Every year, 3.17 million people attend music festivals up and down the length and breadth of Britain. For the vast majority of them, the event represents nothing more than an opportunity to get away from the daily grind, let their hair down and enjoy some of their favourite artists in the flesh. Few are preoccupied with the environmental cost of their indulgences.
However, the impact that UK festivals have on the planet should not be underestimated. According to The Show Must Go On, an alarming new report from festival thinktank Powerful Thinking, British festivals produce 23,500 tonnes of waste, use five million litres of fuel and emit almost 20,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) every single year.
The real cost
For most festival-goers, the experience will set them back a few hundred pounds and perhaps a nasty hangover. For Mother Earth, the damage caused by these hedonistic events could be far worse. Here are just some of the way in which the festival industry impacts the environment:
- Transport. By far the biggest source of carbon emissions comes from the exhaust fumes of the vehicles used by festival-goers when arriving and departing the venue. With many festivals taking place in remote areas, individual car travel accounts for well over half of all modes of transport.
- Fuel. Five million litres of fuel are used over the course of UK festivals every year, both for transportation and for powering the site during the event. 85% of this is diesel, with the average person using 0.6 litres of the stuff per day, resulting in 65% of the onsite carbon footprint.
- Waste. 23,500 tonnes of waste are generated every year at festivals, 68% of which goes directly into landfill. Much of this is comprised of single-use plastics (such as bottles, straws, food trays and cable ties), as well as microplastic pollution in the form of glitter and toiletries.
What can be done?
Fortunately, the growing consciousness surrounding our impact on the environment has led both the industry and individuals to take positive steps to rein in their carbon footprint. For many years music festivals have been looking to reduce their total waste, with one in particular converting food leftovers into compost as long ago as 2009.
More recently, the Drastic on Plastic awareness campaign has been set up by the Association of Independent Festivals to try and bring down the number of single-use plastics consumed on their sites. 61 festivals have already vowed to ban plastic straws at this year’s extravaganza, while the campaign organisers are aiming to phase out single-use plastics entirely by 2021.
At the same time, consumers can make a difference by taking simple steps to reduce their own individual impact on the planet, thus producing collective results on a sizable scale. These measures include sharing cars or taking public transport to the site when possible, bringing a reusable water bottle and taking away all belongings and rubbish after the event has finished.
FAQs
Festivals' environmental impacts include high carbon emissions caused by fossil-fuel power generation, the transport of equipment, and the travel of artists and festival-goers; excessive use of single-use plastics and raw materials for production; large amounts of untreated solid waste being sent to landfill; ...
What are the positive and negative impacts of festivals? ›
Festivals promote innovative approaches to music and dance performances, and offer a stage for recreating new meanings of gender . On the negative side, festivals can lead to traffic problems, environmental risks and social conflict, security risks, and economic costs .
What impacts do events have on the environment? ›
All events will have some form of environmental impact, which inevitably increase relative to the size of the event. Common negative environmental impacts include: Pollution from vehicle emissions, noise, chemical, sewerage, ammonia, etc.
How do concerts affect the environment? ›
The average music festival produces 500 tons of carbon emissions over the course of the three-day festival. This means that the average festival attendee produces 5kg of CO2 per day.
What is the impact of festivals? ›
Community growth and development. Festivals and ceremonies can generate economic benefits for rural areas by increasing tourist inflow, spending, employment, and income. They can also create opportunities for local businesses, artisans, farmers, and performers to showcase their products and services.
What impacts do festivals have on society? ›
Social implications refer to consequences or effects that impact society as a result of certain conditions or situations. These effects can include changes in social structures, relationships between groups within society, access to resources, or overall well-being.
What are the 3 main impacts on the environment? ›
The list of issues surrounding our environment go on, but there are three major ones that affect the majority of them overall: global warming and climate change; water pollution and ocean acidification; and loss of biodiversity.
How do you impact the environment? ›
10 Things You Can Do At Home To Positively Impact The Environment
- Unplug Devices and Appliances. ...
- Use Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs. ...
- Recycle When You Can. ...
- Cut Back on Water Usage. ...
- Plant a Tree. ...
- Consume Less Meat. ...
- Reduce Unnecessary Waste. ...
- Reuse as Much as Possible.
The impact of events is often measured in individual, social, economic, and other measures. The influence or legacy may come in different forms and have differing intensity, longevity and value. Either way, events should seek to change something and someone.
Are music festivals bad for the environment? ›
Music festivals generate about 23,500 metric tons of solid waste each year. Of all the recyclable waste created from cans, plastic bottles and food containers, only around 8% is actually recycled properly.
One of the main issues with music festivals is their impact on the environment. These massive gatherings generate an immense amount of waste, including plastic bottles, food containers, and discarded camping gear.
Can music affect the environment? ›
However, with this extreme growth also comes the heavy environmental toll associated with music production, tours, and festivals. Music production — from recording and distributing vinyls or CDs to streaming services — is one of the most significant environmental impacts from the music industry.
How the festival can be celebrated in a more environmentally friendly way? ›
Festival attendees can make a positive environmental impact through actions such as carpooling and using reusable containers. Sustainable food practices at festivals can reduce waste and promote awareness of sustainable living.
Are light festivals bad for the environment? ›
Sky Lanterns
They've become so popular, in fact, that entire festivals are centered on large groups of people releasing the glowing lanterns into the night sky. Though they are undoubtedly beautiful, even biodegradable lanterns can be incredibly harmful to both the environment and wildlife.
How does the celebration of holidays affect the environment? ›
The major environmental impact of holidays generally comes from the journey there, because flying releases a lot of greenhouse gases at high altitude, and the further one flies the greater the impact.
How do natural events impact the environment? ›
When a natural disaster impacts a populated area, contamination is likely to follow. Environmental coverage becomes imperative when, for example, the run-off from flooding, ash from fires, or any other disaster-related contamination may pick up pollutants and have the potential to release them into the environment.
