The Fringe development goals are a series of collective commitments to ensure the festival is more inclusive, fair and sustainable. The goals were launched as part of our 75th anniversary in 2022, and include targets for climate action, including working towards net-zero by 2030.
Since 2017, the Fringe Society has reduced its baseline carbon footprint by 28%.
Quantities are in tCO2e
2017
2018
2019
2023
2024
% change 2017–2024
Electricity
40.65
35.06
27.13
18.31
16.80
-59%
Gas
4.60
10.35
8.41
5.00
5.92
29%
Water
0.26
0.26
0.18
0.15
0.13
-50%
Recycling
0.18
0.18
0.16
0.14
0.06
-66%
Landfill waste
3.55
3.36
2.57
0.70
0.89
-75%
Travel
28.92
21.64
43.83
38.81
32.40
12%
Total
78.15
70.85
82.28
63.10
56.19
-28%
Please note: During the pandemic and the years immediately after, the Fringe Society's offices were fully or partially closed; as such, our carbon usage in this period was massively reduced and not representative of our progress under 'business as usual' conditions. We have omitted data for the years 2020–2022 from the above table to create a clearer picture of our carbon footprint over the longer term.
Our work in this area is ongoing, and we're looking to improve our data collection for future years.
We are committed to a circular economy framework for street event materials (using resources for as long as possible then recovering / regenerating materials instead of disposal).
We collaborate with all our suppliers to share storage, materials and services.
We are committed to supporting venues to use less power and eradicating the use of generators. On this latter point, we’ve also
arranged for one of our buildings to provide power to the Mercat stage (part of the street events).
invested in a power outlet on Princes Street to reduce the use of generators at the Mound street events.
We welcome the City of Edinburgh Council’s commitment to install power sources for outdoor pop-up activity.
We will inform all contractors of our sustainability principles, including those supplying the physical infrastructure for our street events.
We recognise that processing waste, even by recycling, is highly carbon intensive. As such, we’ve taken the following measures to reduce waste.
We’ve decreased our landfill waste and recycling year on year, with only a slight increase where personnel has grown.
We provide clear signage for everyone using our buildings to limit the waste they bring on site, including recyclable products.
We’ve reduced the print run for the Fringe programme by 59%, from 395,000 in 2017 to 160,000 in 2024, and will reduce it further as we continue to explore digital options.
We’re working with City of Edinburgh Council and other partners on a city-wide initiative to ensure signage for recycling is accessible to all audiences.
We are committed to a core principle of reducing and re-using across all areas of our work.
We have introduced a procurement process that enables our staff to make travel arrangements in advance, ensuring the most sustainable mode of travel can be sourced.
By investing in technology, we’ve been able to replace many of our in-person roadshows with online alternatives, including the FringeCast online advice series and our Fringe Connect and Fringe Marketplace platforms. This has not only decreased our need to travel but also that of future participants who previously needed to travel to in-person information sessions.
We plan to review travel policy for Senior Managers and Board members and revise this in line with our sustainability strategy.
We have committed to avoiding air travel within mainland UK, choosing instead to either travel by rail or hold digital meetings.
We aim to create a carbon travel budget for each team in the Society.
Due to the age of our buildings we’re unable to generate our own power; instead, we will state and implement energy reduction targets and continue to invest in more efficient hardware.
We will conduct a feasibility study to determine what is possible within our estate and when exploring a new home for the Fringe Society.
Our power usage has continued to decrease, mostly due to investing in more energy-efficient and robust hardware across our operations.
We’ve held a series of events with Fringe venue managers to ensure they’re informed about government sustainability targets and their own responsibilities in this respect.
We’re supporting venues to look at practical ways of reducing single-use plastics and improving their waste management.
We work with artists on recycling props and stage equipment.
We arrange a Swap Shop (for kit, props, costumes etc) and foodbank collection at the end of each festival which are free for participants.
We have signed a Climate Compact with the Edinburgh Climate Commission to demonstrate our commitment to significant change.
We meet regularly with the Festivals Edinburgh Environment Sustainability Working Group to partner with other festivals and the City of Edinburgh Council to identify wider city challenges and advocate for collective change.
We work with other festivals on developing solutions and lobbying for change where responsibility sits with local or Scottish Government on issues such as transport and travel digital infrastructure, waste management and renewable power.
