A host of independent music festivals have committed to cutting down on plastic waste.
The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) have teamed up with over 60 festivals for its new ‘Drastic On Plastic’ campaign.
The campaign sees the festivals involved promising to at least ban plastic straws from their sites this year as part of the ‘Final Straw’ initiative, with the aim of eliminating all single-use plastic by 2021.
Among the festivals to take the pledge include Bestival, Boomtown Fair, Boardmasters, Field Day, Festival No 6, Kendall Calling, Liverpool Sound City, SWN Festival, Tramlines, Truck, Y-Not and Shambala.
The websites of the festivals involved will also undergo a makeover this Sunday for Earth Day (April 22), with the sites being “wrapped in plastic” for 24 hours to raise awareness of the impact of everyday plastic consumption.
AIF CEO Paul Reed says: “It is encouraging and inspiring that so many AIF members have taken this initiative and pledge on-board without hesitation and are taking a collective stand against single-use plastic. This is one of the most critical issues facing our businesses and wider society. By working together as an industry and taking affirmative action, we can make a tangible difference.”
Bestival co-founder Rob Da Bank adds: “Unless you’ve been living on the moon, you’ll know the plastic problem is not going away. I’m very proud that the organisation we started with five members 10 years ago now boasts over 60 who have all signed up to eradicate single use plastic in the next couple of years. This is exactly the sort of work the AIF needs to be doing – leading the global charge against essentially unnecessary plastic at all our festivals.”
This follows the news that Glastonbury Festival will ban plastic bottles in 2019.