SEAI at EP

SEAI’s flagship podcast House Warming is making its live debut at Electric Picnic this year. Host Kim Buckley will be joined by James Kavanagh and his partner William Murray to get an update on the major renovation they are carrying out on their Kilkenny home. James and William will be applying for several SEAI grants to help them with the cost of the works. Find out how they are getting on 14:40 at the Ah, Hear stage at Mindfield on Saturday August 29.

See our guide below on staying sustainable at Electric Picnic.

Pack sustainability into your festival plans

The most sustainable item at Electric Picnic is the one you already own.

When preparing for the weekend, think reusable rather than disposable. Invest in a durable tent that can be used year after year instead of buying a cheap "festival tent" designed for one weekend. Electric Picnic actively encourages campers to take their tents and belongings home and to say no to single-use camping gear.

Sustainable packing essentials:

• A sturdy tent you'll reuse again
• Sleeping bag and sleeping mat
• Reusable water bottle
• Power bank instead of disposable batteries where possible
• Refuse sacks for recycling, rubbish and wet clothes
• Weather-appropriate clothing you already own

Set up a recycling station at camp

A simple but effective tip is to create a designated recycling area within your campsite. Keep plastic bottles and cans separate from general rubbish so they're easier to recycle or return through the Re-turn Deposit Return Scheme.

Travel green to Stradbally

One of the biggest contributors to Electric Picnic's environmental impact is transportation.

Choose lower-carbon travel options:

• Travel by bus
• Take the train where possible
• Cycle if you're local
• Organise a carpool with friends

Not only can sharing transport reduce emissions, but it can also help cut costs and make the journey part of the festival experience.

Electric Picnic is also working to reduce air pollution onsite by using biodiesel fuel made from waste vegetable oil in some generators, helping to lower emissions associated with powering the event.

Make the most of the Re-Turn scheme

This year's festival will feature the National Deposit Return Scheme, operated by Re-turn.

Festival-goers can return eligible plastic bottles and cans throughout the site, helping keep valuable materials in the recycling loop rather than ending up as waste.

Attendees can also choose to donate their deposits through the Return for Children initiative, supporting charities including Barnardos, Barretstown, Childline, Jack & Jill, LauraLynn Children's Hospice and Make-A-Wish Ireland.

It's a small action that can have a big impact.

Ditch the disposable vape

Disposable vapes are now on Electric Picnic's list of prohibited items. The festival has introduced the ban because single-use vapes are difficult to recycle and can be harmful to the environment when not disposed of correctly. Any disposable vapes found onsite will be confiscated and not returned. If you vape, opt for a rechargeable alternative and dispose of any batteries responsibly.

Think about what's in your festival glitter

Festival glitter may look fun, but traditional glitter contains microplastics that can end up polluting waterways and harming wildlife.

Electric Picnic encourages festival-goers to choose more sustainable alternatives, such as:

• Face paints
• Reusable gems
• Flower petals
• Edible glitter alternatives

Your festival look can still sparkle without damaging the environment. 

Choose sustainable food and drink options

The festival's food traders are already doing their part by using fully compostable serveware and following strict sustainability guidelines.

Many traders are encouraged to source local, organic and free-range produce where possible, while Fairtrade tea, coffee, sugar, bananas and chocolate are required across the site.

As attendees, we can support these efforts by:

• Using the correct waste bins
• Only taking what we'll eat
• Avoiding unnecessary food waste
• Bringing reusable items where practical

Small changes, big impact

Electric Picnic has made sustainability a core part of its mission, from reducing waste and cutting emissions to supporting circular recycling initiatives and protecting the festival grounds.

But the real difference comes from the thousands of people making conscious choices throughout the weekend.

Pack wisely. Travel sustainably. Refill your water bottle. Return your cans and bottles. And most importantly, take your tent home.

Memories should last a lifetime, not your environmental footprint!