Dow – the second largest chemical manufacturer in the world – has been commissioned to produce a sustainable, fabric wrap to encircle the Olympic Stadium in the build up to the games.

The wrap will comprise 336 individual panels – each approximately 25 meters high and 2.5 meters wide – and will help the stadium become the visual centrepiece of the London 2012 Games.

Installation will be completed by spring 2012, with Dow allowed to advertise on the wrap until one month before the games.

In line with its environmental commitments, the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) said the wrap would include resins made by Dow’s Performance Plastics Division and will require fewer raw materials to manufacture.

It will be up to 35 per cent lighter and have a lower carbon footprint when compared to conventional materials.

Other sustainable elements of the wrap include UV-curable inks replacing conventional inks to reduce emissions during the printing process and eliminate volatile organic compounds (VOC).

The wrap will include post-industrial recycled content and the hardware used to hang the wrap will be recycled in Europe following the Games.

George Hamilton, vice president of Dow Olympic Operations, said the company is committed to finding a sustainable post-games use for the wrap and is investigating several options.

Hamilton explained: “Our goal is to provide solutions that help make the Olympic Games more sustainable, safer and that will help improve performance.

“We are providing this wrap as a sustainable solution for the Games and we look forward to celebrating its completion with Olympic fans around the world.

“We are proud that the wrap will have a lasting and sustainable legacy, and one that will improve quality of life long after the closing ceremonies.”

In July 2010, Dow announced its official Worldwide Olympic Partnership as part of The Olympic Partners Program (TOP).

LOCOG chair, Sebastian Coe, welcomed the announcement: “The stadium will look spectacular at Games time and having the wrap is the icing on the cake.

“I am delighted that Dow as one of the newer worldwide partners of the Olympic movement will be providing it and importantly doing it in a sustainable way.

“It reflects our vision and is a real statement of intent from Dow about their commitment to the Games.”

City.Mobi

Also in the UK today, City.Mobi is celebrating the success of its new guide to London.

City.Mobi offers the most comprehensive mobile travel guides available, with over 800 cities in 200 countries listed. Each is developed by the City.Mobi team to combine into a single global travel directory.

However, each city retains its own mobile identity via a dedicated domain. Already on offer are Brussels.Mobi, Paris.Mobi, Sanfrancisco.Mobi and Sydney.Mobi.

London.Mobi is the latest in this illustrious line up, offering click to call functionality – which means no scribbling down telephone numbers.

Most entries are also linked to websites where users can quickly access more detailed information if needed.

Other key features include information on accommodation, restaurants, attractions, entertainment, nightlife, shopping, and transport.

City.Mobi guides include user reviews and traveller utilities such as a translation guide, currency converter, news and local weather guide.