Boardmasters, Download reveal new sustainability plans

Cornish surf and music event Boardmasters has announced plans to reduce waste at the event, shrinking the carbon footprint of the festival.

The festival takes place from 8–12 August, and will play host to 50,000 festivalgoers on the picturesque beaches of Fistral and Watergate Bay in south-west England. Headliners include Catfish and the Bottlemen, the Chemical Brothers and George Ezra.

This year, the festival – part of the Broadwick Live portfolio acquired by Global in October 2016 – has teamed up with charity Surfers Against Sewage (SAS), which has received £20,000 from the Boardmasters Foundation to help its cause. The charity will also be a recipient of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s charity wedding gift money.

Planned changes at Boardmasters include the implementation of a reusable cup scheme, the introduction of food banks, an emphasis on the use of reusable water bottles and the banning of plastic straws, in common with other UK festivals.

Surfers Against Sewage has received £20,000 from the Boardmasters Foundation to help its cause

Off the back of Boardmasters announcement, Festival Republic’s Download festival has similarly unveiled plans to create a more sustainable – as well as more accessible – event.

The improvements will include British sign language (BSL) interpreters, and the first-ever eco campsite, hosted by Greenpeace.

The festival was recently been awarded a four-star creative green certification from Julie’s Bicycle, a not-for-profit organisation helping fight climate change.

Download Festival takes place on 8–10 June 2018 at Donington Park in Leicestershire. Headliners are Avenged Sevenfold, Guns N’ Roses and Ozzy Osbourne.

 

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