3 MIN READ

1-14-2025

Plastic-Free Festivals: Events and Entertainment Venues Leading the Charge

Alex Schulze , CEO/Co-Founder

Plastic-Free Festivals: Events and Entertainment Venues Leading the Charge

Music festivals and large events generate massive waste and emissions. In the United States, the average music festival emits approximately 228 metric tons of CO2 — equivalent to nearly 26,000 gallons of gasoline. In the U.S. alone, festival waste reaches 53,000 tons annually (about the weight of 450 blue whales), according to Claire O’Neill, co-founder of A Greener Festival, an organization focused on reducing the environmental impact of festivals. And in the UK, more than 3 million festival-goers produce around 23,500 tons of waste each year.

With hundreds of festivals held worldwide each year, the cumulative environmental toll from single-use plastics to carbon emissions is staggering. Thankfully, as awareness grows around the environmental impact of single-use plastics, several music festivals are pioneering waste-reduction initiatives and addressing their environmental impacts.

Festivals Pioneering Plastic-Free Initiatives

The UK’s Glastonbury Festival, for example, banned plastic water bottles in 2019; festival-goers previously used 1.3 million bottles in 2017 alone. In 2023, it expanded its commitment by prohibiting all single-use plastics, including disposable vapes, and mandating reusable or compostable serveware for vendors. Glastonbury also boasts one of the largest on-site recycling plants and powers all production areas with fossil fuel-free sources, cutting CO2 emissions by up to 90% using sustainable fuel sources.

Amsterdam’s DGTL Festival, a circular electronic music and arts event, takes sustainability further with a zero-waste and zero-emissions approach. The festival eliminated plastic cups, opting instead for durable reusable cups, and went cashless, replacing plastic tokens with digital payments. Boasting a 100% waste separation rate, DGTL claimed zero grams of waste per visitor in 2022. To minimize travel emissions, the festival offers train ticket deals, free shuttles from the station, and limited on-site parking to disincentivize car use. Their emissions tracking tool helps the festival collect data on attendee transportation methods, guiding them toward their zero-emissions target.

The Austin City Limits Music Festival champions eco-friendly practices through its “Greening Programs,” which include incentives for attendees to collect recyclables in exchange for a limited-edition festival t-shirt and a volunteer-run initiative to help fans compost, recycle, and reduce landfill waste. Numerous water refill stations also encourage fans to bring reusable bottles, cutting down on disposable plastic use.

Driving Change in the Events Industry

To make meaningful environmental strides, the events industry is increasingly adopting system-wide initiatives. Vision: 2025, a nonprofit based in Bristol, UK, has rallied over 40 British festivals to pledge to halve their emissions and double recycling rates by 2025. This organization provides festivals with resources, guides, case studies, and a green supplier directory to support annual reductions in environmental impact.

In New York, Green Disco takes a data-driven approach to help events achieve net-positive status, offsetting more carbon and waste than they generate. By focusing on recycling and composting practices, they have helped partners reduce landfill waste by an average of 86%.

A significant source of plastic waste at festivals comes from abandoned tents. According to the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF), an estimated 250,000 plastic tents are left behind each year at UK festivals alone. These tents are not biodegradable; each one contains as much plastic as 8,750 straws or 250 cups. To tackle this, Dutch company KarTent has developed a 100% recyclable, waterproof tent made from cardboard, offering an eco-friendly alternative to single-use plastic tents. In 2023, KarTent provided nearly 15,000 tents to festivals across Europe. After each festival season, KarTent collects and recycles the used tents into practical products like boxes and bins, which are resold to event organizers, creating a circular solution to tent waste.

Unifying Events’ Environmental Efforts

Event organizers are key to reducing plastic waste, from collaborating with vendors to provide recycling stations and sustainable materials, to committing to zero-waste and zero-emissions initiatives. But it's not just up to them; attendees also hold the power to make a significant impact. By bringing reusable water bottles and using refill stations, ensuring they leave no waste behind, and supporting festivals that prioritize sustainability, festival-goers can contribute to the fight against plastic waste.