Bring a bottle
At Greenbelt, we’re always trying to find ways to be more sustainable. As part of that, we’re looking at all the plastics we use on site and finding ways to reduce them.
This year, we’re targeting single-use plastic bottles. And we’re ecstatic to announce that they’re now banned! Not allowed! Forbidden! Verboten!
Here’s why.
Avoiding > recycling
Every year in the UK we consume three billion litres of bottled water. 10 billion bottles are sent to landfill. Only one in six plastic bottles are properly recycled – the remainder take more than 500 years to decompose.*
Contrary to popular belief, the best way to deal with waste isn’t recycling – it’s not producing the waste in the first place. Here’s a handy guide to the hierarchy of waste:
Avoid > Reduce > Re-use > Recycle
Stay hydrated
You won’t be able to buy any bottled water at Greenbelt this summer. But you’ll still be able to stay hydrated in the sunshine (we’re optimistic) thanks to our many bottle refill zones.
Simply bring a bottle with you or buy one from us. We’ll be making extra-special Greenbelt bottles available to pre-order and collect from G-Store on site, or you can buy one when you arrive.
All our onsite taps deliver drinking water, so you can refill from any of them – and save money in the process. There are taps at every utility point in the campsite. And look out for the big refill signs in the festival village. (They’ll also be marked on your map.)
The single-use bottle ban applies absolutely everywhere onsite – so volunteers, crew and artists will also be sipping from reusable bottles.
Bubbly beverages
For those craving a bubbly hit, don’t worry. You can still get your favourite fizzy pop – Coke, Fanta, etc. – but it’ll be in a can, not a bottle. (Cans are much more recycle-friendly.)
Our fabulous caterers will supply the usual selection of beverages in cans. And all their food will come in fully compostable packaging – 100% plastic free.
Thanks for joining us on our sustainability journey. We can’t wait to see you – and your bottles – this summer.
Mary Corfield
Festival Director
*Stats from Raw Foundation