I'm going to V-Festival this weekend and I was looking on the website to see who was playing and when and how the venue is set out etc when I noticed they had a pretty extensive Environmental practice happening as opposed to pretty shitty ones to other events I've attended.

http://vfestival.com.au/getting-environmental

They're using generators w/ biodiesel, had solar panels and Earth Hour involvement in Sydney on the weekend just past, it's a 'minimum waste event', it's supposedly getting out (or trying to at least) waste management messages, transport and more.

According to the site

We are endeavoring to cover the full spectrum of our activities, but our first priorities are as follows:

* ticketing;
* food, beverage and catering services;
* transportation;
* energy supply and utilisation;
* water and waste water supply and disposal;
* waste reduction;
* air pollution and noise;
* associated administrative and operational support functions;
* engagement and participation of VFA staff, partners and helpers;
* engagement of the broader community.

Just thought I'd share this, I'll often thhink how large events can cope with so many people all wanting food, a way to get there, waste disposal, toilets, electricity and so on. Large events happen multiple times every week with sports. Big picture to an individual but small picture to big businesses I'm sure.

I know at Glastonbury festival (one of the largest in the UK) last year and this year have endeavoured to go greener.

Some things i remember was

Lots of recycling - not only the usual stuff but old tents, sleeping bags etc.. to charities
A massive bank of solar hot water showers.
http://www.navitron.org.uk/e107_images/custom/websitefrontpage3.jpg
Biodegradable tent pegs - the site is a dairy farm for the rest of the year and apparently lots of cows get metal pegs stuck in their feet.
And a fairly cool tent mounted wind turbine to charge a mobile phone
http://www.mad4mobilephones.com/images/wind-phone-charger.jpg

OK, not perfect, the stars still arrived by fast cars and helicopters and i am sure the energy used was still massive but it is a start.

Just thought I'd share this, I'll often thhink how large events can cope with so many people all wanting food, a way to get there, waste disposal, toilets, electricity and so on. Large events happen multiple times every week with sports. Big picture to an individual but small picture to big businesses I'm sure.


Most places dont have any kind of environmental policy other than things they've been forced to address by law.
I know for a fact Sydney turf club doesnt recycle corks, cans, bottles - only a percentage of their cardboard (estimate about %70) as well as use plastic cups instead of glassware.

Its becoming a drawcard for businesses to have ethical environmental policies though, if its a smart business than usually the practices pay for themselves and any good press/warm feelings for employees is just a bonus.

Music festivals seem to really angle the non-corporate angle of their businesses, being all environmental and cutting edge - which is part of what game they're in. Its a good thing, ive made the choice that im only going to work for companies that have an environmental outlook consistent with my own- if more people make that choice most places will be forced to change to keep up with the times.