Tokyo, Jun 11 (IANS): The podiums on which winners will stand to receive their medals at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games will be made of recycled plastic, the organizing committee said on Tuesday.

The initiative is a part of the efforts to promote a sustainable economy during the Games. Per capita consumption of plastics in Japan is the second highest in the world, behind the United States.

The organizers of the Games said that from Thursday onwards, boxes for the collection of plastics will be set up at 2,000 AEON retail chain stores, reports Efe news.

The collected material will then be sent to US multi-national Procter & Gamble to be recycled into podiums.

The idea is to also use plastic waste found in the oceans. Under the initiative, the organizers are seeking to collect up to 45 tons of plastics for the podiums.

Earlier, the organizing committee announced that the medals for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, which will begin on July 24, 2020, will be made from recycled metals from mobile phones and gadgets provided by residents of Japan.