Hundreds of thousands of festivals are held across Japan every year. Through vibrant decorations, bustling food stalls, and traditional rituals, festivals offer us experiences that transcend the ordinary.
Yet festivals are now at a turning point. As concerns about environmental impact grow alongside broader societal awareness of climate change and conservation, the way festivals are organized is being reconsidered. The large volumes of waste and energy consumption that come with increasing attendance have emerged as significant challenges.
Because festivals are so deeply intertwined with local economies, culture, and the natural environment, there is a growing call to move beyond one-time consumption โ toward models that regenerate local resources and create lasting value. In this article, drawing on examples from Japan and abroad, we explore operational strategies for achieving sustainable festivals, as well as actions each of us can take as individuals.
Key Principles for Sustainable Festival Management
What does it take to make a festival truly sustainable? Drawing on existing frameworks such as ISO 20121 (Event Sustainability Management Systems) and the Easy-to-Use Sustainability Guidebook for Event and MICE Professionals, four core conditions stand out.
1. Systems for Circulating Resources and Energy
Rather than simply discarding waste, it is essential to build systems that keep resources cycling. This means eliminating single-use plastic containers in favor of reusable ones, composting food waste, and reducing overall waste generation. On the energy side, concrete climate action includes adopting renewable energy sources, measuring COโ emissions, and implementing carbon offsets.
2. Inclusivity and Safety for All
This means ensuring that the rights and safety of everyone involved โ participants, staff, local residents โ are protected. The goal is to create a space where no one is excluded, regardless of who they are. Equally important is ensuring that staff and volunteers can work in environments that support their physical and mental wellbeing.
3. Festivals as a Local Asset
Rather than ending as a one-time event, a festival should leave behind economic and cultural richness for the community. The aim is for festivals to preserve the local natural environment, deepen human connections, and continue generating positive impact long after the closing ceremony.
4. Transparent, Continuously Improving Operations
To avoid superficial, performative sustainability, organizers need to establish clear policies, set measurable targets, and commit to ongoing evaluation and improvement. This means avoiding unsubstantiated claims, and building credibility through genuine dialogue with stakeholders.
Environmental Initiatives at Festivals Around the World
Traditional festivals both in Japan and internationally are beginning to find ways to honor both cultural heritage and environmental responsibility.
Japan: Aomori Nebuta Festival
One example is the Aomori Nebuta Festival in Aomori Prefecture. Traditionally, the enormous illuminated floats were powered by diesel generators mounted on their carts. While diesel generators provide efficient and stable power, they emit air pollutants and greenhouse gases through fuel combustion. In recent years, some organizers have begun switching to rechargeable batteries powered by renewable energy.
In 2025, the festival also carried out its first-ever carbon offset initiative. Under this program, the COโ emissions generated by float operations are offset through the purchase of credits derived from carbon absorbed by Aomori Prefecture’s managed forests. The credits purchased go toward supporting sustainable forest management and climate action efforts within the prefecture.
This evolution reflects a broader need for festival organizers to move beyond simply replicating traditional methods โ to adapt flexibly to the demands of the times. By embracing new technologies and values while honoring tradition, festivals can be passed down to future generations in a living, meaningful way.
Thailand: Loi Krathong Festival
Held each November across Thailand, Loi Krathong is considered one of the country’s most beautiful and enchanting traditional celebrations. Participants float decorated baskets (krathong) on rivers and lakes as offerings to the water goddess and as a symbolic release of past misdeeds.
In the past, plastic krathong were popular for their affordability, durability, and visual appeal. In recent years, however, there has been a notable shift toward environmentally conscious alternatives โ particularly the traditional style made from banana leaves and trunks. According to a 2023 report, approximately 96% of krathong used in the capital Bangkok are now made from biodegradable materials (Bangkok Post). There is also a growing trend of families and friends sharing a single krathong rather than each releasing their own.
Additionally, “digital krathong” powered by projection mapping have been introduced. Participants draw their krathong design on paper or a smartphone, which is then scanned and projected onto the surface of a canal โ allowing people to take part in the festival without releasing any physical object into the water. Online participation options have also emerged, making the celebration accessible to a wider audience.
Germany: Oktoberfest
Munich’s Oktoberfest draws more than six million visitors from around the world and is one of the largest festivals on the planet. Since the 1990s, the event has introduced a wide range of environmentally conscious measures.
In 1991, single-use containers were banned entirely, with only reusable vessels permitted. Drinks are served exclusively in returnable bottles, and canned beverages are prohibited (Landeshauptstadt Mรผnchen). On the energy front, all public areas and facilities are powered by renewable electricity, and since 2012, all vendors have been supplied with green power. Vendors are also evaluated through an “eco-point” system during the selection process, with points awarded for initiatives such as installing solar panels, using electric vehicles, and selling locally sourced or organically grown products.
Alongside these environmental measures, Oktoberfest has also pursued greater safety and inclusivity โ making it a widely recognized model for sustainability at large-scale events.
What We Can Do: Actions for Festival-Goers
Environmental and social responsibility does not diminish the joy of a festival โ it strengthens it, by protecting local resources and deepening the bonds between people.
There is much that participants can do to help improve the current situation. Taking public transportation to the venue, sorting waste correctly, or supporting a festival financially through crowdfunding are all meaningful contributions. Every small choice made by individuals helps sustain the future of festivals. The next time you head to a festival, why not enjoy the celebration while putting into practice whatever feels within your reach?
Neuromagic’s SusSol (Sustainability Solutions Group) leverages extensive expertise in digital design, strategy, and sustainability to help companies integrate sustainability into their core business strategy. Through consulting, research, and workshops, we support materiality assessments, KPI setting, brand enhancement, and disclosure. We also offer CSRD consulting led by Neuromagic Tokyo and Amsterdam, helping Japanese companies’ subsidiaries in the EU achieve regulatory compliance and alignment.
