Mariposa is a Green Festival Leader in Canada
The Mariposa Folk Festival is a leader in environmental and sustainable event practices. We are dedicated to ensuring that our festival creates the least environmental impact possible through our volunteer Green Team. Mariposa averages an 84% diversion rate through efforts to be “green”.
This goal is accomplished through eliminating all single use plastic bottles, sourcing all compostable food and drink containers, prioritizing local food vendors and employing no trace camping practices.
We offer hydration stations to replace plastic bottles, bicycle powered cell phone charging stations and support alternative transportation by providing shuttle bus service and bicycle compound to reduce driving and carbon emissions. “Leave no trace” camping is also promoted.
We use a solar trailer to cleanly power installations and solar-powered exit signs and LED lighting. Electric golf carts are used whenever possible.
All our posters, programs and other printed material are Forest Stewardship Council certified. A mobile app is utilized further reducing paper.
Not only do we pride ourselves on these environmental practices, but they ensure that our festival continues to make you feel as at home as it did in the 60’s and 70’s – but with a much smaller environmental footprint! More information can be found about our greening practices at https://greenfestivals.ca/.
The Guide to Green Festivals states “The Mariposa Folk Festival is a great example of a festival making continuous efforts to reduce their ecological impact. These greening efforts are made to ensure that the festival has a positive impact on the community. Mariposa Folk Festival has done great work becoming more sustainable, and they continue to strive to do a better job year after year. This festival is a definite success story.”
HOW DID WE GET SO GREEN?
The Mariposa Folk Festival Greening Initiative began in earnest in 2009, with the formation of a volunteer Green Team.
In 2008 17,000 beer cups went to the landfill. Since 2009 that number has been reduced to zero thanks to the introduction of compostable cups.
In the first year of the new initiative, the festival diverted 77% of its waste away from the landfill site. Waste materials were comprised of 65% of organics or compostable material, and 12% of recyclable materials. The remaining 23% of waste generated at the festival was garbage and ended up in the landfill.
Since then, we have gotten even better! In 2023, 82% of its waste was diverted from the landfill site.
Everything the food and beverage vendors at Mariposa serve their food on is 100% compostable. That includes the cups and glasses, bowls, plates, and utensils. Of course, all of the food scraps are compostable, as well!
Mariposa is also water bottle free! Every year, Mariposa Folk Festival eliminates more than 17,000 plastic water bottles from the recycling stream by providing a hydration station so you can have access to free water. Please bring or purchase your reusable water container.
Sustainability is more than just waste diversion:
SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES
- Shuttle buses and bicycle compound to reduce driving and carbon emissions
- Bicycle-powered cell phone charging station
- No-trace camping
- Recyclable materials in Folk Play for craft activities
- Priority for local food
- Elimination of all single use plastic bottles
- All food and drink containers and utensils are compostable. And food scraps too, of course!
- Hydration station to replace the need for plastic bottles
- Solar trailer is used for alternate energy
- Printing companies for our posters, programs and other printed material are Forest Stewardship Council certified plus a mobile app
- Solar exit signs and LED lighting
- Electric golf carts
- Minimal packaging on CD cases
Looking to the future
Mariposa Folk Festival is committed to continuing its sustainable greening practices to ensure our planet stays green. An objective of Mariposa’s 2023-27 Strategic Plan is to explore ways to become a festival leader in climate resiliency and sustainability.
As our greening efforts continue to expand and grow, we are excited to see what the future holds for our festival and what trends we can set as a leading example of sustainable practices in Canada and worldwide.