How To: Organise A More Eco-Friendly Festival

In the first of a series of primers for festival producers, we look at how one can organise a more eco-friendly festival. To start off, figure out which aspects of your festival creates the most harmful environmental impact — water usage, waste or transport. Then, work out ways in which you can reduce each of them.

• Pick a venue close to public transportation.
• Instead of printing the tickets, send them digitally via e-mail or Whatsapp.
• Post the venue map and schedule on your website and social media.
• Swap flex, MDF and thermocol for more sustainable and reusable materials that can also help save on costs.
• Avoid the use of disposable cups by setting up water refilling stations.
• Encourage attendees to correctly dispose of waste by setting up easily noticeable waste stations throughout your venue.
• Put together a team of volunteers to help manage waste disposal on site.
• Alternatively, hire the services of companies such as Skrap, which offer waste management solutions.
• Compost all biodegradable waste. This can be done in-house or outsourced to a composting service.
• Eliminate food wastage by donating your leftovers instead of disposing of them.
• Organise carpooling or shuttle services for your attendees.
• Organise a hybrid festival to give your attendees the option to attend from home and cut down on pollution generated due to travel.