By Melissa Corkhill
11th May 2012
WINNER BEST GREEN FESTIVAL
For the second year running we would like to honour the great work that SUNRISE CELEBRATION do to raise awareness of green issues through their main event, and the smaller, more organic camp, Sunrise Off-Grid. This pioneering green festival has sustainability right at its very core. The event is run by Natural Communities CIC, a social enterprise, which ploughs profits into holistic projects, such as permaculture and sustainability. One of the best aspects about Sunrise is that it empowers the audience; festival goers can learn essential new skills in everything from permaculture to green crafts and activism. The event is powered on 100% renewable energy including solar, wind, cycle and waste vegetable oil. 80% of food available is organic and some produce sourced on site (food miles: 0). Campers who sort their bags of rubbish for recycling will be rewarded with tea and biscuits and those who cycle to the event will find a ready erected tent. Water usage will be reduced further this year with spring water refill points utilising the on site spring. With this level of care and consideration from management to every aspect of the festival it is a powerful vehicle for positive change.
HIGHLY COMMENDED
CROISSANT NEUF is an award winning solar powered festival, which was set up with “green” ethics at its heart. The event has a strong environmental policy and strives to continuously improve their systems. Festival goers are encouraged to use public transport and lift sharing to reach the event and recycle bags are issued to all campers. Everything from lighting, communications, refrigeration and sound systems to wireless internet is powered by the sun.
SHAMBALA is a magical event based on creativity with a green ethos very much at its heart. One of the most successful initiatives of 2011 was the partnership with Sustrans, encouraging cycling to the event. Carbon emissions per festival goer has been reduced by 53% in the last four years and by 2015 the event aims to be carbon neutral. All food waste is composted and about one third of all toilet waste is used to fertilise the estate’s rose beds
THE LONDON GREEN FAIR is the biggest free green festival in London, which hosts 20,000 visitors, 99% of whom arrive by public transport. In 2011 500 trees were given away to visitors to help offset emissions, this year that figure will double. On site, rickshaws and electric bikes are available and the whole event is powered by renewables. Food is organic, locally sourced and unprocessed and all waste from site is recycled. The volunteer run event has a zero to landfill policy.
