1. Rethink Your Energy
Diesel generators are loud, smelly, and a major source of CO₂. But alternatives are finally scalable.
✅ Do this: Invest in solar panels, battery banks, hydrogen power, or grid hookups.
💡 Involve brands: Team up with green tech or energy brands to co-sponsor your sustainable stage—think naming rights, interactive tech showcases, and live energy dashboards.
🎯 Festival inspo:
Paradise City (Belgium) ran an entire stage on solar power in 2024.
ACL Music Festival (USA) used hybrid battery generators with support from IHG and Reverb.
2. Make Transport Part of the Experience
Transportation is often the largest part of a festival’s footprint—especially when thousands of people drive solo to a remote location.
✅ Do this: Promote trains, buses, bikes, carpools, and even shuttle options. Reward greener travel choices with perks like express entry or free drinks.
💡 Involve brands: Work with eco-conscious transport apps, rail companies, or cycling brands. Offer co-branded ticket bundles or branded bike parking.
🎯 Festival inspo:
Paradise City attracted over 10,000 guests who came via train.
Roskilde offers incentives for bikes and eliminated general parking to push greener travel.
3. Go Reusable, Not Disposable
Plastic is out. Audiences notice when events still use it. Reusables aren’t just sustainable—they’re good design.
✅ Do this: Ban single-use plastics across bars, vendors, and backstage. Use reusable cup systems, and dishware rental services.
💡 Involve brands: Water and beverage brands can sponsor custom reusable cups. Bonus points for smart cups with scannable chips or festival branding.
🎯 Festival inspo:
Pickathon (US) is a trailblazer: plastic-free since 2010, with reusable dish rental and washing stations.
4. Plate Up Planet-Friendly Food
Food matters—for the vibe, for the culture, and for the planet. Switching up your catering options can dramatically cut your carbon impact.
✅ Do this: Go heavy on plant-based food, local vendors, and biodegradable packaging. Label food with climate impact info to educate guests.
💡 Involve brands: Partner with plant-based food brands or local producers. Let them run tasting booths, sponsor menu items, or host cooking demos.
🎯 Festival inspo:
Paradise City introduced a full vegetarian and pescatarian zone. It was still delicious.
5. Design for Circularity
Why build something for one weekend? Circular thinking is about reuse, upcycle, and repurpose—for materials, structures, and even ideas.
✅ Do this: Build stages and décor from reclaimed materials. Store and re-use what you can year after year.
💡 Involve brands: Eco design studios or sustainability startups can co-create installations. Highlight the material’s story on signage.
🎯 Festival inspo:
Roskilde Festival launched the Circular Lab, a hands-on innovation platform where 200+ young people co-create festival solutions using circular thinking.
6. Waste Less, Compost More
Overflowing bins, confused attendees, and missed recycling opportunities—sound familiar? Waste sorting works when you guide people properly.
✅ Do this: Set up clearly labeled bins with visuals. Train volunteers to help guests sort waste correctly. Don’t forget compost!
💡 Involve brands: Partner with zero-waste initiatives, composting services, or eco bin suppliers. Co-brand the waste system as a feature, not an eyesore.
7. Talk about it!
People want to know what you’re doing—but in a way that feels empowering, not guilt-tripping.
✅ Do this: Use signs, social media, and in-app notifications to explain your green choices. Get artists involved in sharing the message.
💡 Involve brands: Let partners co-create short films, reels, or graphics that explain the impact. It’s great PR for them and your festival.
8. Engage the Crowd
You’re already rewarding fans with great music—why not add a layer of eco engagement?
✅ Do this: Offer challenges: return 10 cups = a free drink, bike to the fest = exclusive merch. Use your app or wristband tech to track it.
💡 Involve brands: Let sponsors provide rewards (drinks, merch, discounts) and branding around eco challenges.
9. Educate Your Crew & Vendors
Your sustainability efforts fall flat if your crew and vendors aren’t on board.
✅ Do this: Brief vendors, train your staff, and include sustainability checklists in contracts. Give out awards for “greenest stall” or “eco hero volunteer.”
💡 Involve brands: Let NGOs or sustainability experts host backstage workshops, or sponsor a “green team” of sustainability-focused volunteers.
10. Measure What Matters
Audiences and sponsors alike love transparency. Tracking your sustainability progress shows you’re serious.
✅ Do this: Use tools like A Greener Festival’s Impact Assessment or Julie’s Bicycle. Share post-festival stats and goals for next year.
💡 Involve brands: Collaborate with data or ESG-focused companies to monitor CO₂, waste, energy and turn it into branded insights.
🤝 Why Brands Are Into This
Sustainability isn’t just a trend—it’s a trust signal. Brands are looking to align with value-driven events. By offering them visible, meaningful roles in your eco efforts, you don’t just get support—you build powerful partnerships.
✨ Bonus: You’re not just attracting better sponsors. You’re building a festival that people are proud to support.
✅ Ready to Make Your Festival More Sustainable?
Let gigmit help you connect with the right brands, and discover new artists who care as much about impact as they do about performance. Because the future of festivals is green—and we’re here to help you build it.
Sign up to gigmit today!
