Despite the muddy fields, open spaces, and fresh air, the festival scene is not typically known for its commitment to environmental sustainability. In recent years, news coverage has highlighted the damaging effects festivals have on the glorious countryside. Whether driven by moral panic or genuine concern, the eco movement is real and has had a positive impact on the festival scene. While we cannot claim that festivals have become a modern-day sixties hippy commune, progress is progress. In this blog, we want to highlight some of the positive changes in the 'new' festival scene (and no, I'm not talking about the price increase).

Research conducted by CGA by NIQ Festival Report 2023 found that festivalgoers care more about the environmental, social, and sustainability impact of festivals than they did last year. There was a consensus that festivalgoers expect all festivals to tackle environmental issues like wastage. Twenty-six percent of festival-goers expect a reduction of single-use plastics and festivals to promote sustainability initiatives.