We’ve all been waiting for some normalcy to return to our lives. Reflecting on the impacts of COVID-19 has many of us wondering if we’ll finally be able to enjoy some pre-pandemic activities this summer. My summers tend to involve camping music festivals and concerts — things that became nonexistent in 2020. This got me thinking about those events through the lens of sustainability — something we talk a lot about in the packaging industry.
The benefits of music-related mass gatherings usually always outweigh the negatives, but imagine thousands of people a day throwing away plastic bottles and cups into a limited number of receptacles. Most all events do not let attendees bring in water, but many do allow an empty bottle, pouch, water bladder backpack, etc. that can be filled up at a free water station or drinking fountain inside. By the look of things, most attendees end up purchasing bottled water and other plastic beverages — either refilling and reusing it or throwing the empty plastic in the trash or (hopefully) a recycling bin.