Action guiding questions:

• Does the festival have an energy plan that assesses and measures energy consumption so it could be used efficiently?

• Is the energy sourced from renewable energy sources?

From scraps and waste to new energy!

In 2019 we were the first festival in Estonia to use real tableware and in 2023 in cooperation with our energy partner Neste we are doing something that’s never been done in the Estonian festival field before and will be using almost 100% renewable energy. Over the course of four festival days the heart of I Land Sound is kept pumping by three generators, two of those support the beats of our stages and the third one keeps the rest of the festival area alive. From now on we won’t be feeding them with fossil diesel, instead we’ll use diesel fuel that’s made of waste and by-products of manufacturers. More than 10 renewable byproducts from different sources are used to produce Neste MY, including waste and byproducts of the food and fishing industry. The product development allows the use of a variety of waste, that’s left over from other industries.

The supply sources are carefully monitored and verified by the EU’s quality standards and sustainability criteria.

We’ll produce less greenhouse gasses

Compared to fossil fuels the amount of greenhouse gasses emitted by the use of Neste MY is on average about 90% smaller. If we do our calculations based on the amount of fuel that’ll be used at I land Sound 2023 the festival would emit 10,140 kg of CO2. But if we use fuel made of sustainable resources instead, the amount would be only 930 kg of CO2. The decrease is more than tenfold.

*The methods that were used for the calculation meet the standards of the European Union’s Renewable Energy Directive (2018/28/EC).

Nordic innovation

A chemical recycling process called NEXBTL (Next Generation Biomass to Liquid) - a world-class patented technology that preserves the environment and thrives on the global circular economy is used in the process of producing diesel fuel from renewable raw materials. NEXBTL is Neste’s own innovation that enables to process sustainable materials into high quality low-carbon fuel.

In 2022 Neste’s renewable energy solutions helped their clients to lessen the amount of greenhouse gasses emitted by about 11.1 million tonnes.* That’s equivalent to the yearly carbon footprint of 1.8 million average EU citizens (source: World Bank) or to removing 4 million cars from the roads for a whole year. Neste’s hard work has been recognized with the DOW Jones sustainability index and they have earned a high place in the list of Global 100 most sustainable corporations in the world. 

One’s waste is another’s resource!

LOCAL ECOSYSTEM

• Has a biodiversity assessment been carried out on the event site, identifying the flora and fauna there and marking sensitive areas? 
• Is it taken into account while organising the event?
• Are local waterways protected from pollution? How is it ensured that waste water and sewage do not leak there?

Based on this, an eco-map of the Illiku islet was completed in spring of 2021, which provides us with the relevant guidelines. This is the master's thesis of Tallinn University student Brigita Perm, during which she conducted extensive fieldwork in Illiku in July 2020 with her supervisor, Tiina Elvisto, associate professor of plant ecology at Tallinn University. We also prevent Illiku from becoming overcrowded by selling only a limited number of passes each year.

WATER USAGE

• Is water consumption monitored? Are activities carried out to use water efficiently and prevent unnecessary water loss? 
• Are the means of economical consumption of water used? E.g. self-closing water taps and showers, etc.
• Is the sustainable consumption of water also promoted among your audience and team?

EFFLUENT AND WASTEWATER

• Where is waste and wastewater directed? Is the capacity of the local sewage treatment plant taken into account?
• Have novel ways been found to treat wastewater on-site for reuse?
• Will compost toilets or some other type of waterless and environmentally friendly toilets be used at the event?

ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY PROCUREMENT

• Does the event procure the necessary materials, products, festival souvenirs, etc. from sustainable and/or recycled sources? Does this also extend to service providers, sponsors, etc.? 
• Does the event rent or share/exchange durable and reusable materials (for construction, decorations) with other events to avoid disposables/creations?
• Are local (organic) products preferred to those of large corporations? Are thrift store brands preferred? Are caterers asked to use them?

ORGANIZATTION AND MANAGEMENT

• Does the sustainability plan extend to all areas of activity and procurement of the event?
• Is there a designated sustainability manager and chain of responsibility to ensure the plan works?
• Is a file kept on environmental laws and regulations applicable to the event? Are they followed in the arrangement?

CO2 ANALYSIS

• Does the event track its carbon footprint or perform an analysis of greenhouse gas emissions?
• Has the event ever conducted research to identify areas with the greatest possible environmental impact in order to direct resources there for environmental action?
• Has the event set goals to reduce the amount of CO2 over time?

INNOVATION, INITIATIVE, INVENTIONS

• Have and what outstanding innovations has the event initiated or used, which has contributed to the development of the field of environmentally friendly event management?

I Land Sound festival has given birth to Kops, a carry-on container for cigarette butts, Kops and in 2019 we created a rental point and washing cart for reusable tableware..

In addition to the environment, sustainability in the organisation of the event also includes social sustainability, which is why the contribution to the local community is also important. We involve as many local people, products and service providers as possible every year; We ordered the 2019 hand-made festival wristbands from Saaremaa Chamber of People with Special Needs.