How to make your festival more sustainable

Too often we end the night at a festival and see the grounds scattered with an overwhelming amount of trash. What is meant to be a day of celebration and community, can often turn into a hazard for the environment. Aside from trash, festivals can also have a negative impact on the environment due to the large crowds and energy consumption. It's important for festival organizers and attendees to take steps towards increasing sustainability and reducing their environmental impact so that we may be able to create events that positively impact our neighborhoods. Below, you will find a few actionable ideas for creating a more sustainable festival:

1. Reduce Plastic Waste

Plastic waste is the main contributor of trash at festivals, with single-use plastic cups, straws, and water bottles being some of the biggest culprits. Festival organizers can reduce plastic waste by providing reusable cups and water bottles that attendees can refill throughout the event. They can also offer recycling bins and encourage attendees to properly dispose of their waste. Kor, R.Cup, and Savr Cup are making huge strides within the festival world by creating reusable cups and bottles that can integrate easily within existing bar programs.

2. Use Renewable Energy Sources

Festivals require a lot of energy to power the stages, sound systems, and lighting. By using renewable energy sources like solar panels, wind turbines, or generators fueled by biofuels, festivals can reduce their carbon footprint and minimize their impact on the environment. Companies like Overdrive Energy Solutions help events and vendors reduce their impact by offering solar and battery products that are built for the demands of concerts and touring, and that can bring renewable energy to any venue.

3. Encourage Sustainable Transportation

Large festivals can generate a lot of traffic and air pollution. To combat this, organizers can encourage attendees to carpool, use public transportation, or bike to the event by providing bike racks, shuttle buses, or discounted public transportation tickets. Festivals can even choose to offer rewards for those that choose sustainable travel. These tactics can reduce the carbon emissions generated by festival-goers traveling to and from the event. For many festivals and gatherings that are off the beaten path this can be difficult, but groups like Burning Man are determined to change the status quo.

4. Promote Local and Sustainable Food

Food and beverage vendors at festivals can generate a lot of waste and contribute to carbon emissions through transportation. By promoting local and sustainable food options, festivals can reduce their carbon footprint and support local farmers and businesses. Vendors can use compostable or biodegradable packaging, like VerTerra, and organizers can provide compost bins and recycling stations to properly dispose of waste.

5. Use eco-friendly merchandise

Festival merchandise is a popular way for attendees to remember the event, but it can also generate a lot of waste. By using eco-friendly materials like organic cotton or recycled materials for merchandise produced by companies like Los Angeles Apparel, festivals can reduce their environmental impact and promote sustainability. Some festivals, like Wonderfront Music Festival based in San Diego, have even opted to enact a made to order merchandise system which greatly reduces the amount of unsold merchandise after the event.

By taking these steps, music festivals can increase sustainability and reduce their impact on the environment. Festival-goers can also do their part by being mindful of their own waste, using sustainable transportation, and supporting vendors that prioritize sustainability. With everyone working together, we can create a more sustainable future for the festival industry and the environment.