Our Commitment to Sustainability in Festival Glamping
Festival waste was a problem for decades. Abandoned tents, single-use plastic, mountains of rubbish left behind after major events - it was environmentally indefensible.
The industry has been working to change that for years now, and the shift is accelerating. At Hotel Bell Tent, we're committed to being at the forefront of that change.
The Gradual Transformation
Glastonbury went plastic-free. NPR reported in 2024 that the festival eliminated single-use plastics whilst becoming increasingly family-friendly—part of ongoing environmental commitments developed over years. Kendal Calling is targeting 100% tent reuse. Shambala became the first major UK festival to ban all single-use plastic back in 2019.
Major UK festivals have been implementing biodegradable waste solutions, renewable energy sources, and comprehensive recycling programmes. Festival-goers have increasingly demanded environmental accountability. Festivals demonstrating genuine commitment attract interest. Those lagging behind face reputational damage.
The accommodation side - where waste has historically been significant - is part of that ongoing transformation.
Why Professionally Managed Sites Reduce Waste
The fundamental difference: professionally managed accommodation is designed for reuse. Budget DIY camping often isn't.
Cheap festival tents bought for £20-40 are frequently used once and abandoned. Environmental campaign groups estimate 250,000 tents are left behind at UK festivals annually, representing approximately 8,750 plastic straws worth of plastic waste per tent.
Professional glamping infrastructure - whether canvas bell tents or quality nylon setups—is built to last years. A single tent might serve hundreds of festival-goers across multiple seasons.
Perfectly Pitched Camping and Hotel Bell Tent both operate reusable infrastructure models. Tents are pitched, used, packed down, maintained, and deployed again. No single-use waste. No abandoned equipment.
What Eco-Conscious Festival-Goers Expect
Based on industry research, environmentally minded people prioritise:
Reusable infrastructure designed for repeated use rather than single events.
Waste reduction through minimal packaging, no single-use plastics, and comprehensive recycling.
Energy efficiency via LED lighting and reduced generator dependence.
Local sourcing where festivals provide food and beverage.
Transparency about sustainability measures rather than vague green claims.
Responsible end-of-life management through recycling programmes and partnerships for equipment that can't be reused.
What Hotel Bell Tent and Partners Do
Hotel Bell Tent's sustainability practices include sustainable packaging across operations, optimised transport logistics to maximise energy efficiency during setup and breakdown, carpooling for the climate initiatives reducing team travel emissions, and annual tent donations to The Seagull Project—a humanitarian organisation bringing play and laughter to children in crisis situations worldwide. Tents that no longer meet our luxury standards still serve vital purposes supporting their international programmes.
Melt Events brings comprehensive sustainability to festival food and beverage: Vegware sustainable packaging, responsible packaging and recycling programmes, carpooling for climate, FareShare charity partnership tackling food waste and hunger, and Ecologi carbon neutrality certification.
Perfectly Pitched Camping operates on reusable infrastructure—tents maintained and deployed across multiple events rather than single-use alternatives.
What Festival-Goers Can Do
Individual choices create measurable impact:
Choose reusable accommodation options that eliminate disposable tent waste.
Bring reusable water bottles, food containers, and bags.
Use provided recycling bins and compost stations properly.
Support vendors demonstrating environmental commitment.
Don't abandon gear—take tents home or donate them to festival recycling programmes.
Research accommodation providers and festivals about sustainability practices before booking.
Looking Forward
Festival sustainability will keep evolving. Expectations will keep rising. Regulations around waste and environmental impact will likely tighten.
For festival-goers, accommodation choice is one of the most direct ways to reduce festival footprint. Professionally managed setups over abandoned gear. Reusable infrastructure over single-use waste.
Not perfect. But meaningfully better.
Hotel Bell Tent uses reusable infrastructure, sustainable packaging, optimised transport logistics, and donates tents to The Seagull Project. Perfectly Pitched Camping operates on the same reusable model. Melt Events delivers sustainable food and beverage with Vegware packaging, FareShare partnership, and Ecologi carbon neutrality.