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Good Things Festival 2025 — Environmental Report
OVERVIEW
Good Things Festival 2025
Melbourne — December 5, 2025
Sydney — December 6, 2025
Brisbane — December 7, 2025
Carbon Emissions by Section (tCO₂e)
As a holistic environmental report, we track impacts across carbon, waste, water, and materials. We want to see these trends over time:
Carbon Emissions — Down
Single-use Plastic — Down
Landfill Diversion — Up
CDS Return Rate — Up
Total Carbon Emissions
8,200
tCO₂e across all sections
Attendance
90,239
Melbourne · Sydney · Brisbane
kg CO₂e per Person
90.9
across all sections
Landfill Diversion
47.9%
30.3 t diverted from landfill
Single-use Containers
425,610
of 425,628 issued — 100%
Operational Carbon
Energy
43.2%
Food
29.7%
Prod. Transport
16.7%
Waste
10.4%
Travel Carbon
Audience
88.2%
Artist
11.1%
Staff
0.7%
All Carbon by Section
Audience Travel
82.7%
Artist Travel
10.4%
Energy
2.7%
Food + other
4.2%
Waste — Stream Breakdown
Landfill
52.2%
Recycling
23.0%
Paper
11.1%
CDS
7.3%
Other recovery
6.4%
Carbon Emissions — Section Summary
SectiontCO₂e% of TotalStatus
Travel (Audience)6,781.182.7%Complete
Travel (Artist)856.310.4%Complete
Energy219.72.7%Complete
Food151.11.8%Complete
Production Transport85.01.0%Complete
Travel (Staff)54.40.7%Complete
Waste52.70.6%Complete
Environmental Indicators — Non-Carbon
IndicatorValueAssessment
Total Waste Generated63.28 t0.70 kg/person
Landfill Diversion Rate47.9%Improving
CDS Return Rate54.9%Room to grow
Single-use Containers425,610100% single-use
Reusable Cups Deployed18Not activated
Merch Units Sold37,986Factors pending
Water UsageNot tracked
Good Things Festival 2025 — Dec 5–7 · Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane · 90,239 attendees. This is a full environmental report covering carbon emissions across 7 sections plus non-carbon environmental indicators for Drinks & Reusables, Merchandise, and Water. Carbon total: 8,200.34 tCO₂e. Prepared by Longview using the Snapview environmental reporting platform.
ENERGY & FUEL
Good Things Festival 2025
Melbourne — December 5, 2025
Sydney — December 6, 2025
Brisbane — December 7, 2025
Energy Breakdown
Grid Electricity151.47 tCO₂e
Grid kWh consumed202,183 kWh
Grid regionsQLD, NSW, VIC
Largest grid siteBrisbane (QLD)
Fuels & Onsite68.28 tCO₂e
Total fuel volume20,215 litres
Fuel typeDiesel generators
Melbourne100% diesel — no grid
Energy reduction targets:
Total kWh — Down
Diesel Volume — Down
Renewable Mix — Up
!QLD grid: 0.76 kg/kWh
 See general information below
Total Energy Emissions
219.7
tCO₂e — grid + fuels
Grid Electricity
151.5
tCO₂e · 202,183 kWh
Fuels & Onsite
68.3
tCO₂e · 20,215 litres
Grid Share of Emissions
69%
Driven by QLD coal grid
Grid vs Fuels
Grid Electricity
151.5 tCO₂e
Diesel Generators
68.3 tCO₂e
Energy by Site (kWh)
Brisbane
~177,500 kWh
Melbourne
~44,600 kWh
Sydney
24,381 kWh
Emissions by Site (tCO₂e)
Brisbane
146.1 tCO₂e
Melbourne
44.6 tCO₂e
Sydney
29.0 tCO₂e
Brisbane — 146.1 tCO₂e
Grid 135.1 · Fuels 11.0 · QLD coal grid
Expo Place42.9 tCO₂e
John Reid22.2 tCO₂e
LAP 116.0 tCO₂e
Building 813.2 tCO₂e
+ 7 more areas31.8 tCO₂e
Melbourne — 44.6 tCO₂e
Grid 0.0 · Fuels 44.6 — diesel only
General12.0 tCO₂e
Production10.6 tCO₂e
Site7.3 tCO₂e
+ 3 more areas14.7 tCO₂e
Sydney — 29.0 tCO₂e
Grid 16.3 (NSW) · Fuels 12.6
General (grid · NSW)16.3 tCO₂e
Fuels (diesel)12.6 tCO₂e
Emission factors: QLD 0.00076 · NSW 0.00067 · VIC 0.00087 tCO₂e/kWh. Melbourne ran entirely on diesel generators with no grid connection. Brisbane's emissions are disproportionately high due to Queensland's coal-heavy electricity mix.
General Information
Background context to support understanding of the data in this section
Hybrid Generators
Hybrid generators are an effective way to reduce diesel use by combining traditional diesel power with battery storage. These systems store excess energy during low-demand periods and release it during peak times, lowering overall fuel consumption. They are becoming increasingly available in Australia through event energy suppliers.
Rightsizing Generators
A common source of unnecessary diesel use is generators that are oversized for the load they're actually running. Installing a monitoring system to measure hourly generator readings can reveal opportunities to downsize, switch to battery equivalents, or reduce runtime. The findings can feed into an Energy Management Plan that sets efficiency requirements for onsite teams.
Bio-Fuels
Biofuels, such as biodiesel or hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), are a straightforward way to reduce emissions with minimal changes to existing generators. They are produced from renewable sources and significantly lower carbon footprints. However, availability can vary — investigate sourcing as early as possible.
Solar Power & Battery Storage
Solar generators and battery energy storage systems are growing in availability and can play a vital role in reducing diesel dependency. Solar power is best suited for lower-energy applications like food stalls or campsite lighting, while battery storage systems work effectively to manage peak loads or as part of a hybrid setup.
Energy Management Plans
Often overlooked in Australia, energy management plans are a practical way to reduce fuel consumption by using energy more efficiently. This includes accurately forecasting power needs, reducing wastage, and ensuring equipment is not oversized or overpowered. Regular monitoring and communication with power contractors can identify areas for improvement.
WASTE
Good Things Festival 2025
Melbourne — December 5, 2025
Sydney — December 6, 2025
Brisbane — December 7, 2025
Event Waste
47.9%
Landfill Diversion
Total Waste63.28 t
Landfill~33.0 t
Recycling & Recovery~22.0 t
CDS / Containers~8.3 t
Per Attendee0.70 kg
CDS Performance
54.9%
CDS Return Rate
Total CDS eligible354,947 units
Returned194,845 units
Not returned160,102 units
Waste reduction targets:
Landfill Diversion — Up
Waste per Attendee — Down
CDS Return — Up
Organics Separation — Up
 See general information below
Total Waste
63.28 t
across 3 sites
Per Attendee
0.70 kg
based on 90,239 attendees
Landfill Diversion
47.9%
30.32 t diverted
CDS Return Rate
54.9%
194,845 / 354,947 units
Carbon from Waste
52.7
tCO₂e — landfill only
Waste by Stream
Landfill
52.2%
Recycling (Commingled)
23.0%
Paper / Cardboard
11.1%
CDS
7.3%
Glass
3.2%
Recovered Materials
3.0%
Organic
0.6%
Waste by Site (tonnes)
Sydney
29.73 t
Melbourne
16.80 t
Brisbane
16.75 t
Landfill Diversion by Site
Melbourne
74% diverted ✓
Sydney
53% diverted
Brisbane
13% diverted ⚠
Waste carbon emissions calculated on landfill only — recovered and recycled materials assigned zero emissions.
General Information
Background context to support understanding of the data in this section
Waste Streams
Events should aim to separate waste streams onsite to reduce contamination. That means clearly marked front-of-house bins for punters, supported by an on-site waste compound for further sorting. Education helps, but good systems do the heavy lifting.
Organic Waste
Separating organic waste from landfill significantly cuts emissions and improves the quality of other recycling streams. From July 2026, NSW will mandate organics separation for bars, venues and food service — other states will likely follow.
Container Deposit Scheme (CDS)
CDS isn't just about refunds. Aluminium is one of the most recyclable materials available — it becomes more cans, not downcycled waste. Collecting eligible containers properly is a low-effort, high-impact win.
Recycling
Recycling helps, but not everything placed in a bin actually gets recycled. Australia's infrastructure varies by region. The more we can avoid creating waste — or work with councils and providers to ensure packaging is recyclable — the better. Communicating this clearly to food and drink vendors is key.
Compostables, Bio-Plastics & Paper Cups
Compostable or biodegradable plastics usually end up in landfill, where they can release methane. Most facilities can't process them properly. "Biodegradable" labels often confuse both punters and staff, and contaminate the recycling stream. Paper cups aren't recyclable due to their plastic lining, and are more carbon-intensive to produce than standard plastic cups.
Reusables
Avoiding waste altogether is the gold standard. Reusable cup and crockery systems reduce landfill, improve site cleanliness, and often pay off over time. Upfront costs are getting lower as more providers enter the market — and we're likely to see single-use bans in coming years.
ARTIST & STAFF TRAVEL
Good Things Festival 2025
Melbourne — December 5, 2025
Sydney — December 6, 2025
Brisbane — December 7, 2025
Artist Travel Summary
Flights
tCO₂e782.0
Total km4,740,495
Legs1,398
International68% of emissions
Accommodation
tCO₂e73.0
Room nights1,569
Ground Transport
tCO₂e1.3
km5,979
Artist travel targets:
International Flights — Down
Economy over Business — Up
Room Nights — Down
Total tCO₂e — Down
 See general information below
Total Emissions
856.3
tCO₂e — flights + accomm + ground
Flight Emissions
782.0
tCO₂e · 1,398 legs · 4.74M km
International Share
68%
of flight emissions from intl. travel
Accommodation
73.0
tCO₂e · 1,569 room nights
Emissions by Travel Type
International Flights
62%
Domestic Flights
29%
Accommodation
9%
Ground Transport
<1%
International vs Domestic
International
532.2 tCO₂e · 68%
Domestic
249.7 tCO₂e · 32%
Flight Emissions by Class / Haul
Intl. LH Economy
442.4 tCO₂e
Intl. LH Business
89.8 tCO₂e
Dom. MH Economy
105.5 tCO₂e
Dom. LH Economy
88.8 tCO₂e
Charter + Other
55.4 tCO₂e
Flight Detail by Type
Route TypeClassLegsDistance (km)tCO₂e
International Long HaulEconomy2983,115,606442.4
International Long HaulBusiness21218,53689.8
Domestic Medium HaulEconomy900713,050105.5
Domestic Long HaulEconomy117625,63288.8
Domestic (Charter)Unknown67,73235.6
Domestic Long HaulBusiness1332,59913.4
Domestic Medium HaulBusiness2619,3594.3
Domestic Short HaulEconomy + Business177,9812.1
International long haul economy flights are the single largest contributor at 442 tCO₂e (56% of all flight emissions).
General Information
Background context to support understanding of the data in this section
Artist Travel
While the best festivals in Australia will often bring high-end talent from overseas, the emissions related to air travel can really add up — especially when artists require a large crew. When it comes down to the last few spots on a bill, consider whether you can get the same value out of a local over an international act.
Green Riders
Artist riders can create a lot of waste, with an "ask for the most" mentality often presenting as excess supply. Aim to have as few single-use items on each artist rider, and avoid plastic bottles and packaging wherever possible. Go one step further by supplying locally sourced food & drink options.
Offsetting
Travel emissions often make the most sense to offset. They are somewhat fixed for a multi-city touring event, and offsetting sends a positive message to artists, audiences, and staff — letting them know you have invested in their travel emissions. Combined with a pledge to continue reducing emissions in other areas, it is a really effective measure.
AUDIENCE TRAVEL
Good Things Festival 2025
Melbourne — December 5, 2025
Sydney — December 6, 2025
Brisbane — December 7, 2025
Key Metrics
Total tCO₂e6,781.1
Total passengers89,734
Total km travelled33.7M km
Air travel share of emissions94%
Melbourne passengers32,899
Brisbane passengers31,184
Sydney passengers25,651
Public transport share51% of all pax
Audience travel is the event's biggest lever:
Air Travel — Down
Public Transport — Up
Car Journeys — Down
Per Capita Emissions — Down
 See general information below
Total Emissions
6,781.1
tCO₂e — 82.7% of event total
Air Travel
6,383.9
tCO₂e — 9,874 passengers flying
Car Travel
302.9
tCO₂e — 33,769 car passengers
Public Transport
94.3
tCO₂e — 46,091 PT passengers
Emissions by Transport Mode
Air Travel
6,383.9 tCO₂e
Car
302.9 tCO₂e
Public Transport
94.3 tCO₂e
Passengers by Transport Mode
Public Transport
46,091 · 51%
Car
33,769 · 38%
Air Travel
9,874 · 11%
Emissions by City
Melbourne
3,148.6 tCO₂e · 46%
Brisbane
2,021.1 tCO₂e · 30%
Sydney
1,611.4 tCO₂e · 24%
Melbourne · 3,148.6 tCO₂e
32,899 pax · 15.4M km
Air (5,808 pax)3,082.4 tCO₂e
Car (10,838 pax)39.6 tCO₂e
PT (16,253 pax)26.7 tCO₂e
Brisbane · 2,021.1 tCO₂e
31,184 pax · 10.1M km
Air (2,009 pax)1,820.4 tCO₂e
Car (12,966 pax)167.5 tCO₂e
PT (16,209 pax)33.2 tCO₂e
Sydney · 1,611.4 tCO₂e
25,651 pax · 8.2M km
Air (2,057 pax)1,481.0 tCO₂e
Car (9,965 pax)95.9 tCO₂e
PT (13,629 pax)34.4 tCO₂e
General Information
Background context to support understanding of the data in this section
Artist Travel
While the best festivals in Australia will often bring high-end talent from overseas, the emissions related to air travel can really add up — especially when artists require a large crew. When it comes down to the last few spots on a bill, consider whether you can get the same value out of a local over an international act.
Green Riders
Artist riders can create a lot of waste, with an "ask for the most" mentality often presenting as excess supply. Aim to have as few single-use items on each artist rider, and avoid plastic bottles and packaging wherever possible. Go one step further by supplying locally sourced food & drink options.
Offsetting
Travel emissions often make the most sense to offset. They are somewhat fixed for a multi-city touring event, and offsetting sends a positive message to artists, audiences, and staff — letting them know you have invested in their travel emissions. Combined with a pledge to continue reducing emissions in other areas, it is a really effective measure.
FOOD & CATERING
Good Things Festival 2025
Melbourne — December 5, 2025
Sydney — December 6, 2025
Brisbane — December 7, 2025
Food Summary
Total emissions151.1 tCO₂e
Total meals sold57,952
tCO₂e per meal (avg)2.61 kg
Meals per attendee0.64
Beef & lamb share78% of emissions
Melbourne meals33,460 (58%)
Sydney meals15,853 (27%)
Brisbane meals8,639 (15%)
Food emission targets:
Beef & Lamb Share — Down
Vegetarian Options — Up
tCO₂e per Meal — Down
Vendor Diversity — Up
 See general information below
Total Food Emissions
151.1
tCO₂e · 1.8% of event total
Total Meals Sold
57,952
across all 3 sites · 432 lines
Beef & Game
64%
of food emissions — biggest lever
Vegetarian
~3%
of food emissions — very low impact
Emissions by Meal Type
Beef & Game
64%
Lamb
14%
Pork
10%
Chicken
7%
Vegetarian
3%
Fish / Seafood
2%
Meals Sold by Site
Melbourne
33,460 · 58%
Sydney
15,853 · 27%
Brisbane
8,639 · 15%
Emissions by Site
Melbourne
78.7 tCO₂e · 52%
Sydney
48.8 tCO₂e · 32%
Brisbane
23.6 tCO₂e · 16%
Emission factors: Beef 0.009585 · Lamb 0.004883 · Pork 0.001478 · Chicken 0.001211 · Fish 0.000639 · Vegetarian 0.0003 tCO₂e/meal. 432 vendor line items across 3 sites.
General Information
Background context to support understanding of the data in this section
Food Emissions
What we eat and sell has one of the biggest impacts on a festival's footprint. Red meat products have the highest emissions, while chicken, vegetarian and vegan meals sit far lower. Even small menu shifts can add up. A single beef burger can emit as much carbon as ten plant-based meals.
Procurement & Sourcing
Where products come from matters as much as what they're made of. Sourcing locally reduces transport emissions and supports regional economies. Work with nearby suppliers where possible, and choose certified materials with transparent supply chains.
Packaging & Waste
Much of the waste from food and drink comes from what it's served in. Compostable or "biodegradable" packaging usually ends up in landfill. Paper cups and cardboard trays lined with plastic can't be recycled in most regions. Working directly with local waste providers to confirm which materials can actually be recovered is the simplest way to avoid contamination.
PRODUCTION TRANSPORT
Good Things Festival 2025
Melbourne — December 5, 2025
Sydney — December 6, 2025
Brisbane — December 7, 2025
Total tCO₂e84.98
Share of total event emissions1.0%
Share of operational emissions16.7%
NoteMulti-city format adds transport distance vs single-site
Production transport targets:
Total km — Down
Load Efficiency — Up
Heavy Vehicle Use — Down
Shared & Consolidated Loads — Up
Total Emissions
85.0
tCO₂e
Operational Share
16.7%
3rd largest operational source
Heaviest Emitter
Semi
Trailer — 0.001602 tCO₂e/km
Multi-city Impact
↑ km
More road freight vs single-site format
Emissions by Vehicle Type
Semi-Trailer (48')
Heaviest per km
Heavy Truck (40' flatbed)
Medium Truck (12t rigid)
Light Truck (3t)
Emission Factors by Vehicle Type
VehicleDescriptiontCO₂e/km
Semi-Trailer48' semi-trailer0.001602
Heavy Truck40' flatbed0.001284
Medium Truck12t rigid0.000725
Light Truck3t truck0.000437
Emission factors from DCCEEW NGA for Australian road freight. Production transport at 85 tCO₂e is 1% of the event total — small in absolute terms but highly controllable through load planning.
DRINKS & REUSABLES
Good Things Festival 2025
Melbourne — December 5, 2025
Sydney — December 6, 2025
Brisbane — December 7, 2025
Container Overview
100%
Single-use
Total containers issued425,628
Single-use plastic (btl+cup)91,101
Aluminium cans308,106
Reusable cups deployed18 only
CDS Performance
54.9%
CDS Return Rate
CDS eligible containers354,947
Returned194,845
Not returned / lost160,102
Drinks & reusables targets:
Single-use Plastic — Down
Reusable Cup Program — Launch
CDS Return Rate — Up from 54.9%
Plastic Bottles — Eliminate
 See general information below
♻️
No carbon emissions tracked for this section Drinks & Reusables is reported as an environmental indicator — tracking container types, single-use plastic volume, and CDS return performance. These are material circularity and waste metrics, not carbon metrics. Emission factors for container manufacture are not currently applied.
Total Containers
425,628
issued across 3 sites
Single-use Plastic
91,101
bottles + plastic cups
Aluminium Cans
308,106
CDS eligible — recyclable
CDS Return Rate
54.9%
194,845 / 354,947 units
Reusable Cups
18
deployed — program not active
Containers by Type
Aluminium Can
72.4%
Plastic Cup
10.4%
Plastic Bottle
11.0%
Paper Cup
6.2%
Glass Bottle
<0.1%
Reusable Cup
<0.1%
Drinks by Type
RTDs
36%
Beer
33%
Spirits
15%
Water
10%
Soft Drinks
4%
Other
2%
Containers by Site
Melbourne
160,167 · 37.6%
Brisbane
141,287 · 33.2%
Sydney
124,174 · 29.2%
Melbourne · 160,167 containers
CDS eligible: 128,958 · Return rate: 0% tracked
Aluminium cans (4 entries)119,837
Plastic cups (2 entries)30,157
Plastic bottles9,121
Paper cups1,052
Brisbane · 141,287 containers
CDS eligible: 128,946 · Return rate: 0% tracked
Aluminium cans (5 entries)111,231
Plastic bottles (3 entries)17,715
Paper cups (3 entries)11,662
Plastic cups679
Sydney · 124,174 containers
CDS eligible: 97,043 · CDS returned: 25,000 (26%)
Aluminium cans (5 entries)77,038
Plastic bottles (6 entries)19,906
Paper cups (4 entries)13,590
Plastic cups (3 entries)13,523
Reusable cups18
CDS return rate (54.9%) is calculated from Waste section data — 194,845 units returned of 354,947 eligible. Per-site CDS return tracking shows only Sydney had tracked returns (26%). Container type data: 91,101 single-use plastic containers (bottles + cups) across all sites. No carbon emissions factors currently applied to container manufacture or end-of-life — this section is an environmental circularity indicator only.
General Information
Background context to support understanding of the data in this section
Reusables
Avoiding waste altogether is the gold standard. Reusable cup and crockery systems reduce landfill, improve site cleanliness, and often pay off over time. Upfront costs are getting lower as more providers enter the market — and we're likely to see single-use bans in coming years.
Plastic Lasts Forever
Every piece of plastic ever created still exists somewhere on the planet. A reusable cup only needs to be used 7 times to be more sustainable than a compostable plastic cup. Recycling is good, but reducing waste is best. Single-use plastic bottles and cups that aren't recovered will persist in the environment indefinitely.
Compostables & Paper Cups
"Biodegradable" and "compostable" labels often confuse both punters and staff. Paper cups with PE lining are actually more carbon-intensive to make than standard plastic cups — and they're not recyclable in NSW, VIC, or QLD. Align vendor packaging with what can actually be recovered at each site.
Container Deposit Scheme (CDS)
CDS isn't just about the refund. Aluminium is one of the most recyclable materials available — it becomes more cans, not downcycled waste. A well-run CDS program can also return real revenue to the event.
MERCHANDISE
Good Things Festival 2025
Melbourne — December 5, 2025
Sydney — December 6, 2025
Brisbane — December 7, 2025
Merchandise Overview
Total units sold37,986
Units per attendee0.42
Product lines54 entries
Carbon emissionsFactors pending
Melbourne units14,673 (38.6%)
Brisbane units12,662 (33.3%)
Sydney units10,651 (28.0%)
Primary materialCotton & Virgin Polyester
Merchandise sustainability targets:
Virgin Polyester — Down
Organic / Recycled Materials — Up
Units per Attendee — Down
Long-life Products — Up
 See general information below
👕
Carbon emission factors for merchandise are pending Merchandise units, product types, and materials have been recorded. Emission factors for apparel manufacture (cotton, polyester) have not yet been mapped in Snapview — this section currently reports as an environmental materials indicator. Once factors are applied, this section will contribute to the total carbon figure.
Total Units Sold
37,986
across 3 sites · 54 product lines
T-Shirts
20,500
54% of all units — largest category
Headwear
4,300
11.3% — bucket hats, caps, snapbacks
Hoodies & Fleece
2,645
7.0% — higher material weight
Units by Product Type
T-Shirt
20,500 · 54.0%
Other (stubby holders etc)
6,411 · 16.9%
Headwear
4,300 · 11.3%
Fleece / Hoodie
2,645 · 7.0%
Tank
2,500 · 6.6%
Longsleeve
1,380 · 3.6%
Water Bottle
250 · 0.7%
Units by Site
Melbourne
14,673 · 38.6%
Brisbane
12,662 · 33.3%
Sydney
10,651 · 28.0%
Units by Material Type
Cotton
~79% of units
Virgin Polyester
~17% of units
Other / Unknown
~4% of units
Product Breakdown by Type & Material
Product TypeUnits% of TotalPrimary MaterialSustainability Note
T-Shirt20,50054.0%Cotton + Virgin PolyesterSwitch to organic cotton
Other (stubby holders etc)6,41116.9%Various / UnknownMap materials
Headwear4,30011.3%CottonCotton — lower impact
Fleece / Hoodie2,6457.0%Cotton + Virgin PolyesterVirgin poly — high impact
Tank2,5006.6%Virgin PolyesterRecycled poly alternative
Longsleeve1,3803.6%CottonCotton — lower impact
Water Bottle2500.7%PlasticLong-life — positive
👕 Virgin polyester is the material priority to address. Tanks and some hoodies use virgin polyester — a petroleum-derived plastic fibre with significant upstream emissions and microplastic shedding. Switching to recycled polyester (rPET) for these products reduces fabric emissions by ~30-50% and is now widely available from festival merch suppliers at comparable price points.
37,986 units across 54 product lines at 3 sites. Emission factors for apparel manufacture are not yet applied — Amidesi KPI mapping is pending for all product lines. Once mapped, merchandise will contribute to the event's total carbon figure. Material sustainability notes are indicative guidance, not calculated emissions comparisons.
General Information
Background context to support understanding of the data in this section
Merchandise & Emissions
Merchandise plays a large role in emissions through materials and production. Good merch should be made to last — not just for the festival weekend. Removing year-specific designs from garments allows unsold stock to carry over to future events, reducing waste and reprinting costs.
Avoiding Polyester Where Possible
Polyester is a petroleum-derived synthetic fibre that sheds microplastics every time it's washed, contributing to ocean plastic pollution. Virgin polyester has a significantly higher carbon footprint than natural fibres. Where polyester is needed, recycled polyester (rPET) is a much better alternative. Most AS Colour garments have an organic or recycled substitute available at comparable price points.
Organic & Recycled Cotton
Organic cotton uses significantly less water and no harmful pesticides compared to conventional cotton. Recycled cotton repurposes existing textile waste, reducing the need for virgin fibre production. Both are widely available through AS Colour and similar suppliers.
Procurement & Sourcing
Sourcing locally reduces transport emissions and supports regional economies. Work with nearby printers and suppliers where possible. Water-based inks are a lower-impact alternative to plastisol inks and are increasingly standard.
WATER
Good Things Festival 2025
Melbourne — December 5, 2025
Sydney — December 6, 2025
Brisbane — December 7, 2025
Water usage recordedNo data entered
Water transportSkipped / not applicable
Section statusComplete — marked ready
Recommended actionTrack for 2026 edition
Water management targets:
Water Usage per Attendee — Down
Free Water Access Points — Up
Bottled Water Sales — Down
Greywater Recovery — Up
💧
Water usage was not tracked at Good Things 2025 Water is an important environmental indicator for outdoor festivals — covering drinking water supply, toilet facilities, cleaning, showers (where applicable), and irrigation. No usage data was entered for this event. This is a recommended area to begin tracking for the 2026 edition.
Why Water Matters at Festivals

Outdoor music festivals are significant water users. A 90,000-person event like Good Things can consume hundreds of thousands of litres across three sites — for drinking, sanitation, catering, cleaning and dust suppression.

Water use also has an indirect carbon footprint: pumping, treating and heating water all consume energy. In drought-affected regions like much of eastern Australia, water is also a critical environmental and community resource.

Tracking water per attendee per site creates a baseline for year-on-year improvement and supports responsible event licensing with local councils.

What to Track in 2026
MetricWhyHow
Mains water usage (kL)Total consumption baselineWater meter readings per site
Water per attendee (L)Normalised benchmarkTotal ÷ attendance
Free water access pointsReduces plastic bottle salesCount refill stations
Bottled water units soldCircular indicatorFrom Drinks & Reusables data
Wastewater managementEnvironmental complianceSite report from contractor
💡 Water sold as a drink product: From the Drinks & Reusables section, water represented approximately 10% of all drinks sold at Good Things 2025. In the absence of free water access data, drink-water sales can serve as a proxy indicator — high bottled water sales often indicate insufficient free water access points for attendees. This is worth investigating with site managers ahead of the 2026 edition.
📋 Recommended approach for 2026: Contact site venue managers at Brisbane Showgrounds, Sidney Myer Music Bowl (Melbourne), and the Sydney venue to request water meter readings for the event dates. This takes less than one email per site and gives you a complete water baseline for the next report cycle. Add this to the production manager briefing checklist.
Water section was marked Complete in Snapview but no usage entries were recorded — the section was effectively skipped for this edition. No carbon emissions are attributed to water for Good Things 2025. Water transport was skipped / not applicable. Recommend establishing water tracking as a standard part of the Good Things venue brief from 2026 onwards.