Joe GallopThis summer’s edition of Kendal Calling (cap. 40,000) concluded with 98.9% of tents taken home by attendees, up from 98% in 2023, thanks to promoter From the Field’s ‘Leave Nothing But Memories’ campaign aimed at reducing waste.
The festival’s eco-friendly initiatives went beyond tent retention. The reusable cup scheme saw a 44% increase, with 22,500 cups returned to collection points, up from 15,300 in 2023. Partnering with Event Cup Solutions, the cups are washed using renewable energy and recycled when damaged.
In addition, 87% of festival-goers said they refrained from littering, and there was an increase from 54% to 79% using waste bags in the campsites. Awareness of the Leave Nothing But Memories campaign nearly doubled from 43% in 2023 to 81% in 2024.
In a new move for 2024, Kendal Calling introduced food collection points across the campsites. These efforts resulted in 270 kilos of food being collected and distributed to local food banks, further reducing waste and supporting the community.
Kendal Calling’s sustainability efforts extended to the Kids Calling area, which ran entirely on renewable energy for the first time. The festival’s commitment to green practices also saw artists make more eco-conscious decisions, such as reducing food waste and using local suppliers.
This year’s environmental efforts were evaluated in a detailed report from betternotstop. The event, which took place from 1-4 August, featured performances from Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, The Streets, Paolo Nutini and Keane.
As Kendal Calling looks toward its 20th anniversary in 2025, the festival’s co-founder Andy Smith emphasised that the festival will continue pushing the boundaries of sustainable event practices.
Smith said, “We take huge care of our beautiful site at Lowther Deer Park, and we’re incredibly proud of our environmentally conscious festival-goers. Without their effort, none of this would be possible. We’re not done yet though, so let’s make it 100% of tents taken home next year.”