Concerts, festivals, and live events were the foremost way of entertainment during the summer months in a pre-covid world. Nobody forgets their first taste of the controlled chaos of an outdoor event in the sweltering summer heat or the low-key meditative experience of a sit-down gig in an arena older than the patrons' ages combined. For an avid concertgoer, the idea that these events will soon be returning gives us some hope for an experience of normality once again. Although normality is always the safe choice when it comes to what people want, some changes must be implemented in order to ensure that these events do not add to the landfills already overshadowing many countries. The main change and an ideal starting point are to eliminate single use plastics at these events.

The reliance of single use plastics at live events accounts for the majority of waste left behind at venues. The main culprit of single use plastic consumption are the pint glasses used at the beer tents and bars. For safety purposes these glasses are ideal in large crowds full of rambunctious attendees who are more than likely to let one slip from their hand in the middle of a song, but from an ecological point of view, these glasses are a nightmare as they have no reusability and are not compostable. There does not seem to be a viable alternative for plastic pint glasses as of yet, but individuals can do their part to minimize the use of single use pint glasses by refraining from drinking at these events.

By limiting your alcohol consumption to before and after the live events you will see the benefits and enjoy your experience even more. Lining up for more than half an hour at a time to purchase pre-poured beer at extortionate prices does not sound like my idea of an enjoyable event experience. Saving time and money while not missing a second of your favorite act sounds like a decent sacrifice in the hopes of reducing plastic waste left in the wake of live events. Alternatively, event organizers could supply more waste disposal units throughout their venues in an attempt to make it less convenient to simply dump your rubbish on the ground instead of putting them in the appropriate bin. Until there is a more ecofriendly alternative to the single use plastic pint glasses that is both safe and reliable, an eco-conscious concertgoer may have to abstain from the Heineken tents when we return.

The unpredictable weather, especially in Ireland does not discriminate, even when a big event is coming around the corner. As unpredictable as the weather may be, the population is just as unprepared. When going to an outdoor event, many patrons would prefer to travel light with less possessions that can be misplaced, stolen, or even confiscated at the door. This is where the plastic ponchos come in, selling thin, breakable plastic pull overs that are designed to shield you from the oncoming rain. These ponchos have the same negative qualities that plastic glasses have, single use, expensive, and account for the majority of waste left behind at a live event. The easy alternative is to expect the worst when it comes to the weather, although you cannot bring an umbrella in to a live event for safety purposes, do bring a coat or pack extra clothes if you plan to stay the night. Eliminating the use of plastic ponchos may seem like a small step towards an eco-friendlier live experience but think back to the last time it rained at an outdoor gig you attended and how tens of thousands of people flocked to the stalls to buy these ponchos only to rip them off at the first sign of the sun.

The task at hand is by no means easy for an individual concertgoer to achieve, but if the majority of people agree that more must be done at live events to be eco-conscious and non-pollutive, we stand a better chance to continue our live event experience but in a more ethical way. By eliminating the disposable, unnecessary, pollutive, and consumptive aspects of our live event experiences we can all do our part to create a sustainable subculture where ethics, empathy, and awareness prevail as well as enjoying some quality acts and making new memories that we have had to sacrifice in these past 2 years.