Looking after our beautiful surroundings is really important to us. You might have noticed a number of sustainability initiatives popping up at the festival over the last couple of years, and it’s about time we explained what we’ve been up to behind the scenes to make the festival cleaner and greener, with the smallest environmental footprint we can possibly manage.

To help us achieve our environmental aims, we’ve taken the Festival Vision: 2025 pledge. We’re aiming for a 50% reduction in annual greenhouse gas emissions by 2025 and to do that, we have targets to reach. These include a target of recycling 50% of all waste, and using 50% less diesel consumption by 2025. We’ll also be working with our supply chains to for more sustainable food sourcing, measuring our impacts and working with other industry bodies to improve our practices.

Here are the initiatives we’ve put in place already and the plan for this year.

 

2016

  • The Eco Cup has landed - Last year, we introduced our reusable Eco Cup in the bars, saving 109,000 single-use plastic cups from landfill in the process.
  • Fewer cars – We introduced a parking charge to encourage car sharing or use of public transport
  • Green loos – We brought in off-grid, waterless energy-generating toilets, Loowatt
  • Increased recycling – Last year we recycled one tonne of glass and seven tonnes of DMR (dry mixed recycling) made up of cardboard, cans and plastic bottles.

2017

  • The reusable cups are back – After a successful inaugural year, our reusable Eco Cups are returning for a second run.
  • New! Keep-cups for coffee – Pick up a Port Eliot branded reusable coffee cup. A great souvenir of the Festival and an opportunity to never throw another coffee cup in the bin! Alternatively, bring your own coffee mug from home.
  • New! Metal bottles – We’ll be selling metal water bottles which are strong enough to last a lifetime and should mean you’ll have no need for disposable plastics. A percentage of proceeds will go to Rame Peninsula Beach Care to help fund their brilliant work keeping our beaches plastic free.
  • No plastic straws – We’re banning plastic straws from bars. They can’t be recycled, contribute to litter and can end up blowing into the estuary – so they’re no good to anyone!
  • Balance your travel emissions – Over two-thirds of the carbon footprint of a festival comes from audience travel. We now give you the option to balance your travel miles by donating to Energy Revolution when you buy your ticket. 100% of your donation is invested in renewable energy projects, helping to replace fossil fuels.
  • Stricter rules for traders – This year, we’ve introduced stricter rules for traders serveware – they won’t be serving your food in plastic or polystyrene.
  • Trader food waste will be recycled
  • Rame Peninsula Beach Care are building a giant mural for the festival, made from plastic waste collected on the beach – a poignant visual reminder of why we really must cut down our disposable plastics consumption. They’ll be doing marine waste art workshops and presenting their art to the festival.

How can I help?

We’ll only reach our goals with your help. Here’s what you can do:

  • Car share and use public transport to get to the festival. If you have space in your car, join goCarShare to offer other festival-goers a lift. It’s built around Facebook; so you can login quickly and look at people’s profiles before deciding whether you would like to travel with them. It’s a green, fun and good value way to get to Port Eliot. You can add a car share request HERE.
  • Donate to Energy Revolution to balance your travel. You can do so when you buy your festival ticket. Your suggested donation amount will be automatically calculated using your postcode to work out the distance you’ll be travelling – but you’re welcome to donate as much or little as you like. 100% of your donation will be invested in renewable energy.
  • Bring your own cups and mugs to use at the bars and coffee shops.
  • Bring your own reusable water bottle to fill up at the tap.
  • Avoid bringing disposable plastic where possible.