Cumbria’s largest music event has banned bottled water this year as part of its commitment to the environment.
Kendal Calling, which takes place at Lowther Deer Park from July 28 to 31, has launched a new campaign to help it build on its sustainability.
All bottled water will be banned from the event – only reusable cups, aluminium cans or cardboard containers will be allowed and to help, organisers will give away 10,000 steel water bottles.
It is part of its response to a major new report by betternotstop, which used data from 100 festivals across the UK, including Kendal Calling to calculate the environmental impact of events.
It found that festivals produce up to 23,500 tonnes of rubbish and create over 24,000 tons of carbon emissions a year.
Kendal Calling organisers said they have been determined to discover and grow in the measures they put into place to minimise its environmental and social impact.
It has launched the Leave Nothing But Memories campaign to help it reach its aims.
A spokesman said: “The campaign is focused on the festival’s campsites and the level of waste left over after the festival is finished. It aims to reducing litter over the weekend and inspire festival-goers to look after the festival environment they find themselves in.
“The festival site is home to a medley of wildlife, farm animals, residents, operators, insects, plants and wild flowers – and maintaining its eco-system whilst welcoming 30,000 festival-goers is a core priority for the organising team.
“Kendal Calling’s mission is to minimise the environmental impact of the festival whilst amplifying initiatives which create positive social impact before, during and after the festival.”
It is also launching daily Clean Up Hours, between 10am and 11am, to help reduce litter on the site and everyone is asked to sign up to the Kendal Calling Eco Pledge for the duration of the festival.
