements would have to have been made at least a year ago to be implemented.

"It is not possible for us to do," she said. "And the time is long past when it would have been practical."

She is confident that Dow's innovations around the Sochi Games will be well grounded in experience of local conditions, pointing out that Dow has had 40 years' continuous presence in Russia providing a range of items including hot water pipe resins, building insulation, packaging, corrosion protection, wire and cable coatings, piping insulation, coatings, adhesives, concrete additives and heat transfer fluids.

As for the indirect footprint - there's a case to be made for saying this will be impacted upon down the years as the technologies which Dow has introduced become a gift which keeps on giving. What you might call an en-Dowment.

"Yes, you could say that," Piccolrovazzi acknowledged. "I am proud to have been working with our team to deliver these solutions for Sochi's and Russia's future."

Dow has ensured anti-corrosion coatings are present in venues, including the Bolshoy Dome





As far as Dow's activities within the Olympic sites are concerned, much work has already been done in terms of protective coatings and insulation layers. Anti-corrosion coatings are present, for instance, in the Bolshoy Dome and the Sanki Sliding Center. But other details concerning signage and temporary road markings will be finalised closer to the start of the Games.

Speaking to insidethegames during last summer's London Olympics, Piccolrovazzi spoke with pride about Dow's use of elastomers in the wrap which went around the main Stratford stadium.

"As far as we know this is the only banner in the Olympic Park which doesn't contain PVC," she said. "This is the new technology we want to showcase - it's a starting point, and we really want to develop it further. This is our contribution of a new technology to the Games."

Sochi will be the first opportunity for Dow to develop that contribution. "We are still exploring the technology of banners with Sochi," she said, adding that the situation was the same with markings, which have been developed to be water-based rather than solvent-based.

"Water will evaporate and will not do any harm to the environment. And we are the leader in this technology worldwide and have been for many years. And so it was an opportunity to really showcase this technology in London.

"Typically these technologies are used for permanent markings, but we have the formulation know-how to make also temporary markings. So while we know how to make markings that are as durable as possible, we also have good knowledge of how to make a temporary marking."

The markings can be erased through hydro-blasting - the same technology which has been used to clean landmarks such as St Paul's Cathedral.

"No chemicals are used," Piccolrovazzi said. "And in the application, the only solvent that needs to evaporate when the wet paint is applied and dries, is water. It is a water-borne technology of temporary markings specifically for the Olympic Games."

Such features will surely occur two years later in Sochi. But for now, Piccolrovazzi is being conservative in her comments.

"These applications have to do with the 'look of the Games' and have still to be discussed in detail," she said.

Overall, however, it is clear that Dow have stepped up their contribution to the Olympic and Paralympic Games significantly as they contemplate their impact upon the Sochi 2014 Games.

Mike Rowbottom, one of Britain's most talented sportswriters, covered the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics as chief feature writer for insidethegames, having covered the previous five summer Games, and four winter Games, for The Independent. Previously he has worked for the Daily Mail, The Times, The Observer, the Sunday Correspondent and The Guardian. To follow him on Twitter click here.

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