St. Patrick’s Festival is committed to festival sustainability, so much so that we have chosen sustainability as one of our core organisational values.
As one of the biggest festivals in Ireland, we have a responsibility to lead by example which is why we are championing sustainability in our production, operations and programming. Our journey starts here and will be built on every year, but this is only possible through the efforts of all our stakeholders including YOU, our audience!
Take a look at our sustainability initiatives from St. Patrick's Festival 2024!
Native Events
St. Patrick’s Festival is working with Native Events, Ireland's leading sustainable events company, to deliver a Carbon Footprint Analysis of the Parade and Festival Quarter. This will result in a comprehensive carbon footprint report to further the understanding of the festival’s environmental impact. The report will be used to identify key areas of reduction going forward. This project involves collecting data on all materials, transport, staff travel and accommodation, including sub-contractors and suppliers. For more information on Carbon Analysis see here.
Every Can Counts
St. Patrick’s Festival are partnering with Every Can Counts on a recycling initiative with Loreto College in St. Stephen’s Green. Transition year students have been collecting cans to use in a new recycled art installation being created for the Festival. Combined with donations from Rathmines Bring Centre and Windmill Road Civic Amenity Centre, over 1,500 recycled cans have been collected for the installation. Every Can Counts will also be taking the students behind-the-scenes and involving them in the construction of the installation, which will be unveiled in Festival Quarter on Saturday 16th March.
European Recycling Platform
The European Recycling Platform (ERP), Ireland’s only pan-European compliance scheme for WEEE and Waste Batteries has teamed up with St. Patrick’s Festival as a Sustainability Partner to the Festival. As part of the partnership, ERP worked with artist Ned Leddy to create a WEEE inspired installation entitled ‘Trash Mammoth’ to raise awareness among festival goers about the importance of e-waste recycling. Trash Mammoth will be installed at St. Patrick’s Festival Quarter at the National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks from Saturday 16th to Sunday 17th March.
Kia
St. Patrick’s Festival will again be partnering with Kia to promote their new Electric Vehicle the EV9, as well as their passion for Sustainability and the Circular Economy. This year, their Festival Quarter installation will be highlighting their partnership with Ocean Cleanup and the efforts being made by Kia to reach their carbon neutrality targets. Working with Native Events, we plan to incorporate an installation that uses recycled materials. This will give our audience an opportunity to directly examine the materials collected from the Ocean, which are then integrated into Kia’s EV9.
Traders' Sustainability Policy
St. Patrick's Festival have implemented a Traders' Sustainability Policy again this year, focusing on no single use plastics (SUP) including the sale of SUP drink bottles. Traders will be required to supply compostable serveware and have been provided with food procurement guidelines.
National Transport Authority
St. Patrick’s Festival and The National Transport Authority are partnering on a communications piece which will encourage all attendees travelling to the Parade and Festival Quarter to use public transport services.
Waste Reports
St. Patrick's Festival will be requesting waste tonnage reports from our waste supplier in Festival Quarter. This data will help us understand the waste being produced and will enable us to set annual targets for waste reduction.
Bike Racks
Bike racks will be made available at Festival Quarter for all attendees wishing to cycle to the Festival.