Iceland’s Secret Solstice just proved why it’s the best music festival in the world, Secret Solstice has gone above and beyond to reduce their carbon footprint by using cutting edge technology while also improving natural surroundings.
Images Courtesy: Matthew Eisman/Reykjavík Grapevine
While many major events are known to be energy inefficient, and even damaging to the environment, the Icelandic Secret Solstice festival is trying to change that stereotype. Incorporating the use of geothermal energy, hybrid vehicles, and intensive recycling programs sets the already unique festival apart from the others. These steps have led to the glacial event to be certified as CarbonNeutral®. This means all CO2 emissions from supplier and organizer travel, as well as event waste, has been balanced out with the purchase of high quality, verified carbon offsets, which Secret Solstice has purchased from the rainforest conservation project Makira REDD+ in Madagascar.
(Courtesy : deskbg.com)
Besides this, the festival taps into the incredible natural resource of Iceland’s volcanoes, with 100% of its on-site energy needs being provided by this extremely green power supply. Giles Bristow of Acute Audio Productions, Secret Solstice’s 2016 production manager, said, “100% of the energy used to power Secret Solstice the last two years was geothermal electricity produced locally. These were the first ever outdoor events I had produced where not one drop of diesel was used in providing the on-site energy needs for sound and stage production.”
Additionally the festival has also entered into a green partnership with Toyota Iceland who will be providing several modern hybrid vehicles to the festival for long-term usage over 9 months, further lowering the event’s carbon footprint. Secret Solstice has also implemented a comprehensive waste management plan on the event site, with as much material as possible being reused. Event partner Icelandic Glacial™, the super-premium natural spring water from Iceland, will also provide hundreds of biodegradable cardboard recycling bins over the festival’s four days in Reykjavík.