Reading events greener following pilot scheme

A pilot project to find ways of making events more sustainable and environmentally friendly has come to an end.

The Council worked with organisers of events ranging from the community-based East Reading Festival to the internationally renowned Reading Festival on the Green Events Code of Practice (GECOP) trial.

Reading was one of 10 local authorities in the UK to take part in the year-long pilot and feedback from the participants will help develop national guidance on sustainability for event organisers across the country.

The initiative ties in with the Council’s own ambitions for Reading to be a net zero carbon borough.  

There is currently a lack of consistent nationwide guidance on sustainability for event organisers which means different rules can apply in different parts of the country.

The GECOP pilot focused on seven key areas where positive environmental change can be achieved at events: governance, energy, travel and transport, food and drink, waste, water and influence.

Event organisers were asked to trial the Donut Advisory Tool for Events, or DATE tool, which offered a quick and effective way to profile an event’s sustainability practices against the GECOP, as well as accessibility. It created an event score and highlights good practice and potential improvement areas, along with advisory information for event organisers.

Organisers from events including East Reading Festival, Reading Festival, Readipop Festival, Reading Water Fest and Reading Pride, as well as Reading’s Economic and Destination Agency (REDA) took part in the pilot.

They attended workshops hosted by the Council throughout the pilot and a final feedback meeting. Representatives of Festival Republic, organisers of Reading & Leeds Festival, attended regularly and gave presentations on their green policies and actions on food and drink, materials and waste and water and energy at their events.

Measures event organisers took during the trial included providing recycling and food waste bins on site; offering water filling stations to reduce use of plastic bottles; cutting the use of diesel generators where possible; requiring caterers to use alternatives to single use plastic; using LED lighting; encouraging visitors to travel by public transport and using local suppliers and contractors.

Matt Foster, from East Reading Festival, said:

“It has been great to be part of the Green Events Code of Practice pilot to look at how we can green-up East Reading Festival and make it a little bit more sustainable.

“East Reading Festival was the smallest event involved in the pilot and it was an ideal opportunity to see what we are doing well, what we could do better and, most importantly, whether we could do it on our own or need help.

“A big benefit of the pilot has been getting together with organisers of other local festivals, large and small, and sharing knowledge while also identifying challenges that we can work on together.”

Molly Banbury, Readipop Festival Producer, said:

"As a community-focused, independent charity festival, Readipop Festival is proud to have been involved in the Green Events Code of Practice (GECOP) pilot. Participating in this initiative has been a valuable opportunity for us to strengthen our commitment to environmental sustainability while staying true to our mission of serving our community. 

“Through the GECOP pilot, we gained access to tools and guidance that have helped us take meaningful steps toward reducing our environmental impact, from managing waste and energy use to promoting sustainable transportation for festival-goers. Collaborating with other local and national event organisers, including larger festivals and grassroots, volunteer led events alike, has been especially rewarding. It has allowed us to share our unique perspectives and challenges as a small charity festival, while also learning from others who are equally committed to positive environmental change.

“Being part of this initiative has reaffirmed our belief that community events, no matter their size, can make a significant difference in the move toward sustainability. We are grateful for the chance to contribute to a greener future for events and to inspire others in our community to prioritise sustainability in all we do."

The GECOP is being developed by the Vision 25 group, representing members of the outdoor live events industry, and was co-funded by the Arts Council and participating local authorities.

Cllr John Ennis, Lead Councillor for Climate Strategy and Transport, said:

“The Green Events Code of Practice pilot has been an excellent opportunity for the Council to work with organisers of a variety of different events across the borough.

“The Council has been looking at ways to make its own events more sustainable in line with its, and the town’s, ambitions to be a net zero borough.

“At this year’s Water Fest, the Council’s biggest annual event, we provided bins for mixed recyclables and food waste, offered a water refill station, brought in alternatives to diesel generators and used local suppliers as much as possible.

“The GECOP pilot has been a great way for event organisers to be able to discuss common challenges and share ideas. I think the legacy of the trial is that we will all be working closer together to put on greener events in Reading in the future.”