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SUSTAINABILITY

At Edinburgh Summer Sessions, we’re always looking for new ways to reduce our environmental impact and make your festival experience more environmentally sustainable. This year, we’ve introduced a number of exciting initiatives that will help us take a big step forward, and we need your help to make them a success.

SUSTAINABILITY

A graphic explaining the 4 step process of the reuseable cup scheme at Edinburgh Summer Sessions. buy your first drink, pay a £1 cup charge. Exchange your used cup at the bar when you get your next drink, no extra charge. No cup to swap? Pay another £1. Return your final cup to a 'cups on;y' bin before you leave.

To reduce waste, we’re introducing reusable cups at the bars. Here’s how it works:

  • When you buy your first drink, you’ll pay a £1 cup charge.

  • Each time you go back to the bar, just hand over your cup and you’ll receive a fresh one at no extra cost.

  • If you don’t have a cup to exchange, you’ll need to pay another £1. Cup charges are non-refundable.

  • At the end of the night, simply pop your cup into one of the clearly marked ‘cups only’ bins on site.

It’s a small change that makes a huge difference in reducing waste. We invest any proceeds from the service into sustainability initiatives.

We’re proud to be leading the way on green energy. One of our main bars will be powered by GeoPura Hydrogen Power Units, meaning your drinks will be poured with zero emissions. Edinburgh Summer Sessions is the first large outdoor festival in Scotland to adopt this groundbreaking technology so, you can enjoy a drink knowing it’s a greener choice.

Getting to and from the festival sustainably is just as important as what happens inside the gates. Our new Travel Assistant makes it easy for fans to plan their journey. It creates a tailored travel plan just for you and even shows the emissions linked to each option, so you can make the most low-carbon choice. Whether that’s hopping on the bus, taking the train, or sharing a lift, every decision helps reduce our collective carbon footprint.

These initiatives are only possible with your support. By exchanging your cup, choosing greener travel options, and helping us power the festival more sustainably, you’re playing a part in protecting the planet while enjoying incredible live music.