Festivals are fun, memorable and exciting experiences, but they can be responsible for a serious amount of waste. According to environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, 250,000 tents are abandoned at festivals each year in the UK. That’s the equivalent of 8750 tonnes of plastic waste. As the music fades and the festival fields empty, a new challenge emerges: what to do with your muddy, soggy, battered camping kit? With the right aftercare and a few sustainable choices, you can protect your gear, save money and reduce your environmental impact.
Why festival gear aftercare matters
Festival camping isn’t cheap and neither is the cost to the planet when it’s thrown away. Proper cleaning and maintenance help prolong the life of your outdoor equipment. By using Fabsil’s range of cleaners and reproofers, you can easily revive your festival kit and keep it out of landfill.
- Clean: Use Tent + Awning Cleaner for smaller items and Universal Cleaner for larger items. This will remove dirt and all manner of festival-related blemishes (think mud, swilled beer, sun cream, etc.). If you want to spot clean a particularly stubborn stain, Outdoor Wipes are great for targeting specific smudges.
- Reproof: Once clean and dry, apply either Universal Protector UV (safeguards outdoor materials against rain, stains and UV rays, preventing the sun from degrading and wearing the fabric) or Fabsil Gold (a highly concentrated, extremely durable solution) for powerful protection against the elements.
- Repair: It’s easy for tents to get ripped or broken at festivals. Everything from Mother Nature to drunken tumbles is a threat to your tent. If your precious sanctuary happens to get ripped, Fabsil’s Seam Sealer will fill up minor holes and tears easily. For more major repairs, like zip and groundsheet replacements, Scottish Mountain Gear will be able to lend a hand.
Top tip: ensure your tent and gear are completely dry before you pack them away to prevent mildew and musty odours from forming.
Donate Unwanted Gear
If you’re not planning to reuse your gear, donate your tent and camping equipment to help someone in need. Many organisations across the UK accept used outdoor gear and here are a few donation options for inspiration:
● Gift Your Gear – distributes outdoor equipment to UK youth organisations, charities and community groups.
● The Outside Project (London) – supports LGBTQ+ individuals facing homelessness with donated tents and sleeping bags.
● Help Refugees/Choose Love – accepts camping gear for humanitarian aid.
● Newcastle’s People’s Kitchen – welcomes clean tents and sleeping bags to help support rough sleepers.
● Barnabus (Manchester) – offers outreach to the homeless and accepts donations of quality outdoor gear.
● Bristol Homeless Connect - often seeks tents, roll mats and waterproof coats.
● Samaritan’s Purse UK - occasionally supports disaster relief with donated camping supplies.
Shocking Festival Waste Stats
● UK music festivals generate roughly 23,500 tonnes of waste a year.
● The world-famous Glastonbury Festival estimates that the waste produced by festival attendees is around 2000 tonnes annually.
● 90% of abandoned festival tents either end up in landfill sites or are incinerated.
We want to make sure your gear isn’t part of these stats.
Festival Sustainability Starts with You
Caring for your festival kit isn’t just good for the environment, it’s good for your pocket too. Reproofing your gear with Fabsil products helps it last for years, saving you the cost of replacing it before every festival season. Donating unwanted gear can help others while keeping valuable materials out of landfill. By cleaning, protecting and donating your festival equipment, you’re taking small but powerful steps towards a more sustainable and ethical festival culture.
