Top 10 Eco-Friendly Festivals 2022

Tackling our impact on the environment is a daily struggle as we grow more and more concerned about climate change each day. We all do our part, whether it's regimentally recycling, eating less meat, or simply taking the bus to work. 

This eco-friendly ideology has been entrenched within the music festival industry since its humble beginnings but hasn't always successfully been put into practice. Nowadays, however, music festivals are taking greater strides than ever to reduce their carbon footprints, not only promoting environmentally friendly practices but implementing fresh strategies to combat climate change.

So, whilst festival-goers seek a riotous romp with their favourite artists, we're increasingly eco-aware and therefore don't want the guilty conscience.

That said, we've put our list of Top 10 Eco-Friendly Festivals so you can party whilst protecting the environment:

Burning Man Festival

Festival lineup: TBA

The mecca of progressive ideologies at festivals, Burning Man has strictly abided by ten principles since 1986, one of them being 'leave no trace'.

Additionally, a former group of attendees started the nonprofit organisation Black Rock Solar installing a 30kW solar array at the festival which has since been donated to the nearby town, providing high-quality clean energy and generating funds for community clean projects.

When & where: 25th August - 2nd September 2022; Black Rock City, United States

Green Man Festival

Festival lineup: Kraftwerk, Michael Kiwanuka, Beach House, Bicep [live], Metronomy

Set beneath the lush, scenic Brecon Beacons, the organisers strive to keep it the way. Festival-goers are implored to uphold green policies by bringing only biodegradable wares (tent pegs, glitter etc) and one-use plastics are banned in favour of re-usable drinking receptacles. 

Any unwanted camping items post-festival are donated to refugees worldwide, so nothing goes to waste.

When & where: 18-21 August 2022; Brecon, Wales

Green Man Festival 2022 Guide & Mailing List

Splendour In The Grass

Festival lineup: Gorillaz, The Strokes, Tyler, the Creator, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Liam Gallagher

Initiatives like the 'Carbon Offset' option when purchasing tickets means that you can eradicate your carbon emissions during your time at the Australian festival, as all of the money raised is invested directly into the country's renewable energy projects. 

For the hardcore eco-warriors, the 'Camp Zero Footprint' campsite challenges each camper to minimise their impact as much as possible with reusable camping equipment a prerequisite, offering tree planting sessions each morning. The winner wins VIP tickets the following year, so it pays to follow the rules. 

When & where: 22-24 July 2022; Yelgun, Australia

Splendour In The Grass 2022 Guide & Mailing List

Pohoda Festival 

Festival lineup: Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, The Libertines, Metronomy, Wolf Alice, ZHU

This Slovakian gem of a festival puts as much emphasis on green energies as curating a diverse and colourful lineup. 

Partnering with domestic solar companies to provide energy at the festival and national railways to offer exclusive transport options to reduce emissions, it helps to keep the Earth clean and eco-conscious festival-goers keen.

When & where: 7-9 July 2022; Trenčín, Slovakia

Pohoda Festival 2022 Guide & Waiting List

NorthSide

Festival lineup: Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, Disclosure, MØ, Lewis Capaldi, girl in red, The Avalanches, Pete Tong

The only thing stronger than NorthSide's lineup is their sustainability agenda - since the Danish festival's inception, no decisions have been made without the environmental impact having been considered beforehand.

With a commitment to off-setting their carbon footprint and reducing waste, NorthSide hires 'trash maids' and 'trash butlers' to encourage festival-goers to pick up their own rubbish, bring reusable wares, and even pick up their own cigarettes butts. The result? A festival ground so clean you could eat off it. 

When & where: 2-4th June 2022; Aarhus, Denmark

NorthSide 2022 Guide & Waiting List

We Love Green 

Festival lineup: Gorillaz, Massive Attack, PNL, Phoenix, Angèle, Disclosure

A forward-thinking approach to environmental issues has seen this Parisian festival become one of France's most popular festivals in recent years. That and it's progressive lineups, of course.

Exemplifying the dedication to sustainability and environmental prosperity, We Love Green have an innovative take on eco-toilets, limits paper use, composts food waste, and promotes green living through workshops and discussions throughout the festival's duration.

When & where: 2nd & 4-6th June 2022; Paris, France

We Love Green 2022 Guide / Book Your We Love Green 2022 Tickets Here

Lollapalooza

Festival lineup: Metallica, Dua Lipa, Green Day, J. Cole, Doja Cat

You'd expect the world's biggest festivals to promote green initiatives and thankfully Lollapalooza's 'Rock and Recycle' scheme does just that. 

A plethora of recycling bins, composting bins, and water stations dotted around the site dramatically reduces plastic bottle usage, and festival-goers are challenged to collect recyclable items in exchange for Lollapalooza merchandise for added incentive. 

When & where: 28-31st July 2022; Chicago, United States

Lollapalooza 2022 Guide & Waiting List

Latitude Festival

Festival lineup: Lewis Capaldi, Foals, Snow Patrol, Maggie Rogers, Little Simz, Fontaines D.C., Phoebe Bridgers

One of the UK's most flamboyant and creative festivals, environmental sustainability is at the heart of Latitude, working with Julie's Bicycle, a nonprofit organisation that aims to reduce emissions within the creative industries.

They've also pledged to reduce both diesel consumption and waste by 50% by 2025 as part of the Festival Vision 2025 pledge to ensure that festivals have a sustainable future. 

When & where: 21-24 July 2022; Southwold, United Kingdom

Latitude Festival 2022 Guide & Mailing List

Øyafestivalen

Festival lineup: Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, Gorillaz, Florence + the Machine, AURORA, Michael Kiwanuka, First Aid Kit

For 20 years now, a commitment to implementing progressive environmental actions has been at the fore of Øyafestivalen's ethos. As purveyors of eco-friendly efforts in major events, the festival organisers also willingly shares advice on their practices within the industry be it on sustainable food experiences, green purchasing policies, fossil-free transportation, emission reductions, and sophisticated resource management.

In 2020 their commitment was recognised by the International AGF Awards where they won the coveted title of International Greener Festival - yet another deserved award to add to the trophy cabinet. 

When & where: 10-13 August 2022; Oslo, Norway

Øyafestivalen 2022 Guide / Book Øyafestivalen 2022 Tickets Here

Glastonbury

Festival lineup: Paul McCartney, Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar, Diana Ross

The mother of all conservationists music festivals, Glastonbury Festival has seen millions of festival-goers trample through Worthy Farm throughout its half-century history and strives to highlight both recent and relevant environmental issues each year.

Partnering with Oxfam, Greenpeace, and WaterAid, the Eavis' family's list of green policies is extensive; requiring both a fallow year after five consecutive festivals as well as thousands of volunteers to ensure that the festival site continues to thrive as a working farm after the fun has come to an end, Glastonbury Festival is definitively and unquestionably green.

When & where: 22-26 June 2022; Pilton, United Kingdom

Glastonbury Festival 2022 Guide & Mailing List

More like this: 

• 8 ways to help make your festival or event more sustainable and environmentally-friendly
• Festicket's Eco-Friendly Camping Essentials