Music festivals can be a hub that evokes environmental issues as thousands of people flock to venues with their belongings. It leads to a massive carbon footprint, tonnes of waste in landfills, and increased carbon emissions. A slew of music festivals across the world have begun taking steps to curb rising environmental issues; here is a list of some festivals that have taken the initiative to be more sustainable.
Splendour in the Grass
Where: Wooyung, Australia
Started in 2001, Splendour in the Grass is known to welcome the biggest stars on the planet as well as the finest homegrown artists to Australia. Their line-ups have boasted the likes of The Strokes, Tame Impala, Lorde, Kendrick Lamar, Florence and The Machine, among others. This festival has taken steps to improve the community by encouraging reduction, reusable cups, taking a bus, BYO bottles, and ride-sharing. Splendour in the Grass urges its attendees to only bring the things they need to the festival and not carry any plastic, inflatables, and disposable items.
The bin system at the festival is divided into three colors – yellow, maroon, and red for recyclable, compostable, and general waste. Visitors are also requested to bring their water bottles and cups, as free water refill stations will be available across the venue. Splendour in the Grass received a certification from A Greener Future in 2012, and they won the green gong at the NSW Government Green Globe Awards.
Green Gathering
Where: Chepstow, Wales
Green Gathering started off as informal meetings and has now become a renowned event that hosts artists, workshops, and much more. Run completely on renewable energy, the festival picked up the International Greener Festival Award for Power. They have also earned an ‘Outstanding’ rating from A Greener Festival. Advantages to patrons taking public transport, walking or cycling to the festival, and planting trees are some of the initiatives Green Gathering takes.
To reduce single-use plastic, the festival offers plates and cutlery for rent. Attendees not only leave with having enjoyed music from folk to rock acts but also immerse themselves in discussions, crafts, or debates. Green Gathering returns for its 2024 edition from August 1 – 4. Enjoy the weekend at this refreshing festival that will give you lots of joy and is also taking sustainability initiatives. Activities for kids are also available at this festival held at the Welsh Borders, Chepstow.
Øyafestivalen
Where: Oslo, Norway
Øyafestivalen is an AGF-certified festival in Oslo, Norway, which has received an Outstanding rating in 2023. Ever since its inception in 1999, the festival has seen steady growth in its audience and now welcomes up to 100,000 to its four-day music affair. Both seasoned international artists and up-and-coming acts assemble at Tøyen Park for the festival. For over a decade, the festival has been running on renewable energy and it has seen a massive drop in its plastic usage as they offer food and drink free of plastic, with the drinks coming in reusable cups and the packaging of food being compostable.
Most people attending Øyafestivalen take public transport, while many festival-goers also walk or go on a bike. This year, English singer-songwriter PJ Harvey, Jessie Ware, Brooklyn-based indie folk band Big Thief, Nia Archives, Welsh electronic duo Overmono, and The National will head to Tøyen Park for Øyafestivalen 2024, scheduled to be held from August 4 – 10. Loyle Carter, SHERELLE, ‘Escapism’ hitmaker Raye, Nabihah Iqbal, and Pulp, among others, are also on the artist card.
Earth Beat Festival NZ
Where: Auckland, New Zealand
New Zealand’s Earth Beat festival is a leave-no-trace event. Along with bringing dancefloor-warming tunes, this music and arts festival celebrates sustainability and its aim is waste minimization. Enjoy music, comedy, yoga, meditation, poetry, visual art, performance, and films, and be a part of the mission to protect the planet by leaving no waste behind. Earth Beat also has a youth stage for those between the ages of 13 – 18 and a kids zone with activities and entertainment for kids. “We envision a world where life is not only sustainable but regenerative; a world where we focus on potential rather than problems, where individual contributions are aligned with the greater good, and where we live in harmony with the natural rhythms of our bodies and the earth,” states Earth Beat on their website.
We Love Green
Where: Paris, France
We Love Green is an eco-friendly music festival that also offers food, art, comedy, and talks. The festival will open its doors to SZA, Nigerian singer-songwriter Burna Boy, South Korean DJ/producer Peggy Gou, Kaytranada, French rapper Ninho, Four Tet, and more from May 31 – June 2 in France this year. We Love Green, whose purpose is “to develop and promote eco-citizenship and raise awareness of sustainable development through the design, production and organisation of artistic events in the field of live performance,” has received a certification from AGF in 2023.
They’ve taken many steps towards sustainable development and their aim is “to raise public awareness of the challenges of sustainable development, in an original context designed to arouse curiosity by enriching the festival’s musical programme with committed content, encounters and new channels of expression.”
Boom Festival
Where: Idanha-a-Nova, Portugal
Taking place only once every two years in Portugal, Boom boasts an Outstanding rating from the AGF. There are 4 types of waste at Boom – recyclable waste, compostable waste, regular waste, and industrial waste. The festival has planted more than a thousand trees and 120 shrub species.
“Our commitment to make festivals that resonate with nature principles is a daily endeavour. We apply permaculture and regenerative approaches to design and to organise events. We are passionate to work with nature, never against it,” shared Boom on Instagram. They’ve also added the National Tourism Award (Sustainable Tourism category) and European Festival Award (Green Operations Award) to their award collection. They concluded: “This is only possible also due to the contribution of Boomers, the whole crew, many suppliers, food vendors and stalls.” The festival will return with a bang in 2025.
Echoes of Earth
Where: Bengaluru/Goa, India
Dubbed “India’s greenest music festival,” Echoes of Earth has played host to hundreds of international and homegrown talents since it began in 2016. “The pioneering spirit of the festival rests on the elements of ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ – using old, discarded, recycled and up-cycled media in the most unique and creative ways. All our infrastructure at the festival is constructed adopting environmentally conscious practices, thereby preserving the land and its integrity. Through this, we aim to create a space for people to witness sustainable practices at play, and to create awareness of a sustainable lifestyle,” Echoes of Earth states on their website.
They also have a leave-no-trace policy, solar-powered stage, four uniquely designed stages, and team up with a number of sustainable brands. The theme for the 2024 edition of the festival was ‘Ensemble Of The Wild’ and saw a celebration of the Western Ghats with stages ‘The Big Beak,’ ‘The Jungle Bar,’ ‘The Kraken,’ and ‘The Ghost’ paying tribute to the Great Indian Hornbill, abundant greenery, Giant Pacific Octopus, and Horned Ghost Crab. There were several art installations across the festival.
Cambridge Folk Festival
Where: Cambridge, England
Known for fostering rising stars and new talents, the Cambridge Folk Festival annually attracts thousands of people to their music affair. From tai chi, willow sculpture, and knitting, to songwriting, storytelling, and drawing, there are many activities and workshops at the UK-based festival. It was first held in 1965 and is among the longest-lasting folk festivals on the globe. Their dedication to minimizing the carbon footprint of the Cambridge Folk Festival earned them a Greener Festival Award in 2016 as well as an Outstanding Certificate in 2023. The Cambridge Folk Festival will take place from July 25 – 28 this year, with singer-songwriter Fantastic Negrito offering R&B, roots, and blues, Nitin Sawhney, Scottish folk band Talisk, Larkin Poe, Turin Brakes, and more on the bill.
Wonderfruit
Where: Chon Buri, Thailand
Wonderfruit will be held from December 12 – 26 at The Fields of Siam Country Club, Thailand. The carbon-neutral festival composts all the food and packaging litter, and recycles and treats liquid waste. In addition to experiencing captivating music from DJs and live music acts, you can be a part of a festival that is taking steps to reduce its carbon footprint and protect the environment.
Paradise City
Where: Steenokkerzeel, Belgium
Paradise City is “a green electronic music festival” in Belgium that brings international DJs from far and wide. Big names like Los Angeles-based English DJ/producer Bonobo, DESIREE, ANOTR, German DJ/producer and label head Marcel Dettmann, Marlon Hoffstadt, Skin on Skin, and more will head to the three-day music festival set to be held from June 28 – 30.
“We’ve been crowned the world’s most sustainable music festival at the International AGF Awards! ?The International AGF Awards recognize the most innovative and impactful efforts towards sustainability across various categories, including power, water, food, travel and community. Our festival has distinguished itself by excelling in all these domains, earning the highest score for our commitment to environmental leadership and progressive initiatives,” Paradise City announced on Instagram.
Esther Koshari, Sustainability Manager at Paradise City said: “We extend heartfelt gratitude to all participants for their efforts. While celebrating this milestone, we acknowledge there’s always room for improvement. Rest assured, we remain steadfast in our upward trajectory towards greater sustainability and responsible event practices. We are on the right track and committed to shaping a greener tomorrow for future generations.”
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