Off Out 28th June 2023 by Lisa Mullaly

How to be Eco-Friendly At Festivals

The Earth says thanks!

Summer is festival season.

There’s suncream, cans, and plenty of glitter – but that doesn’t mean there should be litter!

There’s a lot to think about when preparing for a festival and something you should really take into account is how you can make sure you leave your campsite looking just like it did before you got there. We’ve rounded up a couple of tips to make sure your festival is as eco-friendly as possible!

Getting There

Going green this festival season starts before you even enter the campsite. You can help the environment by deciding how you’ll get there. Try getting a bus with other festival goers or even organise a carpool. It’s an easy way to cut down on harmful emissions and travelling with others can even get the party started early. Who wants the aux?!

Reusable

Cut down on unneeded waste by planning ahead and packing a reusable water bottle and cutlery. Most music festivals now have drinking water stations, so having a refillable bottle on hand will make sure you are not only eco-friendly but hydrated as well. You can ask for no cutlery at food stalls so you’re not adding to a mass of plastic waste.

Festival Fits

Let’s face it, the best part about going to a festival is planning out your outfits. I know it’s exciting to go to the shops and buy brand-new festival-worthy clothes to make sure you’re looking your best for this year’s outdoor parties. But are you really going to wear those luminous tie-dye fringe shorts again? Or that rainbow sequin bralette? Probably not. Embrace your creative side and act sustainably this year by shopping your own ‘drone. If you want something fresh feeling, why not try swapping clothes with your friends to create some new looks! And if you really can’t piece something together, have a look in charity shops and thrift stores before making your way down the high street.

Picture: Wendy Wei

Take Your Tent Home

I get it, you may not be an avid camper. Buying a cheap pop-up tent for the weekend that you don’t mind leaving behind seems a lot easier than investing in good quality equipment. But did you know that thousands of tents are left behind at major Irish festivals every year? A lot of these tents are broken and unusable and end up in landfills. Even if you don’t trek out to the woods for a getaway every weekend, buying a stronger tent and making sure to bring it home will make sure festivals are more eco-friendly this year, and you’ll get to make memories with the same gear every time! So pop on your speaker and take the extra few minutes to put the tent up and down. The Earth will thank you!

Make Up Wipes

Convenience is tempting – but there are so many fab alternatives to make up wipes that you can easily have the handy-factor and show some love for nature too! Reusable cloths that just need a little water or makeup remover will work for your face (and those mini wipe showers!)

Picture: Lukas

Leave No Trace

No matter how hard you try, inevitably you are going to have some kind of rubbish that has to be thrown away. Just make sure you do it right. Of course, there will be bins around the campsite but incase they’re overflowing (they usually are) it’s a good idea to bring some bin bags to collect up whatever you have lying around.

 

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