Festival carbon footprint: how to organize an eco-responsible cultural event?

Why carry out a carbon assessment for a festival?

🔍 Identify the main sources of emissions

Carrying out a carbon audit enables organizers to quantify precisely the greenhouse gases (GHG) emitted. This detailed analysis highlights the items that emit the most and guides the implementation of targeted strategies to reduce carbon emissions. This rigorous approach has become essential for any cultural event wishing to adopt a committed approach to the fight against climate change.

For example, the journeys of participants and performers make up a major part of the emissions of many shows. A study carried out in 2024 on several French cultural events showed that these journeys account for an average of 69% of a festival's total CO₂ emissions. To this must be added energy consumption, which, although less significant in proportion(around 2%), remains crucial.

The identification of emissions via a carbon footprint enables priority actions to be targeted. By encouraging spectators to opt for solutions such as car-sharing or public transport, cultural events can significantly reduce their impact while remaining in line with their artistic objectives.

🤝 Meeting the expectations of festival-goers and partners

Today's public is increasingly aware of climate issues, and is looking for encounters that share these concerns.

Many artistic events have already set an example. For example, the We Love Green festival, held in Paris, is renowned for its ecological commitments, particularly in terms of catering and waste management. According to their 2023 carbon footprint, the actions deployed have reduced emissions to 10 kg of CO₂ per festival-goer, compared with 14.6 kg in 2022.

Increasingly, companies are recognizing the importance of associating themselves with cultural events involved in ecological initiatives, in order to reinforce their committed image. This development is part of a trend in which companies are enhancing their "committed" image by associating themselves with projects aligned with their values.

⚖️ Anticipating regulations and optimizing costs

Environmental regulations are evolving rapidly, and festivals are no exception. In our country, several regions now impose strict measures to reduce the environmental impact of major cultural events. These legal constraints encourage organizers to adopt a proactive approach.

Anticipating these requirements through a carbon footprint not only ensures compliance with regulations, but also demonstrates a sincere commitment to sustainability. This avoids potential sanctions and opens the way to new financing opportunities.

From an economic point of view, the carbon footprint also helps to optimize costs. By identifying sources of waste, such as over-consumption of energy or poor waste management, they can reduce their expenses. For example, the Cabaret Vert festival in Charleville-Mézières has undertaken initiatives to reduce its carbon footprint, notably by replacing diesel-powered generators with renewable energy consumption.

A project plans to make the artistic gathering 95% energy self-sufficient by 2030, by installing solar panels and rehabilitating a hydroelectric power station. This transformation aims to reduce energy-related GHG emissions by 90%, representing 3% of the event's total carbon footprint.

In conclusion, carrying out a carbon audit is an essential step in identifying the main sources of emissions, meeting the expectations of spectators and sponsors, anticipating future regulations and optimizing costs. By integrating this approach, they reinforce their role as role models in the environmental transition, inspiring both spectators and other cultural players.

What are the main sources of emissions at a festival?

🚘 Transport and energy consumption

Mobility is, unsurprisingly, the biggest source of emissions for a festival. Whether it's the travel of spectators, performers or logistical transport, this component can account for up to 70% of total emissions.

Routes for festival-goers and artists:

• • The most emissive means of transport, such as private cars and airplanes, are still used in the majority. For Les Vieilles Charrues, for example, spectators' journeys account for over 60% of CO₂e emissions. In 2022, a study estimated that each spectator emitted around 50 kg of CO₂ equivalent.

Equipment logistics:

• • The transportation of infrastructure, such as stages and sound equipment, is also a significant source of GHG emissions. The use of trucks or planes for long distances considerably increases the impact on the environment.

Energy use is the second pillar of this category. The energy requirements of an artistic gathering to power stages, stands and installations are often high, and energy choices have a direct influence on emissions.

Generators and lighting:

• • Festival venues are often not connected to the electricity grid, making the use of generators essential. Most still run on diesel, a fossil fuel whose combustion is particularly emissive. By comparison, a switch to renewable resources or hybrid solutions would significantly reduce CO2 emissions.

   

  • Energy-intensive equipment, such as sound systems and giant screens, also contribute significantly to electricity consumption.

   

  • Catering stands, which also consume a lot of energy for food preparation and preservation, contribute to these high emissions.

🚮Consumption and food management: major environmental challenges

Catering, beverages and waste production represent another key category of festival emissions. Although often overlooked, these items have a considerable environmental impact.

🥤 Catering and beverages:

• • The food and beverage supply chain generates emissions linked to food freight, production and storage. Meat-based menus, for example, have a much higher carbon footprint than vegetarian or vegan options.

🍽️ Disposable tableware:

• • The use of disposable plastic tableware, still widespread at many festivals, generates non-recyclable residues and exacerbates environmental impacts. The development of reusable alternatives is a key step towards limiting these issues.

Waste management is another major challenge. A festival can generate an enormous amount of waste in just a few days, particularly in the form of food packaging, cups and flyers.

🗑️ Quantity of residues:

• • Cabaret Vert, for example, produces an average of 200 tons per edition, much of which could be recycled if sorted efficiently.
  • The national average is 525 kg of residues produced per inhabitant each year, which shows the importance of reducing residue production.

🌱 Initiative example:

• • Some artistic events have installed visible collection points and invested in recyclable materials to reduce their impact. This not only limits the CO2 emissions associated with waste processing, but also raises spectator awareness.

How can you reduce a festival's carbon footprint?

Organizingacommitted artisticgatheringrequires a global approach aimed at minimizing environmental impact. Here are some tried-and-tested strategies, illustrated by concrete examples, to achieve this.

🚌 Reducing carbon-based travel

The mobility of spectators and artists accounts for a significant proportion of the GHGs emitted during a festival. Adopting eco-friendly mobility solutions is therefore essential.

Encourage carpooling and public transport:

• • Events such as Marsatac and Green Fest have set up dedicated carpooling groups, facilitating shared journeys.
  • Proximity to train stations and stations encourages participants to favor these modes of travel.

Focus on local artists:

• • By reducing long-distance journeys, particularly by air, the carbon footprint is significantly reduced.

Offer electric shuttles or bicycle cabs:

• • Environmentally-friendly on-site transport solutions, such as electric shuttles.

⚡️ Responsible energy management

Electricity consumption is another key factor in emissions. Measures can be implemented to make it more committed.

Switching to renewable resources:

• • Portugal's Boom Festival, renowned for its commitment to sustainability. This biennial festival uses solar panels to power its stages, reducing its environmental footprint.

Install low-energy LED lighting:

• • The use of low-energy lighting technologies reduces electricity consumption.

Calculate real needs to avoid overconsumption:

• • Precise planning of energy requirements avoids excess and waste.

🥗 Promoting sustainable catering and optimizing waste management

Food and waste management on the festival site have a significant environmental impact. Initiatives can be put in place to make them more eco-friendly.

Offering vegetarian menus and/or menus from short circuits:

• • Replacing meat with a vegetarian, local and seasonal diet can cut food-related emissions by a factor of ten.

Eliminate single-use plastics in favor of reusable tableware:

• • Festivals such as Vyv Festival are looking to offer reusable crockery and work with local suppliers to reduce their environmental impact.

Establish efficient sorting with visible collection points:

• • Sorting and recycling initiatives significantly reduce the amount of residual materials sent to landfill.

Recycle or reuse building and decorating materials:

• • The use of recycled or reusable materials for festival infrastructures contributes to reducing the environmental footprint.

By adopting these measures, artistic events can not only reduce their environmental footprint, but also raise spectator awareness of the ecological consequences of such an event and promote committed practices in the event industry.