At the Great Outdoors Comedy Festival, sustainability isn’t a side initiative; it’s a core part of how we operate. Our festivals take place in shared public green spaces across Canada, and with that comes a responsibility to protect and preserve the environments we’re fortunate to use.
Our Sustainability Principles guide how we plan, build, and deliver every event. Environmental responsibility is essential not only to our operations, but to maintaining the trust of our communities, partners, and audiences.
We believe sustainability should be embedded in everyday decision-making — from early planning in the office to on-site execution. Small, thoughtful actions lead to meaningful, measurable impact.
Our goal is simple: leave every space better than we found it, while building smarter, more efficient events.
10 Principles for a Greener Festival
We actively eliminate unnecessary materials, printing, waste, energy use, and transportation wherever possible.
We create signage, décor, and infrastructure with longevity in mind — designed to be used across multiple years and events.
We prioritize durable, high-quality products over disposable or short-lived alternatives.
We work with local vendors, suppliers, talent, and food partners to reduce transportation emissions and support the communities we operate in.
We design systems and processes so that the most environmentally friendly option is also the easiest and most accessible.
We prioritize certified compostable foodware, natural fibers, recyclable packaging, and low-impact materials whenever possible.
We track waste diversion, fuel use, emissions, materials, and costs — using real data to continuously improve.
We prioritize grid power, reduce generator use, implement LED lighting, and expand battery and electric equipment solutions.
We encourage carpooling, cycling, public transit, and rideshare programs, while optimizing logistics and routing behind the scenes.
We share our progress openly, educate attendees, and use our platform to drive positive change.
How Attendees Can Help
Sustainability is a shared effort, and our audience plays an important role. We encourage festival-goers to:
Use public transit, carpool, bike, or rideshare to get to the event.
Bring a reusable water bottle.
Follow on-site waste and recycling guidelines.
Support local vendors and partners.
Together, we can reduce our impact and protect the spaces that make these events possible.