The work the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has been doing to consider the environment when building the Olympic Park and venues is an inspiration to us all. 

It is an inspiration to environmentalists in particular.

One would be challenged to bring to mind a project on a more grand scale and one with greater environmental aspirations. And it will be here, in London, in the UK. And it is already leading to real innovation.

The ODA’s Sustainability Plan covers all aspects of the organisation's environmental performance.

But it may be in the detail, through some of the personal stories, that the real innovation can be illustrated. In setting demanding environmental procurement criteria, contractors and their suppliers have been motivated to develop and deliver new high-quality construction methods in a pressurised environment.

The Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) was fortunate to be involved in the judging process for the ODA’s first Health, Safety and Environment Awards. The individual application and appraisal process culminated in a heart-warming awards ceremony at Shoreditch Town Hall in London.

The winners of those awards demonstrate how good procurement, good teamwork, good management and good personal motivation can lead to real change and a real reduction in environmental impact.

One example that comes to mind is of an applicant who was new to the environmental agenda and was given responsibility for waste segregation and waste management - I have yet to see a cleaner working waste management site! 

The development of the Olympic Park is an inspiration to us all.

Let us hope Team GB can build on this success and emulate the innovation, motivation and teamwork, turning the greenest Games ever into Gold!