The Season is almost over – why not plan ahead and get ready for the 2015 Season….

The Festival Season is almost over – which means it’s time to start thinking about next year’s line-up  - and we don’t just mean which acts are performing. There is no better time to plan ahead and get the vital (but far less exciting) components such as Insurance sorted, and off the list for the new season.We are really pleased to have teamed up for another year with our friends at Robertson Taylor W&P Longreach (RT) to offer discounts on the cost of insurance for festivals that adopt green initiatives.This is such an important issue and RT are very pleased that insurers recognise the efforts of festival organisers, to introduce green initiatives so that they can pass on the benefits to their clients.  RT have negotiated special discounts for any festival organisers who are striving to make their festivals greener that implement at least 5 of the 16 green initiatives that have been suggested by agreenerfestival.com.For more information on this or any aspect of music and event insurance please do not hesitate to contact RT’s Bev Hewes on 0207 510 1234 or via Beverley.Hewes@wandp-longreach.com or visit www.rtworldwide.comRobertson Taylor W&P Longreach are the key sponsor of the Greener Festival Awards scheme and a key supporter of the work of A Greener Festival.To qualify for a ‘Green’ discount, you need confirm you have adopted at least five measures from the list below. 

• We have an environmental policy which extends to waste and recycling, energy use, water, environmental protection and transport which extends to both on-site and offsite activities - and which all senior management are aware of and
• We have compost toilets on-site.
• We encourage festival goers to minimise water wastage by using taps which turn off automatically when not in use, e.g. pump powered taps or similar systems.
• We minimise water use by providing toilets which re-use grey water to flush toilets.
• We ensure traders use only eco-friendly cleaning products.
• We promote recycling on-site and actively promote the recycling of paper, card, plastics, metals and glass   .
• All caterers on site are required to use bio-degradable and / or reusable food utensils and containers?  This extends to traders, crew catering, hospitality & sponsors and non recyclable disposables are banned.
• We provide a waste management facility that separates waste for recycling.
• We give all organic waste to local farm(s) to convert to compost, or provide an on-site composting or anaerobic digestion area.
• We measure greenhouse gas emissions from our event and seek to reduce our carbon footprint year on year.
• We ensure that at least 25% of the power used at the festival is supplied by bio diesel and/or solar power.
• We have adopted environmentally friendly practices for audience transport including the provision and/or promotion of public transport and car pooling.
• We apply car park charges or a charge per vehicle brought to the festival.
• We ensure that the use of electricity and power is minimised, and that energy saving equipment and lighting is used on site.
• We use one or more sustainable power sources for 25% of our on-site needs (sun, wind, water, human and sustainable bio-fuels)             .
• We actively campaign to promote good environmental practice (for example by banning plastic water bottles or sauce sachets, by supporting local wildlife or tree planting schemes, by eliminating no recyclable disposables, by inviting environmental groups to the festival, by promoting local foods, drinks and suppliers).