Music festivals produce 23,500 tonnes of waste each year in the UK but there are some that push the green initiative to ensure they don’t offer just a great time, but are as environmentally friendly as possible. Feel and look right at home in your favourite Neem pieces. Meet you outside the dance tent.
Shambala
The organisers of Shambala claim they are committed to being as environmentally sustainable as possible and that sustainability runs through their DNA. They have reduced the carbon footprint of the festival by 80%, achieved 100% renewable power, become meat and fish free and eradicated disposable plastics. The plan is to completely design out waste with the help of the festival goers. In 2018 the festival sent zero waste to landfill – a very strong start indeed.
Green Man
The clue is in the name, and the team behind Green Man festival in the Brecon Beacons, do not disappoint. Again with a focus to zero waste, any broken camping equipment or unwanted tents and clothing are collected by charities Help Refugees and Newport to Calais, repurposing all items to help refugees around the world. Electricity is provided by generators fuelled by vegetable oil and phone charging stations are pedal powered. Festival goers are even asked not to bring glitter now we know the damage micro-plastics do to the environment and oceans.
The Green Gathering
Described as the ‘original off-grid festival’, The Green Gathering site in Wales is 100% powered by sun, wind and people. It’s a non-profit festival run by people passionate about festivals and the environment. Not only that but organisers pledge to increase the diversity of gender representation and achieve a 50/50 split in the artists’ gender balance.
Wilderness
A favourite party spot here at Neem, Wilderness work with some inspiring charities meaning you can really give something back, just by having a good time. Any leftover foods from festival traders are donated to local charities, all handled seamlessly by volunteers. The festival also works along side Ecolibrium, a charity that helps tackle carbon emissions caused by travel to and from festival sites. For every car park and live-in vehicle booked, £1 will automatically be donated, turning fossil fuel travel miles into renewable energy.
So you really can party and make the world a better place.