Milano Cortina 2026 unveils sustainable Olympic torch featuring recycled aluminium

On Monday, the organisers of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games revealed the official torches that will carry the flame of the Games. Crafted from recycled alloys of aluminium and brass, the torch named Essential weighs over one kilogram.

Proudly manufactured in Italy, each torch embodies the spirit of Italian design, cutting-edge technology, and environmental sustainability. Designed with sustainability and reusability at its core, the torches can be refilled and reused up to ten times—markedly cutting down the number needed for the relay.

The torches were unveiled in a joint ceremony held at the Triennale di Milano in Italy and Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan—symbolising the global unity of the Olympic Movement and the rich cultural heritage of the host nation. The torches will also be available for public viewing at the Italia Pavilion during Expo 2025 in Osaka, and at the Triennale di Milano from May 2025 through the end of the Games.

The torch is powered by bio-LPG, a renewable fuel made from waste materials like used cooking oil and others, sourced from Eni’s biorefinery in Gela, Sicily. For the first time, the torch features an open design that reveals its burner—the technological heart of the torch—offering a rare glimpse into the mechanism that sustains the iconic Olympic flame.

Four renowned athletes took the centre stage at the dual unveiling events: in Milan, Olympic champion and Torino 2006’s final torchbearer Stefania Belmondo, alongside Paralympic fencing gold medalist Bebe Vio, introduced the torches; meanwhile, Paralympic champion Martina Caironi and Sochi 2014 figure skating bronze medalist Carolina Kostner took part in the reveal in Osaka.

The torch design is a tribute to both simplicity and resilience. Created by Studio Carlo Ratti Associati in collaboration with Italian energy company Eni and its subsidiary Versalis, the torch features a sleek, minimalist silhouette that draws attention to the flame at its heart. Its iridescent finish adds a dynamic visual element, while two distinct versions were unveiled: a blue-green edition for the Olympic Games and a bronze version for the Paralympic Games.

Image Source: Olympics.com