Some 76% of music festival attendees in the UK believe that such events should only use plastic-free food packaging, while four fifths (80%) believe that food packaging should be plastic-free where possible, according to new research by Xampla.
According to the materials innovation firm, more than 105 million single-use packaging items are discarded at UK festivals every year – largely comprised of takeaway containers, coffee cups and plastic bottles – enough to fill more than 500 double-decker buses.
In addition, each festival goer produces around 2kg of waste per day, close to twice the amount of household waste generated per person.
Plastic footprint
“Festival-goers want to be able to enjoy themselves without worrying about their plastic footprint,” Alexandra French, CEO of Xampla, commented. “It is clear that most people want the food they eat at festivals to come in packaging that does not harm the planet.”
The findings follow a busy summer season for festivals, which saw Reading and Leeds, Creamfields and Notting Hill Carnival take place across the UK, among other events.
Moisture resistance
The UK has made strides to clamp down on single-use plastic food packaging, bringing in new regulations in 2023, however, as Xampla pointed out, many paper-based containers contain a thin plastic lining to provide resistance to grease and moisture. As a result, this packaging can be difficult to process through traditional waste management systems, and is often sent for incineration or landfill.
However, as it noted, ‘recent advances in technology and materials innovation mean that genuinely plastic-free packaging that is suitable for a variety of waste streams is now possible. This means that plastic-free festival food packaging could soon become the norm.’
Xampla pointed to its Morro coating, developed from natural polymers, which was developed at the University of Cambridge and is already in use through partnerships with foodservice delivery platforms including Just Eat Takeaway.com.
“The good news is that the alternatives now exist at scale, helping event organisers and suppliers make the right choice for their customers,” French added. “Plastic-free materials, such as Morro, offer all the requirements of conventional packaging, without leaving a lasting mark on the environment.” Read more here.
Read more: Music festivals and live events continuing to improve sustainability commitments
![UNEP executive director Inger Andersen has said that while achievements were made at the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) COP 17 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia over the past couple of weeks, it 'remains clear [that] progress is still needed to tackle drought, finance and implementation of already agreed goals'.](https://sustainabilityonline.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/55467590120_42b5dc7feb_k.jpg)
