Scotland's biggest outdoor concert promoter bans catering outlets from selling single use plastic at major summer events

Scotland’s biggest outdoor concert promoter has banned catering outlets from selling single use plastic bottles at bars and food stalls during its major summer events.

DF Concerts & Events has announced a crackdown on all non-recyclable plastic to reduce environmental damage at its flagship TRNSMT, Summer Sessions and all gigs, including at its famous King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut venue.

The promoter – which created T in the Park until the event came to an end in 2016 – has adopted a new ‘sustainability charter’ as part of its Live Nation parent group’s commitment to reducing the environmental impact of hosting events and festivals.

‘Green Nation’ is committing to new environmental goals for all Live Nation owned and operated venues, clubs, theatres and festivals, including those organised by DF Concerts. The initiative’s primary targets include reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030, and ending the sale of single-use plastics at all owned and operated venues and festivals by 2021.

Green Nation aims to reduce the negative environmental impacts often associated with live events including waste generation and single-use plastics, energy and water use, transport and food sourcing. Last year, DF Concerts introduced a policy to use only reusable, biodegradable or recyclable paper straws, and is set to kick things up a notch this year, tackling single use plastics.

This year, TRNSMT is working with all bar and catering outlets on site to become more sustainable, including allowing no single use plastic bottles to be handed over the bars or at food stalls – the only exception to this will be water bottles with high recyclability, though all festival-goers are encouraged to bring a refillable bottle with them, with various top-up water points throughout the site.

The promoter is also introducing compostable plates and cutlery, alongside clearly signposted bins on site to encourage recycling.

TRNSMT will also see DF Concerts reinstate its successful deposit scheme, which previously encouraged thousands of T in the Park visitors to collect and recycle paper beer cups. The move not only promotes recycling, but aids in reducing the level of litter on-site throughout the festival, making it a more enjoyable experience for all.

Geoff Ellis, CEO of DF Concerts & Events, said: “We’ve been working with Live Nation for a long time on the Green Nation initiative, and have already put a number of measures in places behind the scenes. This year’s TRNSMT festival will be the first large-scale opportunity to implement some key policies that we hope will be embraced by vendors, partners and fans alike.

“Sustainability is a massively important consideration when planning any event – local gig or large-scale festival. We appreciate it will not be an overnight success, but we plan to start in earnest now with a long-term view to eliminating single use plastics at our events altogether.”

You can read the full Green Nation charter here.

As part of Live Nation, DF Concerts will help to:

Deliver a 50% reduction in scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gases by 2030.
End sale of single-use plastics at all owned and operated venues and events by 2021
Work to reduce or eliminate the use of fossil fuels where possible and pursue a low-carbon economy by sourcing renewable energy
Aim for our offices, venues and events to be zero waste to landfill and achieve a 50% (or higher) material recovery rate by 2030
Work with partners and sponsors toward shared sustainability goals
Transparently track, measure, and share adherence to our charter