WITH THE festival season making a comeback this summer and the likes of Creamfields, Leeds and Reading festival all kick starting this weekend, it’s clear that younger generations are inspiring an environmentally-driven shift in behaviour, according to a new survey of 15,000 Brits.

The research, carried out by Decathlon UK, found that Gen Z festival goers are the MOST environmentally conscious festivallers, with 70% of 18-24 year olds stating that they would not leave a tent behind because of the negative environmental impact it would have.

Interestingly, the second most prominent reason for not leaving a tent behind, which was true for a majority of respondents (53%), was the fact that they had bought a good quality tent which they planned to use again.

This could perhaps mark the beginning of the end of ‘single-use tents’ being bought for the sole purpose of using it for one festival and then leaving it behind. As consumers are investing more in their equipment, with the intention of keeping it for years, not days.

However, ‘more expensive’ should not be synonymous with ‘more complicated’. When asked what measures would help reduce the likelihood of leaving a tent behind, the simplicity of putting the tent up and down reigned king (63%). Decathlon upgraded their pop-up tents to make them as easy to put down as they are to erect, specifically addressing this concern.

This assumption is supported by Decathlon’s sales figures, which saw a 67% increase in the popularity of their higher-end, blackout and pop up tents in the month leading up to Glastonbury this year.

Despite this, a worrying 33% of survey respondents said that they, or someone they know, have already left a tent behind at a festival. The older festival goers, aged 35-44, massively over-indexed on this question, with more than 65% admitting that they, or a friend, had left a tent behind.

Decathlon hopes that, as the new generation of eco-conscious festival goers replace the older generations – festival pollution will become less and less of a problem as time goes by. Since they now offer tent repairs at their in-store workshops – they hope that even those with damaged tents will bring them home.

Frances Sue, Decathlon UK’s Head of Brand, comments: “It’s inspiring to see the younger ‘Generation Greta’ leading an environmental revolution at festivals this year. Young people are becoming more and more ecologically minded and this will be reflected in their behaviour at major festivals throughout the summer.

“In the context of a major cost of living crisis, the idea of buying something like a tent for one ‘single use’ seems crazy. All the indicators suggest that people are investing a little bit more of their money in something that is expertly designed and will last for multiple festivals, camping trips and garden sleepovers for years to come.

“When looking for a festival tent, especially during the summer months, a blackout feature can be a lifesaver during those early morning sunrises. Make sure you think about the type of weather conditions you’ll be camping in – pick a tent that can withstand the wind and rain, as well as the sun.”

The research also revealed the top ten ways that Brits are planning to reduce environmental impact at festivals in the future*, with 64% saying they would take their tent back home with them at the end of the festival.

*The Top 10 Ways UK Festival Goers Intend to Reduce Their Environmental Impact at a Festival

Using the correct recycling bins (66%)
Taking my tent home with me (64%)
Bringing reusable cups and bottles (58%)
Carpooling with friends (49%)
Bringing reusable cutlery and plates (30%)
Bringing a waterproof rain jacket, rather than buying a single use plastic poncho (30%)
Using flushable wet wipes opposed to environmentally damaging ones (25%)
Wearing a festival wardrobe of second-hand clothes, rather than fast fashion (22%)
Using second hand equipment/tents, or borrowing them (20%)
Using natural toiletries like deodorants/sunscreens (10%)

Decathlon has more than 45 stores in the UK and sells a variety of sports equipment, clothing, and accessories perfect for those who want to get active, try out new sports or forms of exercise or simply lead a healthy lifestyle.