Several events in Southern Estonia participated in the pilot program of the Green Festival in the spring and summer in 2021. The aim of the program is to provide support activities for event organizers to help them organize their events in a more environmentally friendly way and to create a green plan. Now than most of the activities of the Green Festival pilot program have been completed, it can be said that any type of events can be organized in a more sustainable and greener way, regardless of the location or the purpose of the event.
The green plan of each event was unique, but the goal of all organizers was to provide local clean food and free drinking water, reduce the use of disposable food containers, collect garbage by type and reduce waste, encourage the use of bicycles, public transport, walking and transport sharing.
Among others, the organizing team of Tartu autumn fair "Maarjalaat" participated in the program. They are hopeful for the future. "Of course, we will continue with the pilot program of the Green Festival. This is the health and future of our people and hopefully a new normality that will ensure sustainability. As the organizer of the event, we must be an example to every visitor. Patterns of thought are slowly changing, but we can influence the process in environmentally friendly way,” says Rene Kiis, CEO of Tartu Market.
Garbage was collected by type in Tartu autumn fair Maarajalaat_photo by Sander Silm
Environmentally friendly event management helped to increase people's knowledge of sustainability and greener lifestyle. Many event organizers used volunteer 'green ambassadors' or security staff to monitor and prevent resource loss and guide proper waste sorting during the events. Free drinking water instead of selling bottled water encourages visitors to bring their own refillable water bottles. This left thousands of plastic bottles unused.
On most of the events who participated in the Green Festival pilot program, food and drink was offered from reusable dishes. Almost 4,000 people took part in the Tartu City Marathon, all of them ate from reusable plates. This gives an idea of how many disposable dishes were not used. Such an approach significantly reduces the environmental footprint of the event. Tartu's 'Car-free Avenue' implemented a reusable deposit system for dishes. During the event, a total of 14,959 dishes were collected, in addition, there was tap water on site, which visitors could use to wash their dishes or drink water.
Care Free Avenue_Photo by Meeri Maastik
Green event management is not our future, it is our present and could be the goal of every event organizer. “We suggest that the goals set in the green plan could be integrated into the overall process of organizing the event. In this way, following environmentally friendly principles would become an integral part of event management,” says Kristiina Kerge, who is a training partner in the Green Festival pilot program.
A total of 9 events participated in the pilot program of the Green Festival: River trips "Discover the Emajõgi", Inland Water Festival, Car-free Avenue, Delicious Food Road, Widget Factory Festival, Tartu autumn fair “Maarjalaat”, Estonian Movement and Sports Festival, Tartu Student Days and Tartu City Marathon.
Tartu Student Days Pancake morning_Photo by_Pilleriin Kivisikk
In creating the concept of the Green Festival , the Strategy of Environmental Activities of the European Capital of Culture Tartu 2024, Tartu 2024 Guide to Environmentally Friendly Events and the Tartu Nature House Guide to Environmentally Friendly Events have been taken into account.
More information about the pilot program of the Green Festival can be found on the website of the Tartu County Development Association: www.tas.ee/arendustegevus/rohefestival/.
The pilot program of the Green Festival is implemented by the Tartu County Development Association within the framework of the URBACT APN “Food Corridors”.
