Single use, disposable plastic water bottles are one of the most visible impacts of the music scene, and they’re completely unnecessary. Tell Australia’s biggest festivals to end the sale of these toxic and wasteful plastic bottles! (3 of the 5 festivals targeted have pledged - help us reach the final 2!)
Dear Byron Bay BluesFest, Falls Festival , Groovin The Moo, Laneway and Splendour in the Grass
Every year millions of disposable plastic water bottles are thrown out at music events across the country. Not only do these bottles create a hell of a mess, but they're hurting our planet. But as leaders like the Caloundra Music Festival, Illawarra Folk Festival and The Plot have shown, it's actually easy to keep artists, crew and punters healthily hydrated while protecting the planet.
That's why we're calling on you to eliminate them from your festival.
Plastic water bottles, unlike natural materials, don't break down. Instead they disintegrate into tinier and tinier plastic pieces, polluting our rivers and oceans, threatening vulnerable wildlife, and making their way up the food chain and onto our plates.
The problem is so big now that scientists predict there'll be more plastic than fish in our oceans by 2050. This is not the kind of world we want to live in, or leave for future generations.
But you can help turn this around by cutting plastic water bottles from your festival, and giving people access to fresh tap water instead.
Australia's tap water is some of the best in the world. So as long as you place refill stations around your site, people can BYO bottle and stay healthily hydrated all day.
By taking this simple step, you'll not only be stopping unnecessary and harmful plastic waste from getting into our environment but you'll also be showing audiences, musicians and crew that throw-away culture isn't cool.
I am aware that there are often barriers standing in the way of going plastic free - such as drinks sponsorships and other existing arrangements. But these can be renegotiated. Given how serious and urgent the situation is, I urge you to do exactly that.
As one of Australia's largest and most respected festivals you have the power to make a real difference. Now's the time to step up as leaders in the music scene, start tackling plastic pollution and eliminate disposable plastic water bottles from your festival.
Yours sincerely,
[Your Name]