Sustainability

Sustainability Strategy

Mission Statement

At the beginning of our journey, many years ago, we partnered with AGF (A Greener Future) and commissioned an Environmental Impact Report to help recognise where we are and, vitally, how we can improve. This independent reporting process has been invaluable in allowing us to truly understand our environmental impact. It’s helped us decode a highly complex subject and we’ve made many changes as a result.

AGF also carries out an annual Carbon Audit, allowing us to understand our carbon footprint. As a result, since 2019, we have offset our total known emissions by planting 34272 trees, reforesting 31.11 hectares of land, and capturing 5391 tonnes of CO2 across Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, France, Indonesia, Madagascar, Nepal, Nicaragua, Senegal, Tanzania, United Kingdom and the United States. The projects we’ve supported to date include One Tree Matters, Reforest the Amazon Basin, Eden Reforestation Projects, CommuniTree, Forest Garden Program, Usambara Biodiversity Conservation, Community Tree Planting and Wildfire Recovery in California. The projects are a mixture of reforestation and conservation projects.

As part of our ban on single use plastic we operate an entirely circular system. Once used, our cups are returned to the bar (or purple cup bins), where they are taken away, cleaned and placed back into the system. As with reusable bags or bottles, the real benefits come when the cups are reused as many times as possible. As Lost Village only takes place once a year, the same cups are then used for other events in the same year — vastly increasing their positive impact. This is why we have no branding on the cups. You can read about our various other initiatives below.

We rebalance our total known emissions each year, aiming for carbon neutrality. We understand that the real long-term goal is not simply offsetting carbon, but constantly reviewing every element of the business and driving down our impact in every corner of what we do. With every passing year, new ways to improve become known, new technologies become apparent and new systems become available — so constantly reviewing, learning and evolving our practices is absolutely essential.

This mandate really took affect in 2023 when we achieved a 23% decrease on our carbon footprint from the 2022 edition. Additionally there has been a significant improvement in waste segregation, with the recycling rate increasing from 29% in 2022 to 72% in 2023. We also added Earth Percent as one of our charity partners where for every £1 we donated, Brian Eno matched to support the most impactful organisations addressing climate emergency.

In 2024 and 2025, we worked with Defender, who provided a large number of plug-in hybrid vehicles, to replace many petrol and diesel vehicles which were previously used to build and operate the show, which reduced carbon emissions drastically. In 2026 we will be using the battery on site to re-charge vehicles for use in the build and the show. We have also installed a permanent electric charging point on site, using energy from the National Grid.

Finally, the fact you’re reading this page means you clearly care about the environment too. Please help spread the gospel amongst fellow Villagers, as the best results will come by us working together.

For more information on individual areas of our policy, please see some of the information below.

We hope our commitment is clear however, if you have any questions or ideas please email us at hello@lostvillagefestival.com

Single use plastics

  • Banned the use of plastic straws
  • Banned the sales of drinks in single use plastic
  • Banned single use condiments sachets (e.g. milk, sugar, salt and pepper and sauces)
  • Banned the use of non-biodegradable glitter and confetti
  • The vast majority of bars utilise reusable cups across the Lost Village site, in a fully circular carbon offset system. One or two cocktail bars use compostable or biodegradable cups.
  • We have replaced single use plastic cutlery and serve ware with reusable or compostable cutlery and serveware
  • We promote the use of reusable drinking bottles (crew and artists are encouraged to use reusable cups and bottles, whilst customers are recommended to bring their own or purchase one on site)
  • Free water points are available across site to refill your reusable water bottle.

Recycling and waste management

  • In 2023, we achieved a significant improvement in waste segregation, with the recycling rate increasing from 29% in 2022. In 2025 the recorded waste tonnage has continued to decrease, while the recycling rate has improved by 10 percentage points compared to the previous edition.
  • We operate an entirely circular cup system to make sure our cups are reused as many times as possible. The system is a fully offset carbon neutral scheme.
  • Biodegradable, compostable or reusable serveware used in all food outlets and crew catering.
  • Traders are provided with a guide on recycling the following waste streams: plastics, cans, cardboard, food waste, other waste and glass.
  • Food waste is collected separately at crew catering and handled by ELLGIA who send all food waste to a local anaerobic digestion plant, where it is then broken down to produce biogas and bio-fertiliser.
  • Waste is sorted manually onsite before being entered into high quality recycling streams wherever possible.
  • New for 2025: We introduced donation points across the campsite for unwanted camping equipment such as tents, airbeds, and sleeping bags. Where possible, items will be repurposed, reused, or donated to charitable causes.


Procurement

  • A large amount of materials used for stage/ camping/ office areas are hired or re-used (decor).
  • Stage design utilises a high quality system which allows for year-on-year repurposing, even when aesthetics are dramatically altered.
  • Closed-loop approach for sustainable pre-pitched camping.
  • Lost Village are collaborating with Vintage Threads to create a new merchandise line that utilises vintage materials to create new items of clothing.
  • Compostable or reusable serveware is used in all food stalls and crew catering.
  • Eco-Friendly Uniforms at Lost Village:
    –
    At Lost Village, we are committed to sustainability in every aspect of our festival, including staff uniforms. This year, we adopted an eco-friendly approach by working with UK-based 
    Teemill, pioneers in the circular fashion economy. Instead of following the traditional wasteful production model, we embraced a circular one, where old products are reworked into new items, reducing waste.Our staff uniforms are made from high-quality organic cotton and produced using renewable energy. Each item is durable and features a QR code on the wash-care label, guiding how it can be sent back and transformed into new products once worn out.Thanks to this sustainable approach, we’ve saved:

    • 2,167,074 litres of water (equivalent to the daily usage of over 28,000 people)
    • 592 kg of CO2 (the carbon dioxide absorbed by 27 trees in a year)
    • 144 kg of plastic (about 7,200 plastic bottles)

    Our goal was to prove that we could create awesome custom staff uniforms designed with the planet in mind. By choosing sustainability over traditional methods, we’ve significantly reduced our environmental footprint and made a positive impact on the climate.

Pre-pitched camping

  • We are increasing the amount of pre-pitched tents by 68% for 2026.

Power

  • All lighting is LED technology (low power)
  • Monitoring equipment used on each generator, allowing a granular area breakdown of power usage to assist future optimisation.
  • Contractors guide encourages all suppliers to reduce power usage
  • Ban of equipment that fails to meet current regulations and metering installations before the connection is made.
  • Trickle charge batteries to power all boutique structures. 1 small set will power the reception and be used to charge batteries.
  • By collecting fuel data from previous editions we are able to check that generator usage/sizing is correct. We will also be able to set percentage targets for fuel reduction in 2024.
  • We significantly reduced our carbon footprint by using HVO biodiesel instead of diesel fuel for power generation and mobile & plant equipment. This has been estimated as a reduction of 108t of CO2e

Travel and transport

  • In 2025 Audience Travel emissions have decreased for the second year in a row despite the additional attendance. The average car occupancy has risen from 2 to 2.7, and fewer attendees reported driving from Scotland.
  • We work closely with both LNER and National Express to reduce travel to Lost Village by car as much as possible. Train travel is widely accepted as one of the most environmentally ways to travel over distance and LNER provides many options which will bring you to Newark Northgate.
  • We also partner with National Express to provide shuttle busses from the station to site and back, as well as a series of coaches from many key locations.

Carbon footprint and offset

  • The CO2 analysis and audit from 2019, 2021 and 2022 editions were assessed and calculated through the independent body; A Greener Festival (AGF). Lost Village then works in partnership with Tree Nation to offset CO2 emissions implemented through authenticated reforestation and conservation.
  • Rather than only offsetting our direct emissions, from 2019 we chose to offset our total known carbon footprint including all customer and artist transport. In 2022 we improved our reporting process by including data on 11 emission-generating activities, compared to 7 in 2021.
  • The overall event’s calculated emissions have remained relatively constant since 2023 despite a steady rise in attendance, from 18,000 to 19,423 attendees in 2025
  • As a result of the growing attendance and stable emissions, the average emissions per person per day have decreased each year, reaching 12 kgCO2e in 2025 (from 13kg CO2e in 2023).
  • In 2021 we also included the offsetting of all food and beverage procurement
  • Net Zero Website – automatically compensate all the CO2 emissions generated by our website.
  • Net Zero Team – we now offset the emissions directly related to full time employees, such as office space, electricity at work, food, small office material and short distance travel.
  • Dedicated on site sustainability manager making sure new and existing initiatives are implemented.
  • Each year we expand our global offset program through conservation and reforestation projects in Australia, Brazil, Madagascar, Nepal, Nicaragua, Senegal, Tanzania and the UK. New projects for this year include; One Tree Matters, Australia, Reforest The Amazon Basin, Brazil, Forest Garden Program, Senegal, Community Tree Planting, UK Wildfire Recovery in California, USA

Our local impact

  • Lost Village has supported local tree planting (in addition to the reforestation projects noted above) and has worked with Hill Holt Wood extensively (a local environmental social enterprise).
  • Litter picks happen in the area post-event, and donations are made to several local causes each year. In the last few years Lost Village has been able to support wellbeing, sports, theatre, archaeological and education groups, as well as help local parish councils, schools and individuals with suitable projects.