Sustainability

Sydney WorldPride is a purpose-led organisation committed to ensuring that care for the environment is applied to the management, planning and implementation of all events. We aim to ensure sustainability is considered in all aspects of the festival; we do this by

• Reducing the use of single-use plastic water bottles, preferring recycled plastic bottles and limiting their use where we can
• Prohibiting balloons, non-biodegradable glitter and confetti
• Working with suppliers to source responsibly
• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions
• Engaging staff, performers, venues, volunteers, vendors, and suppliers to align with our sustainability values
• Reducing waste and diverting as much waste as possible from landfill

No planet, no party

Here are ways you can help make this a greener event!

BYO Keep Cups and Water Bottles

Help us reduce our waste at the Festival by:

• Taking a reusable cup for your morning cuppa
• Using the recycling bins and the container return bins
• Bring a reusable water bottle, and fill up at the free water stations around the Festival

Some venues have regulations with bringing reusable water bottles:

• Enmore Theatre & Ivy Rooftop – No reusable water bottles permitted
• All events at The Entertainment Quarter, The Domain & Bondi Beach – Water bottles must clear plastic, no glass or metal
• All other events – Reusable water Bottles are welcome, plastic or metal (no glass)
• Water bottles are to be empty on arrival at the venue

Use the Correct Waste Bins

Check your waste before you bin it.

Recycling (Yellow): Cans and bottles, paper, cardboard, plastic cups, pizza boxes.

Cans & Bottles (Blue): Cans and bottles (10c per container will be donated).

General Waste (Red): Cigarettes, soft plastics (plastic wrap, chip packets), wristbands, non-compostable serve ware.

Organics (Green) – Food, compostable serve ware (plates, bowls, cutlery, napkins. straws), teabags.

Bin your butts – Smokers please make sure they don’t end up on the ground.

See any litter on the ground?  You’re doing the planet a favour by picking it up and putting it in a bin.

Recycle and Raise Money for LGBTQIA+ Initiatives

Look out for the can and bottle collection points across the events.  Every can and bottle that you pop in one of these bins will raise 10c for Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras (SGLMG).

SGLMG is a LGBTQIA+ not-for-profit member-based organisation that produces the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade and Festival and several other events and supportive initiatives throughout each year. SGLMG was built on the foundations laid by early community activists who fought for LGBTQIA+ rights in a time of wide-spread, institutionalised oppression and discrimination.

Year-round, they develop initiatives that celebrate our LGBTQIA+ identity, champion creative expression, challenge injustice and elevate diverse voices. These raised funds will further support and aid the longevity of the organisation. To learn more, click here.

Walk, Ride, or Catch Public Transport

We encourage you to walk, dance, catch public transport or ride to our events. If you do drive, try and get your friends together and carpool. Public Transport information can be found here https://transportnsw.info/trip#/trip

Dress Fabulously Greener

Say no to fast fashion and find ways to make your costumes greener by:

• Hiring or thrifting instead of buying new
• Using sustainable materials such as organic cotton, bamboo or recycled material
• Ensuring decorations (sequins, buttons etc) are firmly secure so they don’t fall onto the ground
• Designing an outfit that you can wear over and over again

We Banned Glitter

Did you know we banned glitter, metallic and plastic confetti from the Parade? Glitter and confetti are microplastics and flow from the streets into our waterways. Instead, use biodegradable glitter and confetti. It helps to do your research because there are some “biodegradable” products that do not biodegrade in nature. Only the freshwater test certifies that a glitter biodegrades in the natural environment. Some companies selling compostable glitter claim they are biodegradable, but they do not in nature. Check the label.

Support ReForest Now by Planting a Tree

To help offset Sydney WorldPride’s carbon footprint, we support ReForest Now, an organisation that works on regenerating the Big Scrub rainforest in Northern NSW, Australia’s largest expanse of subtropical rainforest. After extensive clearing only 1% remains.

The Big Scrub is home to a bountiful biodiversity, many species of which are incredibly rare and endangered. Reforest Now has complied data and research to identify 128 endangered species of this rainforest. To address this, they grow over 150 species in their nursery and prioritise endangered and critically endangered tree, shrub, and vine species.

Reforest Now work to restore cleared land in this region back into rainforest. Byron Shire relies on this rainforest for the rain, streams, creeks, and rivers and hope to play a part in protecting it for generations to come. They currently have over 35 planting sites that are key to supporting the entire rainforest. Planting on these sites will connect fragmented rainforest and build wildlife corridors

Go Carbon Neutral

We will welcome people from around the world to Australian shores. Unfortunately, flying to and from Sydney causes substantial greenhouse gas emissions. Thankfully, you can help us to deliver an environmentally responsible festival by offsetting the carbon emissions from your flights.

Offsetting your emissions means you’re supporting accredited projects that offset your carbon footprint and make a positive impact on our beautiful planet. Sydney WorldPride’s Carbon Neutral Program is not-for-profit.