Environment, Social Responsibility and Charities

Bestival is dedicated to improving the ecological impact of its business and live events. Whilst we recognise that a temporary event or festival has a large footprint; we are striving to achieve best ‘green’ practice in the following ways:

Promoting the use of public transport – 2/3rds of customers use Public Transport to travel to Bestival.

Car sharing, sourcing local produce and services, reducing energy usage while increasing the use of more alternative energy sources, reducing waste and actively educating Bestival-goers about environmental concerns and encourage them to act responsibly at the event to help Keep Bestival Tidy.

Swim to Bestival where people swim and kayak and row across the Solent for charity – also cycle and run from London.

Tomorrow’s World is an entire field envisaging an inspired, sustainable, green and fun future with a solar powered Bandstand.

We have over 20 Environmental and other Charities, Local and National: teaching and interactive games on site – everything from water conservation techniques to CND. (see Charities page)

The on site shop sources its produce locally and acts as a wholesaler for the traders.

We recycle cardboard, mixed glass, drink cans, plastic bottles, office paper, cardboard, pallets & any untreated wood.

Recycling bags are given out in the campsites for different recycling items such as plastic bottles and cans with Free Tea when returned to the Campsite Hubs.

Other Waste is transported to the Isle of Wight’s gasification plant to be converted from waste to energy.

We have a Cup and Can Return Scheme to our bars.

We have many Organic traders and as much Fair Trade food and drink as possible.

Virtually all scaffold and heavy plant machinery is also sourced locally.

Our preferred bottled water supplier – www.lifepurewater.com – is in bio-degradable plastic bottles and profits go to charity helping water projects in developing countries.

We use recycled stationary and paper for office and programmes alike and encourage re-use of everything from scenery to fencing to material.

We have 92 compost toilets on site.

The Bestival Foundation works in conjunction with The Footprint Trust local charity and funds a programme of education that teaches local Isle of Wight schoolchildren about water saving. It also provides every Island schoolchild aged Under 16 with a free Josie da Bank designed recycled water bottle.

Environmental groups on-site included IOW Local Scout Group collecting left over tents and camping equipment.

Bestival Green Team patrol the site in small highly visible groups spreading the ‘Keep Bestival Tidy!’ message

We have a thorough Environmental Policy that all traders at Bestival have to adhere by and pay a bond upfront to ensure this.

All food and drink stalls are expected to only use 100% compostable cups, glasses, knives and forks which can go in with the organic food waste.