Helsinki’s Flow Festival knows how to party sustainably. Last year it asked artists to add a Sustainability Rider, calling on venues and organisers to ‘pay attention to recycling, the offsetting of aviation emissions, environmentally-friendly accommodation and transportation options as well as to the reduction of disposable products, such as water bottles’.
This one initiative is indicative of how the Flow Festival chooses to roll. Through its responsibility program, it adopts the highest environmental and social standards, taking actions that have compensated for the festival’s carbon footprint since 2009. Leaving a zero carbon footprint, using green electricity, sustainable meals, 100% reused materials and smart transportation are some of the steps it takes to make a positive impact and inspire others.
In 2019 the festival succeeded in its environmental goals. Pöyry Finland calculated a reduction in emissions last year of 32%, and a carbon footprint of 272 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e), given as equal to a return flight from Helsinki to Bangkok with 317 passengers on board. Waste generated at Flow is used to produce energy or collected for reuse. And the 2019 goal to increase the levels of biowaste and biodegradable products was met, with the amount of mixed waste down by 80%.
This year’s festival promises to be bigger and more sustainable than ever, with amazing headliners including Stormzy and The Strokes. Tickets are on sale now for Flow Festival 2020, which takes place in Helsinki from 14-16 August.
