Green Olympics is one of the three main concepts of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. The goal of Green Olympics is to organize the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games with the concept of sustainable development of protecting the environment, resources and ecological balance.

In preparing for the Equestrian Events, the Equestrian Company, the Hong Kong Jockey Club and all related organizations have tried their best to apply the concept of Green Olympics to various aspects of the games.

While Hong Kong is commited to providing a world-class venue for the Olympic equestrian events, the following elements have also been implemented in the design and construction of the venues, such as: recycling of stable wastes, reusing environmentally-friendly materials, saving and conservating energy, using green energy, improving air quality, and putting green awareness into practice.

All horse manure and stable wastes are recycled into organic fertiliser by earthworm vermicomposting.

During the Good Luck Beijing - HKSAR 10th Anniversary Cup Eventing Competition in August 2007, 10 tons of waste from the event stables were sent to the recycling plant each day. During the Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian Events in August and September 2008, all stable wastes from the competition venues will go through similar recycling treatment. More than 30 tons of waste will be processed on a daily basis.

The same initiative is also being applied to local HKJC racehorse stables, with more than 30 tons of stable waste from racehorses being recycled each day. The ultimate goal is to recycle all of the stable wastes.

The merits of recycling stable wastes include the relief of pressure on landfills, the lessening of the greenhouse effect, and the completion the environmental conservation loop by producing organic fertiliser.

• Trees: Some 90% of the trees at the Hong Kong Sports Institute were retained in their original positions; others were transplanted to different areas of the site. At both venues, 500 new trees and some 17,000 new shrubs were planted; fewer than 50 trees had to be felled due to ageing or disease.
• Sand: All the fine quarry sand and imported geotextiles and fibres for the arena footings have been selected scientifically and comply fully with the environmental regulations in Hong Kong. No harm is done to the environment
• Birds: Construction work inside Penfold Park has been sequenced to minimize any impact on the egret habitat inside the park during the breeding season.

To improve the air quality, the use of Euro III/IV vehicles for the Equestrian Events is increased, and drivers are required to switch off idle engines.