HOW DOES IT WORK AND WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?

The reusable tableware - now provided by CupStack - is issued by the caterers and bars and after use, returned by the visitors at the ‘Collection Points’ on the site. There, the eating utensils and cups (deposit coin) are sorted back into the bins. The food waste, greaseproof paper, and napkins go separately back into the compostable bins. So return your plastic tableware at the Collection Points, your cups at the bars, and your ceramic tableware to the caterer from whom you received it.

Backstage, the eating utensils are collected and prepared for transport back to the shore where they are industrially washed. Cups are rinsed and returned to the bars. This system prevents around 150,000 disposable cups and bottles and 150,000 pieces of tableware each year. Thus, the reusable system for food and drink packaging saves around 300,000 single-use items. With this, Into The Great Wide Open takes an important step towards the circular goal, where waste no longer exists and everything is reused or at least becomes a high-quality raw material for something new.

Reusable tableware is, according to the SUP (Single Use Plastics) legislation from the Dutch and European government, the new standard. Into The Great Wide Open is one of the festivals that proves it can be done and is developing a workable and scalable model for festivals and companies in the Netherlands and Europe.

All festivals and companies that are interested can find all knowledge and experiences with reusable tableware here.