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Henley Festival takes place in one of the UK’s most distinctive settings, on the banks of the River Thames in the heart of Henley-on-Thames. Protecting and respecting this unique environment is an essential part of how the Festival is planned and delivered.
We are committed to making practical, meaningful improvements across the Festival each year, from reducing waste and improving recycling to working more closely with suppliers and encouraging more responsible operational practices. Alongside this, we aim to contribute positively to the local community and support the long-term sustainability of the place we are proud to call home.
Reducing single-use waste is one of the key areas where we are working to improve the Festival’s environmental impact.
Across the site, we aim to prioritise reusable serviceware and reduce the use of disposable cups, plates, and cutlery wherever practical. In high-volume bars and hospitality areas, we use reusable polycarbonate glassware to minimise breakage, improve reusability, and reduce waste associated with single-use alternatives.
Backstage and in production areas, crew catering is served on crockery with metal cutlery rather than disposables, materially reducing single-use waste generated during the Festival build and live event period.
Where single-use items remain necessary, we work to specify recyclable materials and avoid mixed-material products wherever possible. This helps ensure that packaging and serviceware can be more effectively sorted and recycled after use.
We continue to develop our recycling and waste management processes across both public and operational areas of the Festival.
This includes:
We are also exploring opportunities to separate unavoidable food waste so that it can be diverted from general waste streams where feasible.
Alongside operational improvements, we are beginning to track waste outcomes more closely, including recycling volumes, general waste, and food waste, to help us measure progress and identify areas for future improvement.
We believe that sustainability extends beyond the Festival site itself and includes the choices we make through procurement, catering, and supplier partnerships.
Where possible, we work with suppliers and contractors who can demonstrate responsible sourcing practices and a shared commitment to reducing environmental impact. Sustainability considerations are increasingly being built into procurement decisions as part of our longer-term planning.
Our food and drink offering reflects the same approach. Across the Festival, we aim to prioritise quality, locally sourced and seasonal produce wherever practical, while ensuring a broad range of vegetarian and vegan options are available.
We continue to work with catering partners to reduce unnecessary packaging, improve waste separation, and support more sustainable service practices across the site.
Henley Festival believes sustainability is not only environmental, it is also about creating positive social impact.
Through the Festival’s charitable work and our RISE by Henley Festival programme, we support projects that improve opportunities for children and young people in the local community.
We are proud that the Festival contributes not only to the cultural life of Henley, but also to long-term community initiatives that support creativity, confidence, and inclusion.
We know there is more to do, and we are committed to continuing this work in a practical and measurable way.
Our focus is on making steady improvements year-on-year by:
Sustainability is an ongoing journey, and we are committed to building on the progress already being made while remaining realistic, transparent, and responsible in our approach.
