Clear Check | Cardboard beds for the Paris Olympics were made in China? Did the price increase 16 times after export?
2024-08-07
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Quick Facts
- The cardboard mattresses used by athletes during the 2024 Paris Olympics are provided by Japanese company Airweave, and the bed frames are supplied by Irish company Smurfit Kappa, neither of which has anything to do with China.
- At present, the two companies involved in the production of cardboard beds and the Paris Olympic Games officials have not disclosed the relevant costs and selling prices of cardboard beds.
Background
Recently, a message circulated on social media platforms said that the cardboard beds used by athletes during the 2024 Paris Olympics were made in China. The message pointed out that the price quoted by the Chinese manufacturer was 500 yuan per bed, while the official price quoted by the Paris Olympics was as high as 800 euros, about 8,000 yuan.
The claim was accompanied by a photo showing a cardboard bed and an image with the words "MADE IN CHINA".
Screenshots of online rumors about the law.
Check
Are the cardboard beds for the Paris Olympics made in China?
According to the PARIS 2024 SUSTAINABILITY & LEGACY PRE-GAMES REPORT officially released in May 2024, in order to strive to create the "greenest Olympics" and implement the principles of circular economy, the Paris Olympics will continue to use cardboard beds provided by the Japanese company Airwave, which is the supplier of cardboard beds for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
The report states that Japan's Airweave will provide 16,000 beds, mattresses and pillows for athletes and media, and that after the Olympics, all the bedding will be donated to charities and schools in France.
Relevant screenshots of excerpts from the official pre-match report released by the Paris Olympics in May 2024.
According to Japan's Airweave, the cardboard bed is 2 meters long and 0.9 meters wide, and is divided into three parts: a cardboard bed frame, a polyethylene mattress, and bedding. The mattress is made up of three polyethylene mattresses, fixed by a mattress cover. The density of each mattress is different on both sides to accommodate different parts of the human body. The mattress is divided into four levels of hardness: soft, moderate, firm, and extra firm. After arriving at the Olympic Village, athletes can customize a mattress that suits them through artificial intelligence scanning.
The company also said the maximum load-bearing capacity of the cardboard bed is 250 kilograms, 50 kilograms more than the cardboard beds used during the Tokyo Olympics.
Cardboard beds on display. Image credit: Getty Images.
On July 23, French media RMC Sport published a report stating that unlike the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, the cardboard beds during the Paris Olympics will be partially produced and recycled in France. Japan's Airweave is responsible for providing polyethylene mattresses, while the cardboard bed frames are made from recycled cardboard by the French branch of Irish packaging company Smurfit Kappa. All parts will be shipped to the Olympic Village in the form of kits, and assembly will only take about 12 minutes.
Screenshot of related reports from French media RMC Sport on July 23.
On July 26, Smurfit Kappa posted on the social platform Facebook: "We are very honored to be selected by top Japanese bedding manufacturer Airweave to provide 16,000 cardboard bed frames for athletes at the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games. These environmentally friendly bed frames are made of 36 paper components and are fully recyclable. Through unique design and cutting-edge engineering technology, including laboratory testing in Japan and France, these bed frames can ensure athletes get a comfortable and restful sleep."
On July 26, Smurfit Kappa posted a screenshot of the relevant post on Facebook.
Smurfit Kappa is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. It was founded in 1934 and conducts business in 40 countries and regions.
At the same time, a report released by the French-Irish Chamber of Commerce in March this year also confirmed that the bed frames used by athletes during the 2024 Paris Olympics were provided by Smurfit Kappa, not made in China.
Screenshot of related report from the French-Irish Chamber of Commerce on March 6.
In addition, neither the Japanese company Airweave, which provides mattresses, nor the bed frame supplier Smurfit Kappa, nor the Paris Olympic officials have disclosed the cost and related selling price of the cardboard beds.
In summary, the rumors on the Internet are untrue. The cardboard mattresses used by athletes during the 2024 Paris Olympics are provided by the Japanese company Airweave, and the bed frames are supplied by the Irish company Smurfit Kappa, neither of which has anything to do with China. In addition, the two companies currently involved in the production of cardboard beds and the Paris Olympic officials have not disclosed the relevant costs and prices of cardboard beds.
The Paper intern Shi Yiran also contributed to this article.
Ming Investigator Feng Meng
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