Over 60 independent UK music festivals have pledged to ban single-use plastic at their events by 2021. This is fantastic news and here at Festival Kidz we want to support them to make this happen.
Many of our favourite events have taken the pledge. See the full list below.
The initiative has come from the Association Of Independent Festivals in conjunction with the RAW Foundation. AIF CEO Paul Reed says
It is encouraging and inspiring that so many AIF members have taken this initiative and pledge on-board without hesitation and are taking a collective stand against single-use plastic.
This is one of the most critical issues facing our businesses and wider society. By working together as an industry and taking affirmative action, we can make a tangible difference.
As a start, the festivals have announced they will not be using plastic straws on their site (many of our favourites like Shambala and Elderflower Fields stopped this unnecessary waste years ago). They plan to ban more and more single-use plastic until they’re completely free of it by 2021.
So how can we support them?
It’s really quite simple. With so many events to choose from these days, the best way to show your support for the events taking this pledge is to buy tickets early and attend them. If you are considering a new family festival then visit our festival factsheets to read reviews from other families who have previously attended.
Take the pledge
It’s not just up to the festivals to make the change. Everyone attending an event has a part to play. It’s very easy to throw all your good will and eco-conscious buying power out the window when packing for a festival, especially with kids. Do you really need bottled water and over packaged convenience food?
Anyone who’s been a late leaver at a festival on Monday morning knows what waste is left. Try and make a list of good quality camping essentials rather than single-use cheap alternatives that will end up in the bin. Your family weekend wont be spoilt if you refrain from visiting the pound shop and stocking up on last-minute plastic tat and glow sticks. What about all that glitter guilt?!
Here are a few things we’re pledging to leave off our packing list:
- Water balloons
- Glow sticks
- Glitter – opt for the biodegradable stuff if you can’t live without it
- Single serve drinks cartons and plastic bottles – G&T now comes in cans you know
And a few things we’ll be making sure we pack:
- refillable drinks bottles
- Wind up torch
- reusable coffee cup (many traders now add a levy for disposable cups)
- Frozen meals in reusable containers (great for keeping things cold in the cool box)
The festivals taking the pledge
- 2000 Trees
- Ampthill Festival
- ArcTanGent
- Barn on the Farm
- Beat-Herder Festival
- Belladrum Tartan Heart
- Bestival
- Bloodstock
- Bluedot
- Boardmasters
- Boomtown
- Burning Lantern/Brecon Jazz
- Camp Bestival
- Common People
- Deer Shed
- Eisteddfod
- El Dorado
- Elderflower Fields
- Electric Fields
- End of the Road
- Cropredy
- Festival No 6
- Festival of Voice
- Field Day
- Fire in the Mountain
- Garage Nation
- Greenbelt
- Green Gathering
- Handmade Festival
- Hanwell Hootie
- Heb Celt
- Just So
- Kendal Calling
- Kew the Music
- Larmer Tree
- Liverpool Sound City
- Lost Village
- London Remixed
- Magical Festival
- Meltdown
- Mint Street
- Nozstock
- Oxjam
- Oxted Beer & Music
- Pangaea
- Pete the Monkey
- Rewind Festival
- Shambala
- Starry Skies
- Standon Calling
- Strawberries & Creem
- Sunflowerfest
- SWN Festival
- Tramlines
- Truck
- Twisterella
- Underneath the Stars
- Vicars Picnic
- Victorious
- Village Green
- Y-Not
Let’s get #DrasticOnPlastic with them 💚