Fuji Rock Festival introduces sustainability into this year’s festival

Building on its ethos of the “coexistence of nature and music,” the Fuji Rock Festival aims to harmonize the enjoyment of its participants with the preservation of the beautiful Naeba forest, which hosts the event. As festival-goers gear up for another year of electrifying performances, organizers are spotlighting their robust, green agenda for the future of the forest.

At the heart of the festival’s eco-efforts is the “Fuji Rock Forest Project,” a collaborative initiative backed by the local communities of Niigata Prefecture, Yuzawa Town, and Naeba. The project sees the creation of utensils and stationery from locally sourced cypress, a tree indigenous to the area. It’s a practical demonstration of the festival’s commitment to both resource efficiency and local involvement.

In an additional bid to combat climate change, Fuji Rock is powering some of its areas and stages with renewable energy. Biofuel, recycled from used tempura oil, and solar power are being harnessed to reduce the event’s overall carbon emissions.

Sustainability extends even to waste management at the festival. Spearheaded by the NPO iPledge, the “Zero Waste Navigation” initiative seeks to transform the perception of waste into a resource, promoting recycling throughout the festival in an “in-event resource recycling cycle”.

The festival’s drive to promote sustainability goes beyond its infrastructure. It permeates its social spaces too. The “NGO Village,” a feature of the festival venue, provides a platform for smaller, non-profit organizations to shed light on global and local environmental issues, forest conservation, and peace. Their mission: to encourage festival-goers to take a step toward actionable solutions.

The festival also serves as a classroom for the younger generation, offering several spots where families can partake in sustainable activities amidst the tranquility of the forest. It’s hoped that the enjoyable memories fostered in this natural playground will inspire a lifelong respect for the environment.