Going 100% organic in music festivals
Music festivals are popular across the world and so in Denmark. Throughout the year they happen around the country, being Roskilde the most expected one and Northside the most organic.
Because when it comes to leaders in sustainability, Northside has been one of the front-runners to show the world that music and sustainability go hand in hand. They put sustainability at the core of the business, and not as a ‘necessary evil’. On 2016 they were the first cashless festival. Only card and Mobile Pay (the best invention I have ever come across with in Denmark, but that’s another story) was accepted. And this year they have completely gone 100% organic. Their ethos is to offer high quality service to their guests. Therefore, delivering good organic food has become a top priority, along with the amazing music line-up they offer.
This year bands like Radiohead, The Prodigy, Bastille and The 1975 chose to perform at Northside, and rumour has it, that a lot of this has to do with the support to the sustainable values. Also upcoming bands from the Danish music scene such as CHINAH, Agnes Obel and worldwide hit: MØ gave amazing performances adding that bit of Danish talent to the atmosphere. Music that is definitely worth checking out.
Blending sustainability with music
When you go to a festival you certainly want to have a good time enjoying good musicians, but truth be told, food is part of the experience and so is drinking. Having a good time is not necessarily associated to being organic or sustainable, but this is a wrong myth or concept we have. We can eat tasty and healthy, while being organic. And we can party like crazy but still take care of the environment. One thing doesn’t change the other. Northside is the perfect example to demonstrate that this can happen.
So what does it mean to be 100% organic? It means that all the products they sell are free from man-made fertilisers and pesticides. That all the ingredients used in the menus of the festival food stands are grown naturally without being subjected to any genetically transformation. Organic farming is not only extremely better for the environment, but it also allows us to enjoy food that is fresh and definitely tastes better.
The food offered at Northside was diverse and mostly local. From organic burgers to completely vegan food, to organic Ice cream from Hansen’s and organic coffee from Peter Larsen, the number one in Denmark. Besides it was a family environment. Most stands were local families offering great homemade recipes and most of them were volunteer-based. It added a ‘feel-good’ to the whole food experience. One of our favourite dishes was the mushroom risotto at Grød. With parmesan cheese and timian it was warm, filling, and delicious to every bite. Easy to make at home!
Teaming up with the best
Northsiders made sure they got together with those brands that also fight for the same sustainable values they want to spread. And that’s how they became the first festival in the world to be 100% organic.
Even the beer sold at Northside was completely organic.They teamed up with Carlsberg, and they offered only Tuborg RÅ. In addition, the beer was served either in plastic cups or plastic jars which had a pant cost. Once empty, you could return it and get your money back. This encouraged festival goers not to waste and helped avoid the danger of breaking glass or cans laying around. It was a funny image to see kids collecting cups to exchange for some money. They were having fun yet also contributing to the recycling.
As you see Northside is not only about the organic food. The focus on recycling waste takes an important role too. I honestly have never seen such a clean festival. Volunteers took care of the site constantly and festival-goers themselves followed the example. If you see everything clean, you would definitely want to keep it that way. What is more, the wrapping of the food is made mainly of sustainable material and it has to be FSC approved, which makes it easier to do the sorting of the waste later. Plus, all over the perimeter you could find trash bins that indicated whether you should throw plastic, cardboard or leftover food. It was easy for guests to figure out the recycling, without even thinking about it. The aim for 2017 was to be 77% waste free, but they attempt to be 100% in the near future.
Another important fact to highlight is how they promote cycling. They want their guests to cycle to the festival to avoid vehicles use, by making more parking spots and by making the festival the closest to downtown possible.
Making all these options available, contributed to an exceptional festival experience. Festival goers leave the festival with an improved understanding of what it is to be sustainable.
Northside is a true example to follow in this world, where sustainability must be at the core of our daily life actions. In the end is all about building values that will last in the long term, and Northside has shown it can be done.
Northside is a music festival held in Aarhus,the second largest city of Denmark taking place during the first days of June. To know more about it visit: northside.dk.
