Hillside Festival — held annually in Guelph Lake Conservation Area in Guelph, ON — has long celebrated its focus on green initiatives. From composting, to reusable drink and food vessels, to tree planting, Hillside organizers have typically been ahead of the game when it comes to sustainability at music festivals.
Now, the festival's organizers have announced that they have taken their commitment to reducing the event's environmental impact one step further. Hillside Festival has officially gone completely carbon neutral.
Despite a massive effort to recycle and curb landfill waste, transportation was still a massive contributor for Hillside's carbon footprint. Attendees were still driving and flying in to come to the festival — producing an average of 57 tonnes of CO2 a year. Over the years, emissions were reduced as much as possible, but a final push needed to be made.
With the help of sustainability expert and festival board member Rob Pangborn, Hillside Festival was able to purchase carbon offsets through a wind power project in India, reducing its footprint to zero.
Hillside wrapped up its 2019 edition this past July, when the festival celebrated its 36th anniversary.
This year, the festival won two awards for its green initiatives: the Clearwater Award for prioritizing "environmental stewardship" and demonstrating "public leadership in sustainable event production," as well as the Best Greening Award for ensuring "earth-friendly practices are carried out throughout the planning, implementation, and evaluation" of the festival.
Though the 2020 lineup has yet to be announced, tickets have already gone on sale here.
Now, the festival's organizers have announced that they have taken their commitment to reducing the event's environmental impact one step further. Hillside Festival has officially gone completely carbon neutral.
Despite a massive effort to recycle and curb landfill waste, transportation was still a massive contributor for Hillside's carbon footprint. Attendees were still driving and flying in to come to the festival — producing an average of 57 tonnes of CO2 a year. Over the years, emissions were reduced as much as possible, but a final push needed to be made.
With the help of sustainability expert and festival board member Rob Pangborn, Hillside Festival was able to purchase carbon offsets through a wind power project in India, reducing its footprint to zero.
Hillside wrapped up its 2019 edition this past July, when the festival celebrated its 36th anniversary.
This year, the festival won two awards for its green initiatives: the Clearwater Award for prioritizing "environmental stewardship" and demonstrating "public leadership in sustainable event production," as well as the Best Greening Award for ensuring "earth-friendly practices are carried out throughout the planning, implementation, and evaluation" of the festival.
Though the 2020 lineup has yet to be announced, tickets have already gone on sale here.