Celebrating Earth Day: Sustainable Champions in the Festival Industry
By Holly Owen, FestForums | April 22, 2025
Photo by Claire Hart: Sustainability Panel at FestForums 2025, moderated by Julie Schneiderman (left), David Rovesk, Jennifer Brazill, Ken Deans and Paul Schurink (right) speaking.
As we celebrate Earth Day 2025, FestForums spotlights innovative leaders transforming the festival industry through groundbreaking sustainability initiatives. Each year, we have panels to discuss how environmental responsibility and exceptional festivals and events go hand-in-hand. From EcoStiks' creative plastic waste solutions to Showpower's battery-powered stadium systems to Borderland Festival's community and green initiative programs, these champions demonstrate that the festivals’ future can be both green and vibrant. Join us as we explore how these pioneers are creating ripples of change throughout the entire festival ecosystem.
EcoStiks' Sustainable Innovation Journey
EcoStiks represents a powerful story of unexpected innovation. Julie Schneiderman, CEO and Founder of EcoStiks, moderated the sustainability panel at FestForums this year. In 2020, while developing patches originally intended for wetsuits, Julie discovered these eco-friendly creations had far greater potential than initially imagined.
After many trials, the patches weren't sticking to wetsuits. On the verge of abandoning the project, Julie noticed something surprising: they stuck perfectly to almost everything else surfboards, skateboards, luggage, and more. This "failure" transformed into an opportunity when she realized these waterproof patches made from recycled water bottles could serve as a platform to address climate change while offering unique branding opportunities without compromising sustainability.
Each EcoStiks patch contains a quarter plastic recycled water bottle, transforming waste into customizable promotional material. As a member of the "1% for the Planet" initiative, EcoStiks demonstrates their commitment to environmental causes beyond their product. Julie's journey from surfer and artist to environmental advocate encapsulates their mission: inspiring change one patch at a time, with the philosophy that "small waves make big waves."
During the sustainability panel, Julie highlighted how festivals can use promotional materials that are sustainable without compromising on the visuals or brand recognition proving that sustainability and effective marketing can work hand-in-hand. Upon mentioning, EcoStiks was named as one of the top 8 Favorite Show Floor Finds by PPAI Expo 2025 Media. Ecostiks exemplifies the power of resilience and creative problem-solving, showing festival organizers that promotional materials can simultaneously tell a compelling brand story while championing environmental stewardship.
Showpower: Revolutionizing Event Energy Solutions
Paul Schurink, Co-CEO of Showpower and speaker on the Sustainability Panel earlier this year in 2025, is leading a revolution in sustainable power solutions for live events. While the majority of stadium shows and music festivals rely on diesel generators, a practice that cannot continue, Showpower represents a turning point for the industry.
The company was born when Coldplay's team challenged Paul and his colleagues to create a sustainable power system for their global tour. The solution they developed? The Showpower SmartGrid. By the end of Coldplay's EU leg of their 2023 tour, the SmartGrid system had successfully powered 12 stadium shows with 100% battery power. This was an unprecedented achievement. Not only did the SmartGrid system power entire stadium shows with 100% battery power, this also included backstage areas.
Today, Showpower are revolutionizing the artist touring industry with their state-of-the-art, fully-mobile power system that can power 100% of any stadium and large-scale show, easily transportable worldwide. Showpower's emission free system is replacing conventional generators used by touring artists and large-scale events for good, significantly reducing the carbon footprint of music, entertainment, and live events now and in the future.
Paul's groundbreaking work with Showpower demonstrates that the clean energy revolution has already arrived in the event industry, offering festival organizers a proven path to dramatically reduce their carbon footprint while delivering the powerful, reliable performance that world-class events demand.
Borderland Music and Arts Festival: Setting the Standard for Festival Sustainability
The Borderland Music and Arts Festival in East Aurora, New York isn't just about celebrating music and culture—it's a pioneering model for environmental responsibility in the festival industry. Co-founded by Jennifer Brazill, who recently shared her insights at FestForums' Sustainability panel, Borderland is fully dedicated to their message of "Leave No Trace." This commitment has earned them the prestigious Environmental Stewardship award from the State of New York and Erie County, recognizing their comprehensive approach to minimizing environmental impact while creating unforgettable experiences.
Behind the scenes, Borderland works with a dedicated Greening and Waste Diversion Team that includes over 100 Green Team volunteers who continuously sweep the festival grounds throughout the weekend. Their efforts are impressive and measurable: after the 2024 festival, they delivered 1,871.61 pounds of compost to local facility Farmer Pirates. The festival has also eliminated single-use plastics by investing in Water Refill Stations that provide free water to all attendees, saving an incredible 43,776 plastic water bottles during the 2024 festival alone. In another community-minded initiative, Borderland partnered with the local non-profit Rural Outreach Center, donating money from returned recyclables to support their work.
As Team Borderland states, "We believe that when we create events and experiences, it is our responsibility to have the lowest possible impact and environmental footprint. It is also our responsibility to educate and imprint a greater change by shifting the mindset of business owners and their staff to carry these practices into their daily lives." This philosophy guides everything from their waste management strategies to their partnerships with environmental organizations, demonstrating how festivals can be powerful vehicles for positive change while delivering world-class entertainment. Jennifer Brazill's leadership in this space offers valuable lessons for event organizers everywhere: sustainability isn't just good for the planet—it enhances the festival experience and creates a lasting positive impact on communities.
Learn more about Borderland Sustainability here.