Every year more than 250,000 tents get left behind in UK fields after festivals. This includes Glastonbury and Reading and Leeds.
As a result, more than 60 independent festivals are urging people to stop buying single-use tents.
Did you know that your average tent is mostly made of plastic, and the equivalent of one tent is 250 plastic pint cups?
Now do the maths - 250,000 tents x 250 plastic pint cups = 62.5 million plastic pint cups.
Wow.
We get it. You want to experience a festival as cheaply as possible. Chip in a tenner between you and you can pick up a cheap tent, then discard it or leave it behind once the music has finished.
Unfortunately the major problem is there is a huge misconception about what happens to your tent. Charities don't collect them. The reality is that most will go to landfill.
That's a hell of a lot of plastic waste.
The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) has set a three-year target to eradicate single-use plastic, with sixty-one festivals already signed up to the Drastic On Plastic campaign.
At the Complete Outdoors, we sell a wide range of durable tents that are easy and simple to set up and put down, and you can re-use them for festivals year after year.
Here are our top 4 suggestions for festival tents you can reuse:
This tent sleeps 4 people comfortably, with a separate porch area for muddy shoes and wellies. Get to the festival early though, and you'll need a decent size space to set up the tent.
Get a good deal and that could mean a great, durable tent for £40 each!
If you're really quick, you can erect this tent in less than 10-minutes. Which means more time to spend at the bar or at a stage.
We're big fans of the Klondike, mostly because of it's space, and the amount it weighs (16kg) for the amount of tent you get!
It's not cheap, but remember the tipi tents at Glastonbury cost over £1000 to hire, and you can pick up your own - and stand out - with the Klondike for less than £600.
It's probably been battered by the rain and splattered with mud (or worse), and it is tempting to leave it in the field.
But a little bit of effort will save the equivalent of 250 plastic pint cups going to landfill.
Grab a durable, re-usable tent to help the environment - it will be worth it in the end.
As a result, more than 60 independent festivals are urging people to stop buying single-use tents.
Did you know that your average tent is mostly made of plastic, and the equivalent of one tent is 250 plastic pint cups?
Now do the maths - 250,000 tents x 250 plastic pint cups = 62.5 million plastic pint cups.
Wow.
Think re-use, not single use |
DON'T BUY 'FESTIVAL TENTS'
We get it. You want to experience a festival as cheaply as possible. Chip in a tenner between you and you can pick up a cheap tent, then discard it or leave it behind once the music has finished.
Unfortunately the major problem is there is a huge misconception about what happens to your tent. Charities don't collect them. The reality is that most will go to landfill.
That's a hell of a lot of plastic waste.
'RE-USE' NOT 'SINGLE-USE'
The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) has set a three-year target to eradicate single-use plastic, with sixty-one festivals already signed up to the Drastic On Plastic campaign.
At the Complete Outdoors, we sell a wide range of durable tents that are easy and simple to set up and put down, and you can re-use them for festivals year after year.
Here are our top 4 suggestions for festival tents you can reuse:
1. COLEMAN CORTES 4 PERSON TENT
Coleman produce superb tents. Some of our team have a 6-man tent that has survived 4 Glastonbury festivals!Photo source: Grasshopper Leisure |
2. VANGO BETA 550XL TENT
This three pole tunnel tent has a roomy sleeping area as well as an good size living space / porch. It's not a lightweight tent (10.4kg...think two bags of potatoes), but it does sleep 5 people comfortably - perfect is you're going as a group.Get a good deal and that could mean a great, durable tent for £40 each!
3. COLEMAN DARWIN 2 DOME TENT
This two person tent option comes with a little porch for muddy boots and shoes, and has an easy system for putting up and taking down the tent. It's lightweight too, which is good!If you're really quick, you can erect this tent in less than 10-minutes. Which means more time to spend at the bar or at a stage.
4. ROBENS KLONDIKE TIPI TENT
The ultimate luxury for 4, 5 or 6 people, the Robens Klondike tipi has plenty of room, and, unlike the other tents on this list, you can stand up in it...even if you're over 6ft tall.We're big fans of the Klondike, mostly because of it's space, and the amount it weighs (16kg) for the amount of tent you get!
It's not cheap, but remember the tipi tents at Glastonbury cost over £1000 to hire, and you can pick up your own - and stand out - with the Klondike for less than £600.
GET DRASTIC ON PLASTIC
When you're tired, probably hungover, muddy, smelly and wet, it's not always easy taking a tent home.It's probably been battered by the rain and splattered with mud (or worse), and it is tempting to leave it in the field.
But a little bit of effort will save the equivalent of 250 plastic pint cups going to landfill.
Grab a durable, re-usable tent to help the environment - it will be worth it in the end.