FESTIVALS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

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JOIN THE COLLECTIVE

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MAKE REAL CHANGE

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FESTIVALS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT ✳︎ JOIN THE COLLECTIVE ✳︎ MAKE REAL CHANGE ✳︎

Welcome to Step Change! A brand new AIF sustainability programme for festivals, funded by Ticket Tailor

Individually, we can all make positive changes, but together we can move more quickly, efficiently, and build a broader industry consensus for creating sustainable festivals for the future.

AIF member festivals welcome well over a million attendees across the UK each year, our collective potential to make a difference is profound.

Whether your event is at the very beginning of its sustainability journey or fast becoming a leading voice in environmental operations, we want you to join a shared mission to drive incremental, meaningful change year-on-year.

AIF Sustainability Support PROGRAMME

  • Participating festivals will gain access to a comprehensive suite of tools and support designed to facilitate immediate change and foster longer-term planning that’s right for your event:

    • Digital Environmental Benchmarking Tool: Assess your current practices, get actionable suggestions, and enjoy access to the latest industry resources across all areas of festival operations.

    • Marketing & Comms Pack: Materials to help you declare your commitment to Step Change and reducing the environmental impact of your festival. Engaging audiences, artists, and staff with sustainable practices you already have in place and inviting them to support new green initiatives.

    • Environmental Policy Support: Whether you’re creating one from scratch or want to evolve and integrate your policy across comms and contracts, Step Change is here to help.

    • Sustainable Events Summit (SES) Access: Step Change will kick off at the SES from Vision for Sustainable Events on 21st October 2026, at the Showman's Show. All participants can request free tickets, plus travel and accommodation bursaries are available.

    • Dedicated Sustainability Advisor: Speak to an expert and enjoy funded 1-2-1 guidance. In particular, they’ll focus on food operations and create bespoke resources for programme participants.

    • Special Podcast Series: Exclusive discussion with experts and festivals on sustainable food sourcing, waste, and audience engagement.

  • FOOD. From reducing meat and dairy, to clever crew catering adjustments, stipulating sustainable packaging, to regional sourcing…We’ll cover every aspect of the Food lifecycle at festivals and provide bespoke resources for Step Change 2026 / 2027 participants to support and inspire practical changes you can make at your event.

  • If you are a current AIF member festival, please sign up now by clicking the button below.

SIGN UP NOW

Step Change 2026 / 2027 officially kicks off at the Sustainable Events Summit in Newbury on 21st October 2026.

Tickets are free and will be provided. Plus, travel and accommodation bursaries are available to help you attend.

A dedicated Step Change Sustainability Advisor!

Get direct expert support to help your festival make major leaps forward.

In particular with sustainable food management.

Enjoy a series of bespoke AIF First Festival podcasts on sustainable food practices.

From trader planning to crew catering, sourcing to recycling, and how to take everyone on the journey with you. Hear from festivals who’ve done it and gain expert insights.