Sustainability

As a Festival, Greenbelt is trying to minimise its environmental impact and ensure its practices are as sustainable as they can be. It’s a tall order for a four-day festival, but it’s something we’re very committed to.

In 2011 Greenbelt received an award in the ‘Improving’ category from A Greener Festival. There’s still more we can do together… here’s some practical stuff we’re already doing… please join in!

Transport

Transport represents the biggest environmental impact of the Festival.

• Encouraging festivalgoers to come by coach with National Express
• Promoting online liftshare groups on the website
• Promoting public transport options through our communications
• Providing a shuttle bus service from the train station to the Festival site.

Environmental levy

In 2008 we introduced an opt-in levy at the ticket booking stage so that people can choose to make a donation which we will ring-fence and then give to a nominated project towards improving our sustainability and assisting projects in the developing world where there is a struggle with the effects of climate change.

Waste

A massive recycling operation is in place at the Festival and we encourage recycling of glass, plastic and cans, and collect biodegradable waste.

• All on-site caterers are required to use biodegradable or reusable food packaging.
• We use reusable beer glasses in our on-site bar.
• The polybag outers that the Greenbelt literature is sent in is oxybiodegradable.
• Site vibing is carried out using recycled materials from scrap-store.

On-site energy use

• We are introducing daylight sensors for some external lighting
• Using energy efficient bulbs in venue lighting
• Introducing switching for venue lighting, where this won’t compromise security

Printing

The Festival Guide and all its year-round publicity is now printed by Calverts, a cooperative printing house in London. We always use FSC certified stock. Mostly from Fedrigoni (read Fedrigoni’s environmental policy).

Catering and trading

• The use of fair-trade products has been encouraged across the festival over the last few years and in 2004 all caterers bar one used fair-trade products
• Caterers are encouraged to provide food from local sources.
• All Greenbelt branded garments are made with organic, fairly traded cotton

Page last updated 27 Apr 2013