Gathering together to share a laugh is important, but we also acknowledge the impacts this has on our planet. That’s why we’re committed to paving a path to a more sustainable festival in future years. From reducing our carbon footprint to thoughtful planning around waste, manufacturing and operations, we’re curating a comedy experience that also keeps the earth smiling. We pledge to continually evolve our robust green event practices year over year, ensuring that we tread lightly and leave nothing but laughter in our wake. We hope you’ll come along for the ride.
Working with Ostrom Climate Solutions, Canada’s leading carbon management solutions provider, to understand our greenhouse gas emissions and earn a Climate Friendly Event Designation for all 8 of our festival sites!
Through our Festival’s Climate Friendly Event Designations GOCF is supporting Ostrom Climate’s Great Bear Forest Carbon Project. By supporting this project, GOCF has contributed to an Improved Forest Management initiative, which generates emission reductions by protecting forest areas that were previously designated, sanctioned, or approved for commercial logging.
Further reducing our carbon emissions by investing in battery powered light towers, renting electric golf carts and transitioning from generators to grid power where possible at all festival venues.
Working with accommodation partners at all of our festival cities that are leaders in sustainability or Green Key Eco certified.
Promotion of active and eco-friendly transportation for attendees to take advantage of getting to and from the festival venues.
Offering designated self-service bicycle lock areas at all our Festival venues, where possible.
Only certified compostable containers + cutlery distributed on site from food trucks, where possible.
Working with our crew caterers on menus that are as local and sustainable as possible at all our festival venues to cut down on emissions and water consumption.
Reducing single use plastic waste by encouraging the use of reusable water bottles and providing Water Refill Stations for attendees at our festival venues, where possible.
Water Refill Stations provided at key back-of-house locations for Staff, Volunteers & Artists encouraging the use of reusable water bottles and reducing single use plastic waste.
Working with our festival venues to build out and execute robust waste management plans in order to increase our waste diversion rate.
Fabrication of large signage pieces and decor items which can be reused at multiple festival locations vs reprinting and disposing each time.
Sourcing volunteer merchandise through a decision making lens to prioritize reuse, and fabricating that merchandise with sustainable materials. In 2024 our volunteers will receive reusable water bottles fabricated from 100% recycled plastic and featuring bamboo lids. And by sourcing through an organization that partners with 1% For The Planet we know that 1% of our purchase will be donated to environmental nonprofits.
Through our GOCF Community Fund we will be granting funds to Sustainability focused organizations who are supporting environmental education, research and advocacy to provide climate solutions and/or charities that protect, grow and nurture the health, diversity and sustainability of our environment. From animal welfare to marine protection to climate change, we will ensure the environmental charities will put the Great Outdoors Community Fund donations to good use to pursue a more sustainable future and advance environmental solutions.
Developing robust internal and external communications + marketing plans around sustainability in order to educate and encourage our sponsors, attendees and production suppliers to join us on this journey!