From recycled medals to cardboard beds, Tokyo 2020 is aiming to become the greenest Olympics ever. Organizers have pledged that the Games will emit net-zero carbon emissions. But is it eco-friendly enough? Mayu Yoshida takes a look.

This factory on Tokyo Bay processes dozens of tons of plastic bottles every single day including all bottles from the Olympic athlete's village. The bottles are pulverized and heated before they're turned into plastic bottles again.

EIICHI FURUSAWA President, Kyoei Industry Company "For a long time, Japan exported its waste. But it's important to circulate waste domestically and recycle what we can at home."

Organizers want to make recycling and sustainability key at the Tokyo Olympics. Over 6 million electronic devices have been donated and turned into 5,000 Olympic medals.

The company that spearheaded the project says the pandemic helped them collect more devices.

TAKESHI KURODA CEO, ReNet Japan Group "As more people stayed at home, they started cleaning up their house and that led them to donate unwanted computers and smartphones."

At the Olympic athlete's village, sustainability is being promoted at every corner of the village.

MAYU YOSHIDA Tokyo "Here at the Olympic and Paralympic village, thousands of athletes from more than 200 countries will be living here. They will be using recyclable beds and partition walls and riding electric cars. The village will also be powered by hydrogen. The hope is for this to be a new model for sustainable inner-city housing."

But despite all these efforts, some critics say it's far from reality.

KOUYU FURUSAWA Japan Center for a Sustainable Environment & Society "The eco-friendly efforts at Tokyo Olympics have highlighted the double standards of Japan."

The standards, critics say, were created just for the Olympics. Japan is still the second-largest generator of plastic waste per capita in the world, according to the United Nations Environment Program. Olympic organizers hope the Tokyo games will leave a lasting legacy on, not just the competition, but also the environment. But whether Japan can keep its sustainability pledge after the Olympics will be in the hands of the people. Mayu Yoshida, for CGTN, Tokyo.