The article will discuss effective and actionable ways to make festivals more eco-friendly. Various tips, tricks, and actionable advice will also be given including the following.
- How can energy consumption make a festival more eco-friendly?
- How can eco-friendly gifts make a festival more eco-friendly?
- How can reduced waste make a festival more eco-friendly?
- What are some tips and actionable advice to make festivals more eco-friendly?
- What can be done from the consumer end to make festivals more eco-friendly?
- How can green transport make a festival more eco-friendly?
- How can sustainable eating practices make a festival more eco-friendly?
How to make a festival more eco-friendly?
The ways to make festivals more eco-friendly are:
- Energy Consumption
- Evironmentally Conscious Gifts
- Reduction in wastage
Since primitive times, the need to celebrate has always been there because it is encoded in the very nature of humans to validate and celebrate.
Therefore, we have this idea of festivals where we people gather and celebrate together. Every culture and every religion has different festivals, yet one thing is common in all; the environmental impact.
With the world swindling very swiftly towards environmental catastrophe, the need to be more eco-friendly with our lifestyles is now more than ever and this also includes our festivals.
It is usually seen that when people celebrate festivals, they are a bit extra ignorant of the environmental impact. This is speculated that emotions overcome their logic.
Therefore, let us assess some ways to be more eco-friendly with our festival regardless of the cultural or religious association because every school of thought advocates in favour of minimalism and a balanced lifestyle. As Rumi put it, “Life is a balance between holding on and letting go.”
Energy Consumption
One effective approach to enhance the eco-friendliness of festivals is by reducing energy consumption, which can be accomplished through various methods, including
- LED lights: Swapping traditional incandescent bulbs with LED lights is an efficient way to reduce energy consumption. LED lights consume up to 80% less energy and can last up to 25 times longer. They are also much cheaper now compared to the past and can be found nearly everywhere. They also help reduce electric bills.
- Turn off lights: Turning off festival lights when not in use can help conserve energy. Leaving them on overnight or throughout the day can result in substantial energy wastage.
- Unplug devices: Unplugging Christmas tree lights and other appliances when not in use can reduce standby energy consumption.
- Solar-powered lights: Considering the use of solar-powered lights to adorn the outside of your home can be an excellent option. Solar-powered lights use renewable energy and can lower your electricity bill. The life of these panels can be over decades and is a one-time cost.
Environmentally Conscious Gifts
Although gift-giving is a vital aspect of any festival, it can also lead to wastefulness. Here are some strategies for selecting eco-friendly gifts:
- Eco-friendly brands: Prioritise brands that have a firm commitment to sustainability and environmentally friendly practices. Using sustainable products by a larger population will make it a trend and both producers and consumers would follow that trend eventually.
- Sustainable materials: Select gifts made from sustainable materials, such as organic cotton, bamboo, or recycled materials. These do not have any impact on the environment or have a very low footprint. Some of the products can even be composted.
- Experiential gifts: Rather than giving material gifts, consider gifting experiences such as concert tickets, a cooking class, or a day trip to a nearby location.
- Donating to charities: Rather than spending extravagantly on Christmas decorations and gifts, donations to local charities or food banks can also be made so the poor and the needy may also be part of this joyous occasion.
Reduction in wastage
During festivals, a lot of waste is generated, from wrapping paper to food packaging. Here are some suggestions to reduce waste during the holiday season:
- Recyclable wrapping paper: If you must use conventional wrapping paper, choose recyclable or recycled material alternatives. These can be composted when they are no longer usable and do not harm the environment.
- Local and organic: For food, choose products that are organic and sourced locally. This significantly decreases the carbon footprint as much of the food produced is usually imported over long distances which in turn degrades the environment.
- Food waste: Plan your festival dinner carefully to reduce food waste. Freeze leftovers and use them later, compost vegetable scraps and use them as fertilisers, and donate unopened packaged food to your local food bank for the poor.
- Reusable wrapping paper: Employ reusable fabric bags, boxes or wrapping paper. Alternatively, you can use old newspapers or magazines to wrap gifts. This will reduce wastage and fewer trees would need to be cut down.
- Reusable plates and cutlery: Use reusable plates and cutlery instead of disposable ones to reduce waste. These can last for years and will have a very low impact on the environment.
- Eco-friendly festival cards: Instead of purchasing Christmas cards made from virgin materials, seek out ones made from recycled paper or send e-cards. Each year, many trees are cut down to produce Christmas cards.
- Utilise decorations and other ornaments that are made of glass, wood or fabric that are reusable and can last for years at times. These also do not have a negative impact on the environment.
What are some tips to make festivals more eco-friendly? (11 ways)
We have gone through some definite ways to make festivals more eco-friendly. Let us also assess some subjective ways one can do at a personal level with little machinery or money to make the festivals one step closer to being eco-friendly.
- Educate the masses about eco-friendly festivals. Festivals are great ways to educate because people gather there and health topics such as ways to be more eco-friendly could be discussed
- Festivals make use of tons of consumer products. It is important to prefer green brands that make use of biodegradable products, offer post-consumer-recycled material and are certified by green organisations.
- The waste generated from festivals can be reused wisely. It can be donated, reused, added to the compost pile and given to the recycling centres. The point is, there is a lot you can do rather than throw it off.
- It is better to be cashless. A lot of money is spent on festivals. Cashless transactions will save paper and the environment.
- Green transport such as buses et cetera must be promoted to make sure that non-renewable resources are not burdened that much.
- Avoid disposable materials such as cutlery because it will lead to the use of non-biodegradable materials such as styrofoam and plastics and will lead to waste issues.
- Try vegan instead of meaty delights. Try to develop a culture of less meat consumption or it should be limited to particular days.
- Effort for waste-free festivals by engaging in reusing, recycling, and composting
- The decorative items such as glitter or glues should be used eco-friendly.
- Avoid fast fashion
- Avoid parties or events that are resource consumptive.
Conclusion
The article discussed effective and actionable ways to make festivals more eco-friendly. Various tips, tricks, and actionable advice were also given that can be done at a subjective and personal level with almost no technical investment.
References
- (June 17, 2019). 10 ways to party sustainably this festival season. Retrieved from: https://blog.ecosia.org/we-love-green-sustainable-festival/
- Environmental Protection Agency. (2019). Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/recycle/reduce-reuse-recycle