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Impact
Written By Veronica Mackie – Communications Coordinator at B-Alternative
Australia is globally known for hosting a myriad of festivals year-round, from music and arts to food and cultural celebrations. However, the allure of these events, both small and large, often comes with a hefty environmental cost, including carbon emissions, waste generation, and habitat disturbance. Festivals generate on average 3 kilos of waste per person per day.
As the impacts of climate change become increasingly evident, shining a spotlight on the importance of the events industry in adopting sustainable and regenerative practices is just as important as the artists’ spotlight on stage. How do we ensure the future of festivals and their cultural significance while eliminating their negative environmental impact? Is it possible for events to shift into a regenerative relationship with the land? How do we create that new normal?
The work we do at B-Alterative is at the intersection of the environment and events in Australia. We work alongside event organisers to reduce waste and initiate positive patron behaviour change. We work with corporations, councils, not-for-profits, and independent events where we’ve identified a huge variation in the value and importance given to sustainable event practices. This is reflected most clearly in the budget allocated to sustainability.
Like many industries, there is nothing currently in place to incentivise event organisers to consider the environment in their planning or take responsibility for their environmental impact, beyond personal convictions and values. Local Councils providing limited grants to festivals trying to do the right thing isn’t enough. Significant transformation requires leadership and individuals in key decision-making roles to prioritise environmental concerns for meaningful change.
Policies that make it compulsory to meet environmental criteria for an event to run are imperative. Establishing policies of this nature will ensure that the environment is considered from the initial stages of planning and that event organisers are aware of their key responsibilities, not only to the government but to the environment.
So what do organisers need to consider? The elimination of single-use food packaging from food service; reusable food and drinkware shared as a resource among regions; a take-home policy for all items brought to the site by patrons; compulsory composting of food scraps; offsetting of all carbon emission of festival power and fuel and patrons travelling to the event site; access to water refill stations; conservation of water resources; composting toilets systems, recycling of construction materials, the use of upcycled and reusable materials.
Furthermore, entertainment and education go hand in hand. Events are spaces where people learn, explore, shift perspectives, develop values and adopt new behaviours. Rather than just talking about sustainability and recycling, if we can fundamentally change the tone of events to be regenerative and reusable, the ripple effect will be felt well beyond the festival and into the communities. Sustainability can no longer be an optional add-on at events; it must be considered a non-negotiable. Let’s lead by example right here in Australia and catalyse a global shift towards responsible event management practices. Together, we can inspire a new normal where sustainability is ingrained in every aspect of event planning and execution. Together, we can create a world where we party with the planet, not against it.
This article has been written and published thanks to the generous support of Green Industries SA (GISA) as part of the Festival City Adelaide Climate Action Roadmap project, funded by GISA through its Lead-Educate-Assist-Promote (LEAP) grant program.
Written By Veronica Mackie – Communications Coordinator at B-Alternative
Australia is globally known for hosting a myriad of festivals year-round, from music and arts to food and cultural celebrations. However, the allure of these events, both small and large, often comes with a hefty environmental cost, including carbon emissions, waste generation, and habitat disturbance. Festivals generate on average 3 kilos of waste per person per day.
As the impacts of climate change become increasingly evident, shining a spotlight on the importance of the events industry in adopting sustainable and regenerative practices is just as important as the artists’ spotlight on stage. How do we ensure the future of festivals and their cultural significance while eliminating their negative environmental impact? Is it possible for events to shift into a regenerative relationship with the land? How do we create that new normal?
The work we do at B-Alterative is at the intersection of the environment and events in Australia. We work alongside event organisers to reduce waste and initiate positive patron behaviour change. We work with corporations, councils, not-for-profits, and independent events where we’ve identified a huge variation in the value and importance given to sustainable event practices. This is reflected most clearly in the budget allocated to sustainability.
Like many industries, there is nothing currently in place to incentivise event organisers to consider the environment in their planning or take responsibility for their environmental impact, beyond personal convictions and values. Local Councils providing limited grants to festivals trying to do the right thing isn’t enough. Significant transformation requires leadership and individuals in key decision-making roles to prioritise environmental concerns for meaningful change.
Policies that make it compulsory to meet environmental criteria for an event to run are imperative. Establishing policies of this nature will ensure that the environment is considered from the initial stages of planning and that event organisers are aware of their key responsibilities, not only to the government but to the environment.
So what do organisers need to consider? The elimination of single-use food packaging from food service; reusable food and drinkware shared as a resource among regions; a take-home policy for all items brought to the site by patrons; compulsory composting of food scraps; offsetting of all carbon emission of festival power and fuel and patrons travelling to the event site; access to water refill stations; conservation of water resources; composting toilets systems, recycling of construction materials, the use of upcycled and reusable materials.
Furthermore, entertainment and education go hand in hand. Events are spaces where people learn, explore, shift perspectives, develop values and adopt new behaviours. Rather than just talking about sustainability and recycling, if we can fundamentally change the tone of events to be regenerative and reusable, the ripple effect will be felt well beyond the festival and into the communities. Sustainability can no longer be an optional add-on at events; it must be considered a non-negotiable. Let’s lead by example right here in Australia and catalyse a global shift towards responsible event management practices. Together, we can inspire a new normal where sustainability is ingrained in every aspect of event planning and execution. Together, we can create a world where we party with the planet, not against it.
This article has been written and published thanks to the generous support of Green Industries SA (GISA) as part of the Festival City Adelaide Climate Action Roadmap project, funded by GISA through its Lead-Educate-Assist-Promote (LEAP) grant program.
