Sustainability

We understand that events can have a significant impact on the environment at local, regional, and global levels. That’s why, as festival organisers, we are committed to delivering a high-quality experience while actively working to minimise environmental impact.

Our approach focuses on encouraging sustainable travel, reducing energy consumption, and minimising waste. These priorities are outlined in our Environmental Policy. Through these efforts, we aim to create an event that’s not only memorable but also environmentally responsible.

Lincoln Lights Environmental Policy

We are committed to minimising the festival’s environmental impact by promoting sustainable travel, reducing energy consumption, and minimising waste. Three key areas of focus to achieve this goal: Energy, Travel, and Waste.

Energy

  • Lincoln Lights is designed as a low-energy event, with power requirements limited to the light installations themselves.
  • We are committed to ensuring that our work is presented using sustainable measures, relying on either grid power or rechargeable batteries wherever possible.
  •  Every effort is made to avoid the use of generators or temporary power sources.
  • To minimse energy consumption, all installations utilise energy-efficient LED lights and are switched off during the day and overnight.

Travel

  • Lincoln Lights is located in the pedestrianised city center, making it easy for visitors to walk between installations.
  • All installations are also within a short walk of a bus stop, and the majority are within a 15-minute walk of Lincoln Train Station providing convenient access for visitors to Lincoln.
  • Finally, as part of the event evaluation we have included questions to help us understand how people travelled to the event. We will use this information to inform our future Sustainability Policy and Travel Plan, as well as sharing with partners and stakeholders to give a more comprehensive understanding of the way visitors use public transport and travel to and from the city when events are taking place.

Waste

  • For newly commissioned installations, environmental considerations are integrated into the commissioning process to monitor, review, and minimise their impact. Where possible, materials used for the event are repurposed and reused to create long-lasting, sustainable works.
  • To reduce the need for new resources and minimise environmental impact, many installations featured in Lincoln Lights have previously been showcased in other locations. This approach extends the lifespan and reuse of these artworks.
  • To encourage visitors to eat and drink in the city’s wide variety of bars and restaurants, and help reduce packaging waste, the event does not rely on external mobile food and drink traders. For takeaway drinks, visitors are urged to bring reusable cups.
  • To help reduce paper waste, the festival map is primarily available online. For those who prefer a physical copy, limited printed event programmes will be available at various locations throughout the city during the event. These programmes are thoughtfully printed on recycled paper and fully carbon-offset.

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