THE ISSUE
38.5 Million plastic bottles are used every day in the UK and 91% of plastic is not recycled.
With over 500 festivals and events happening this summer in the UK alone, it means the heavy consumption of vast amounts of single-use plastics. Bags, bottles, cups, straws and disposable cutlery are a few of the 'ever popular' items that festivalgoers use nationwide at these events.
Together with over 60 other festivals, we're pledging to inspire, support and raise awareness about eliminating single-use plastics at these events.
WHY SHOULD WE STOP THE USE OF SINGLE USE PLASTICS?
Due to excessive use of single-use plastics, reports claim that sea salt has been contaminated by microscopic plastic particles, and it has now been predicted that by 2050 the oceans will contain more Kilograms of plastic than it does fish. Large plastic chunks have already been discovered within arctic ice.
The goal is to reduce the consumption of harmful plastics and spread awareness about friendly alternative materials that are clean and re-usable. Working together with festival organisers and festivalgoers we help play a part in protecting marine life, our stunning coasts and helping the long-term sustainability of our eco-systems.
SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES WITH PLASTIC
1. Vast quantities of long-term plastic debris and particles litter the world's earth and oceans.
2. Plastic contains hundreds of highly toxic persistent chemicals that are damaging to human health and the environment.
3. The majority of recycling processes release toxic emissions or dust into the air and soil.
4. Plastics can take a minimum of 500 years to degrade. Ironically, this means that we are using plastic materials that are designed to last, for short-term use.
[Read more sustainability issues]
HOW FESTIVALGOERS CAN HELP
1. Invest in a 100% stainless steel bottle
2. Refuse single-use cups and containers
3. Get a reusable stainless steel or bamboo straw
4. Take your own cutlery that is biodegradable or reusable
WHAT ARE FESTIVAL ORGANISERS ARE DOING TO HELP?
Organisers of over 60 festivals including Boomtown Fair, Bestival and Shambala have signed up to the "Drastic on Plastic" campaign which is being led by The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) and will launch on Earth Day 22nd April 2017.
Festival organisers are aiming to eliminate the use of single-use plastics at their events by 2021 and have already taken the first steps in doing so. A ban on single-use plastic straws shall already be in place at selected festivals this season.
To show our support and raise awareness, we shall be wrapping our website in plastic for 24 hours (along with other supporters of the campaign). We also ask for your help in reducing the amount of single-use consumable plastic you use throughout the year.
To discover more about the campaign and what you can do to help, read "The FestivalGoer Guide" created by Raw Foundation.
Download the guide here to learn more about the use of plastics.