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, supported by Ticket Tailor’s Earth Invest

Individually, we can all make positive changes, but together we can move more 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 your comms, Step Change is here to help.

    • Sustainable Event Summit (SES) Access: Step Change launched on 21st October 2026, at SES. Attendees had access to a travel and accommodation bursary.

    • 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.

    • GEI (A Greener Future Conference) Taking place on 23rd February 2027, Step Change participants will have the opportunity to take advantage of funded tickets to attend, as well as a travel and accommodation bursary to support attendance.

  • 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 festivals are invited to A Greener Future’s GEI Conference at the O2, London on February 23rd 2027.

Tickets will be funded, subject to demand, by the Step Change programme, with a travel and accommodation bursary available too.

A dedicated Step Change Sustainability Advisor!

Get direct expert support to help your festival make major leaps forward. In particular with sustainable food management.

Bryonie Mathews is here! Sign up to Step Change and reach out to set up a chat: Byronie@aiforg.com

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.