Sustainability at festival events

• Avoid disposable items where possible
• Use electronic ticketing to reduce paper waste
• Separate waste and divert as much as possible from landfill
• Encourage the use of recyclable and compostable materials

• Reuse outdoor marketing collateral year on year
• Avoid one-time sponsor logos on main event materials
• Communicate electronically to reduce printed materials

• Promote sustainability through event messaging, social media, and website content
• Offer educational opportunities such as workshops or talks on sustainability
• Support Tourism Bay of Plenty’s sustainability initiatives

• Prioritise locally grown produce for catering and food stalls
• Ensure vegetarian and plant-based food options are available
• Use Fair Trade products where possible
• Hire local suppliers and transport providers

Reducing food waste is a key part of hosting a sustainable festival event. There are several local resources and organisations that can help you manage surplus food responsibly, whether through redistribution, repurposing, or composting. Below are some options to support your sustainability efforts.

Good Neighbour rescues surplus food that is good to eat but not suitable for sale, distributing it to over 70 community organisations across the Bay of Plenty. If your event generates excess food, consider donating it to help those in need and reduce waste.

Phone: 07 394 4249 / 022 043 1040
Email: office@goodneighbour.co.nz
Website: www.goodneighbour.co.nz

Foodprint connects eateries with customers who purchase discounted surplus food, helping reduce food waste and increase revenue. Signing up is free, and the platform is available in the Bay of Plenty.

Email: hello@foodprint.app
Website: foodprint.app

• Prioritise locally grown produce for catering and food stalls
• Ensure vegetarian and plant-based food options are available
• Use Fair Trade products where possible
• Hire local suppliers and transport providers

• Encourage partners to reduce waste generation
• Avoid disposable items where possible
• Separate and divert waste from landfill
• Promote the principles of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
• Use electronic ticketing to minimise paper waste

• Reuse outdoor marketing materials annually
• Avoid including one-time sponsors on key branding
• Prioritise digital communication over printed materials

• Use the festival platform to promote sustainability efforts
• Share sustainability messaging via social media & website
• Offer educational workshops and initiatives

• Promote and use locally grown produce
• Ensure vegetarian and plant-based options are available
• Encourage Fair Trade products where possible
• Use local suppliers for hired resources and transport

• Conduct core team meetings via Zoom or phone to reduce travel emissions
• Digitise event ticketing to save paper and reduce waste

• Maintain an accurate event budget from planning to delivery
• Secure annual funding to cover operational costs
• Retain funding reports to ensure year-on-year growth
• Work towards a cost-neutral or profitable event