Eco-Living: The gig picture

Music has always taken centre stage, but these days saving the planet is sharing top billing at festivals

I CAN'T be certain, but I think I used to be vaguely cool. I even had a pierced eyebrow for a few months, until the terror that the little silver hoop would get torn out while I slept forced me to chuck it in the bin. But what I do remember from the cool years is that summer wasn't summer without a mud-splattered music festival.

So, a couple of weeks ago, I found myself in a field in Yorkshire, watching – wait for it – Status Quo. Tragically, the quantity of fans who had turned up with folding chairs and boxes of chianti created a vibe that was more Proms in the Park than T in the Park.

But these Forestry Commission concerts do have good eco-credentials – bands like the Zutons, Charlatans and Elbow are all taking to the woods, hoping to attract more people to forests. And far from destroying the landscape, apparently the site can be returned to its natural state in just 72 hours, while the revenue raised goes towards worthy projects such as habitat restoration.

Meanwhile, music festivals are going green all over the UK – T in the Park set the standard by going carbon-neutral in 2006, and this year's event featured a battery-recycling exchange, a recycling scheme for plastic cups and free water standpipes (to reduce the number of binned plastic bottles).

Elsewhere, eco-friendly initiatives include generators being run on recycled cooking oil, free biodegradable tent pegs and a solar-powered stage.

And those determined to opt for greener transport can take inspiration from a group who will swim almost four miles to reach September's Bestival (www.swim2bestival.co.uk) on the Isle of Wight.

According to industry figures, live events are responsible for three quarters of the music world's carbon footprint. But when you're going to see your favourite bands, is eco-awareness at the top of your list?

A recent survey by A Greener Festival (www.agreenerfestival.com) says two thirds of music fans would go to a gig even if it was not environmentally friendly. A shameless 25% said they had no plans to recycle.

Still, the people at A Greener Festival have plenty of tips on how to be a more conscientious festival-goer. Using public transport or arranging to share a lift comes high on the list (see www.isanyonegoingto.com and www.liftshare.com). Recycle or take litter home with you (recycling sacks are issued to campers at Womad to make this easier), use eco-friendly toiletries and invest in a wind-up torch and solar-powered phone-charger.

Some of the most eco-friendly festivals happen in Scotland – Belladrum, held near Inverness, features an organic market, while the Hydro Connect event, at Inveraray Castle, is carbon-neutral.

But a gathering truly made for eco-warriors is the Big Tent Festival of Stewardship (www.bigtentfestival.co.uk), held next weekend in Falkland, Fife. Expect to find local and organic food, debates on sustainable living, plus a campsite with solar-powered showers and compost toilets.

Well, I've got my ticket and my wellies, so I'm sorted. And despite my lack of piercings, I'm hoping my cool credentials are finally back on track.

5 Minutes to save the world

BEFORE chucking your old printer cartridges in the rubbish bin, it is worth bearing in mind that more than 47 million cartridges go into UK landfill sites each year and each can take more than 450 years to decompose. It would be far more eco-friendly to simply refill them. Not only will you be doing your bit for the environment, you could save yourself some pennies. (www.cartridgeworld.org)

HEALTHY PLANET

WHILE grabbing your daily fix of caffeine, you could do a good eco-deed by handing over the reusable thermal ceramic I'm Not a Paper Cup to the person serving your coffee. With its double-walled construction and resealable silicone lid, it keeps your cuppa hot and helps reduce your carbon footprint. (£12.99, www.nigelsecostore.com)