Festivals & Reusables - Making It Work

Summer is here and many of us are gearing up to go to a festival this year. Fun, freeing experiences for sure, but they also generate mountains of waste! Thankfully, more of us are waking up to the idea that sustainability doesn’t have to kill the vibe. In fact, it can enhance it. One of the easiest wins? Reusables.

 Some festivals are already leading the way by requiring attendees to bring their own, and it’s worth asking: does mandating reusables make it easier to adopt sustainable habits? Let’s dive in.

Why Reusables Matter

Single-use plastics are a massive problem. According to studies, events can produce thousands of tons of waste, much of it plastic that ends up in landfills or incinerators. Reusables cut this down significantly. A reusable cup can replace dozens of disposables over a weekend, and a water bottle can save you from buying overpriced bottled water while keeping plastic out of the waste stream. Plus, a spork (that handy spoon-fork combo) means you’re ready for any meal without needing flimsy plastic utensils.

Pack Like a Pro: The Festival Reusables Kit

Heading to a festival or a long day out? Just a few simple swaps can make a huge difference:

• Reusable cup: Great for hot drinks, cocktails, and everything in between.
• Water bottle: Many festivals have refill points—no need for overpriced plastic bottles.
• Spork or cutlery set: One small tool, endless meals.
• Reusable food container: Handy for food-to-go

These items take up almost no space in your bag but can save dozens of disposables from landfill.

Mandate V Mindset

When disposables aren’t an option, everyone adapts. Think about reusable shopping bags: once stores stopped handing out free plastic bags, most of us got into the habit of bringing our own. Now, it’s second nature to toss a tote in the car or keep a foldable bag in our pocket. Mandating reusables at events could spark a similar shift.

Glastonbury festival has banned single-use plastic water bottles onsite but the team at Shambala festival have taken it much further.

We spoke to Chris Johnson, Shambala co-founder and Managing Director about the radical steps they took to tackle single use waste on their festival site.

It's fair to say we've had a love affair with reusables at Shambala, and it ain't over. They said it couldn't be done; replacing tens of thousands of single use bar cups with reusable and washable cups, phasing out all single use hot drinks cups, and banning sale of any drinks in packaging (even cans and bottles, and including water), across a whole festival of 15,000. People got used to it immediately, brought their own hot cups and water bottles, and LOVED how clean the site became in the absence of the waste that becomes litter. People also love the reusable merch - camp mugs etc. And the future? One day soon we will eliminate the single use plates and cutlery, but we're working on that one....watch this space.

Find out more about how Shambala manage materials on the website here. When festivals enforce reusable rules, it sends a clear message: this is normal. It shifts reusables from a “nice-to-have” to a must-have, making the sustainable option the default. That mindset shift sticks, long after the weekend ends.

Overcoming the Hurdles

Of course, it’s not all smooth sailing. Forgetting your reusables can leave you stuck, especially if vendors don’t offer backups. Plus, cleaning your cups and crockery at a festival can take a bit of getting used to!

• Pack Smart: Attach your reusables to your bag or belt loop so they’re always with you.
• Clean on the Go: Bring a small cloth or biodegradable wipe to clean your spork or cup between uses. Many festivals have washing stations now.

The Ripple Effect

Festivals can be surprisingly powerful places to embed new habits. Why? Because they’re immersive. For a few days, you live in a mini society—one that can model sustainable behaviours in action. Starting with festivals could trigger a wider cultural change. If we can normalise reusables when we’re away from home, the transition becomes easier in everyday life:

• Taking your cup on the train
• Carrying a spork in your backpack
• Remembering a water bottle on days out

Small habits, big impact.

Using reusables at events isn’t just about one festival or one day out—it’s about building habits that ripple outward. If we can normalise bringing our own water bottle to Glastonbury, maybe it will become second nature. Mandating reusables could accelerate this shift, just like bag bans made us rethink shopping. It’s a small step with big potential to cut waste and make sustainability feel less like a chore and more like a no-brainer.

So this season, whether you’re off to a muddy field or a city day out, pack your reusables. You’ll reduce waste, skip the single-use guilt, and maybe even inspire someone else to do the same. It’s not just about convenience—it’s about changing the culture, one cup at a time.

>>Check out our festival collection here<<