Sustainable Green Lodge gift bags.
Seth Leitman
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More and more festivals across the country have taken steps toward putting on a more responsible show. And some festivals have made huge strides like Bonnaroo and Wanderlust, which have greatly reduced waste through recycling and composting as well as using solar power and biodiesel to run generators. And this year the trendiest celeb fest of them all, the Sundance Film Festival, took baby steps toward green.
The Green Living Guy Hits Sundance
I recently spoke with seasoned environmental writer and Planet Green's own Seth Leitman to get his take on whether this year's Sundance was actually making noteworthy strides toward sustainability. The Green Living Guy, as he's become known from his blog, didn't spend his time at Sundance celebrity watching (I would not have been so innocent), but rather, he was scoping out whether Sundance had made marked improvements in sustainability. He spoke candidly about the good, the bad, and the super chic. His first critique was directed at transportation. Festival organizers claimed to promote eco-conscious modes of transportation including free shuttle buses and accessible walking paths. But Leitman wasn't so impressed.
"The transportation came in the form of large diesel buses spewing nasty fumes into the air," he said. "I was surprised not to find cleaner modes of transportation like compressed natural gas or biodiesel in Park City."
Festival organizers claimed that waste reduction was front and center. Aluminum, plastic, and glass recycling bins were easily accessible at all theatres, venues, and shuttle stops throughout Park City. But as far as Leitman was concerned trash and recycling bins were not as numerous as they should have been and even more disconcerting was the fact that area bars did not seem to be recycling. While you cannot force bars to recycle without legislation, the idea that even during the festival they were not advised of its importance is baffling.
A Diamond in the Rough
Amidst the tremendous over consumption and excessive waste of Sundance, was the Green Lodge. A serene sanctuary equipped with the best in sustainable eats, luxurious sips, and concerned celebrities browsing through green gear. The scene was totally sustainable up and down.
"Guests not only got to see the latest and greatest in green design, they got to learn why it was green," Leitman said. "It provided guests with a learning experience so that they could take the knowledge elsewhere and apply it later."
The resident green guru rubbed shoulders with like minded celebrities like Climate Refugees Director Michael Nash and One Tree Hill star Tyler Hilton as well as Tommy Davidson and Rachel Hunter. Guests snacked on winter vegetable tarts, veggie burgers, organic chicken pot pies, and organic cheese puff pastries. Guests were treated to a unique crafting experience, called "The Upcycling Lab", where they were schooled in transforming old and vintage garments, provided by A&D Vintage Wholesale, into stylish new ones.
Seth was also a sponsor at the Bravo Red Carpet Lounge and Green Suite event where he gifted A Lot To Say eco-friendly gear.
Not So Impressed With Sundance? Make Your Festival Experience a Little Greener
Just like Sundance, if the festival that you're attending isn't up to par, take steps to make your personal footprint smaller. If you see that festival transportation is spewing something awful, walk whenever you can. If you're at a bar that doesn't seem to be recycling, order a draft beer. Do research ahead of time to see if there's any local sustainable eats in close proximity. And most of all, write a letter and let your opinion be known to festival organizers. The way things get changed is if there's popular support to do so. And in the case of Sundance, you'd expect the celebrities to attempt to be ahead of the curveball. If you're gonna talk the talk, you've gotta walk the walk.
More on Green Festivals:
Lollapalooza Is Helping Chicago Go Green
Jack Johnson And the Kokua Festival Bring Great Music, Green Activism, and Renewable Energy to Hawaii
8 Green Music Festivals That Rock
