Greener festivals are the future
How festivals are reducing waste and embracing more sustainable practices across
Shauna Coates
July 20, 2022
Compost toilets, cardboard tents and refillable cups: How festivals are becoming greener
Festivals and sustainability do not always go hand in hand. British festivals produce around 23,500 tonnes of waste every year, with nearly 70% ending up in landfill. However, festival organisers are becoming increasingly aware of their environmental impact and are introducing innovative ways to reduce waste and improve sustainability.
Here are some of the ways festivals are going greener.
Green Glastonbury
Glastonbury Festival has introduced more than 1,200 compost toilets across its site. These water-free toilets help reduce water usage and prevent pollution in surrounding rivers. After around a year, the waste is transformed into compost and reused on the farmland at Worthy Farm.
The festival has also introduced a range of green policies to minimise environmental impact. These include banning single-use plastic bottles, increasing recycling facilities and encouraging visitors to travel by public transport or car share to help reduce emissions.
Cardboard tents
One of the biggest sources of festival waste is abandoned camping equipment. More than a third of festivalgoers admit to leaving tents behind after events, creating huge amounts of unnecessary waste.
To tackle this issue, Dutch designers Wout Kommer and Jan Portheine developed the “Kartent” — a cardboard tent that is fully recyclable. Made from durable cardboard, the tents are designed to withstand a typical three-day festival, including wet British weather.
The tents include ventilation windows and are often pre-pitched on site, making them convenient for festivalgoers while reducing the number of discarded tents left behind.
Refill, reuse and recycle
Reusable cups are now common at many festivals and are often available through refundable deposit schemes. These cups can be reused throughout the event at bars, coffee stands and water refill stations.
Shambala Festival uses a recycling incentive scheme where attendees pay a recycling deposit that is refunded when recyclable materials are returned to on-site recycling stations at the end of the festival.
Festivalgoers can also help by bringing reusable water bottles and coffee cups instead of relying on single-use plastics.
Small actions make a big difference
Festivals are enjoyed by millions of people across the UK every year, but both organisers and attendees are becoming more aware of the environmental challenges these events create.
By supporting greener initiatives, using reusable items, recycling correctly and taking camping equipment home, festivalgoers can help reduce waste and protect the environment — while still enjoying the festival experience.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this blog are those of the author, Shauna Coates, and do not necessarily reflect the views of recycle-more, Valpak Limited, or any other organisation.