Greener Wristbands recycling initiative rolls-out at UK festivals this summer

Security wristband suppliers ID&C has teamed-up with innovative event waste recycling company More Bins to launch the UK’s first sustainability initiative for festival wristbands and lanyards. The new scheme, ‘Greener Wristbands’ encourages event organisers to return any used or excess fabric wristbands and lanyards to ID&C once their festival has ended. There, the returned products are sorted and separated into recyclable groups before being transferred to More Bins for recycling.

The recycling procedure involves re-using and re-crafting the old security wristbands and lanyards into everyday useful products, helping to mitigate landfill and reduce the carbon footprint of festivals. “Old wristbands will be transformed into things like drinks coasters and clothing accessories, whilst lanyards and their attachments are re-born as purses, wallets and hats.” Said Chris Nowell of More Bins.

The Greener Wristbands initiative will have a physical presence at UK festivals in the form of a workshop, which aims to engage with festival audiences and promote sustainability awareness through an innovative approach to recycling. The workshops start this summer, with Truck Fest and Shambala Festival among the first to sign-up.Nowell continued, “It’s important to promote this and other sustainability initiatives to the public, and make festival goers the driving force behind them. We’ll be tackling serious sustainability issues, but in fun ways; like giving fans the chance to turn last year’s wristbands into eco-friendly, chic fashion accessories.”A survey of over 2,200 festivals fans conducted in 2012 by Bucks New University and A Greener Festival reported that 87% of festivalgoers would recycle during events.  However, music festivals have continued to receive criticism for their impact on the environment, with waste and recycling a key issue.Oir very own Claire O’Neill, co-founder of A Greener Festival and senior manager at the Association of Independent Festivals said; “We're really happy to see suppliers like ID&C putting the sustainability of their products and services as a priority. It's smart business sense and the only way to go for business longevity. Actions such as this help the event industry to reduce its environmental impact."Shambala Festival, winners of the 'outstanding' A Greener Festival Award 2013, is one of the first to commit to the Greener Wristbands project. The festival’s management company Kambe Events, an environmental consultancy to the events industry, will be working with ID&C and More Bins over the coming year to explore the feasibility of greener materials, and advising on approaches to traceability of supply chain.Chris Johnson, of Shambala Festival said; “We are exited that ID&C and More Bins are taking a lead on this issue, and welcome the opportunity to work with them. The circular economy approach makes both business and environmental sense, and I am confident that if affordable green products are available, events will take the sustainable option.ID&C’s Matt Wilkey said, “We’re glad to be among the first suppliers tackling the sustainability of their products, and thrilled to be working with More Bins in reducing the carbon footprint of festivals. While being a secure method of disposal for our clients, the project also enables us to recycle any discarded and unused fabric materials.”To find out more on the initiative and to take part, visit www.idcband.co.uk/greener-wristbands.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]