Your Guide to Sustainable Festival Essentials

Festival season is fast approaching, and we are excited here at PandaHQ. We love the sense of community, and the coming together of people who share a love for good music and a good time, but there is one thing we don’t quite love about festival, and that’s their ecological impact!

Embracing sustainability this summertime doesn’t mean compromising on fun or convenience, by making just a few simple swaps you can make a positive difference, whilst having the time of your life!

From reusable water bottles to natural sunscreen, we’ve got your checklist covered! Ready to learn more? Let’s dive in!

Transport

Before you can let the good times roll, you’ve got to get to the campsite! Wherever possible, use public transport or car-sharing to get to your destination. This not only reduces carbon emissions but minimises congestion too – that means more time having fun, and less time stuck in traffic.

Camping Gear

We know, it’s hard to get excited about tents but they are a huge source of plastic waste, especially at festivals! Most plastic tents used at festivals are designed for single use purposes. After the event, these tents are typically abandoned and left behind resulting in massive amounts of waste, and you’ve guessed it – they all end up in landfill. These tents tend to be made from cheap plastic aka stuff that takes YEARS to breakdown and eventually turns into microplastics, which are harmful to our environment. Think of a tent as an investment, good quality tents made from recycled materials can last for years and will save you money in the long run! Good for the planet, and your wallet!

Reusable Water Bottle and Utensils

Bring a durable, BPA-free water bottle and stay hydrated throughout the event! This reduces the need for single-use plastic bottles. If you are feeling ambitious, you can also bring along your own reusable utensils (we love the bamboo ones) to help reduce waste across the event.

Sustainable Toiletries

Would it be a sustainable festival without Cheeky Panda essentials? From travel toilet roll to handy wipes and straws, we’ve got you covered. Our 100% biodegradable essentials are a festival must have. Our travel toilet tissue is small enough to squeeze in your bag to make sure you are never caught short in the portaloo! Our handy wipes are perfect for a quick freshen up in between dances and our bamboo straws are strong enough to withstand any drink of choice, so you can keep the good times going, without worrying about your impact on the planet! 

Natural Sunscreen

If there is one thing you MUST take to a festival, it’s sunscreen! Protecting your skin is the most important thing you can do, but did you know some brands of sunscreen can be harmful to our planet? This is because they contain ingredients such as Oxybenzone and Octinoxate. These chemicals can get into our waterways and cause serious damage to our marine life. When buying sunscreen, you want to be avoid any products that contain oxybenzone and octinoxate ingredients, mineral oil and petroleum – these ingredients take years to break down and have been proven to have negative impacts on our planet. Head to Peace with the Wild to see their carefully selected range of natural and sustainable sunscreens, that will protect you and our planet too!

Do you have any sustainable festival essentials we’ve missed? Let us know in the comments below!