Festival Sustainability
At Púca Festival, we believe world-class cultural celebrations should honour both people and the planet. Sustainability is not just a side note; it is a core value shaping how we plan, deliver, and grow every aspect of the festival. Our goal is simple: to create unforgettable experiences that tread lightly on the earth.
Driving Sustainability in 2026
In 2026, we are building on strong foundations and pushing forward across seven key areas: energy, waste, plastics reduction, transport, supply chain, accessibility, and biodiversity.
Energy
We are continuing to power the festival with Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) fuel for all generators and lighting towers, cutting greenhouse gas emissions from these sources by up to 90%.
Waste
We are upholding our zero waste to landfill commitment, working closely with local contractors, improving signage, and driving positive change through initiatives like our reusable cup scheme.
No Single-Use Plastics
In partnership with Fáilte Ireland, we are committed to reducing single-use plastics across the festival. At the Púca Festival bars on the Big Top site, we are offering reusable drinks containers. A €2 deposit is charged at all bars when ordering, which is fully refunded upon return of the container.
To further support this goal, we are working with Refill Ireland to install refill water stations across the Trim site and signposting municipal refill stations locally. By encouraging the use of refillable bottles, we are helping to significantly cut down on single-use plastics onsite.
Púca Festival is also delighted to support Trim’s community-led reusable coffee cup scheme. Coffee vendors operating at the festival will be encouraged to participate in the initiative, helping to reduce the number of single-use cups generated during the event.
By choosing a reusable cup, festivalgoers can enjoy their coffee while supporting a practical local sustainability project. This partnership demonstrates how businesses, communities and visitors can work together to reduce waste—one cup at a time.
Transport
We are expanding sustainable travel options with dedicated bus routes connecting nearby hubs including Drogheda, Slane, Navan, Newbridge, Naas, Sallins, Clare, Dublin, Cavan, Summerhill, and Mullingar. A busy shuttle service also operates between Trim and Athboy, helping reduce private car use and lowering emissions while making the festival more accessible for everyone. For more information see here.
Supply Chain
We are enforcing our strengthened vendor sustainability policy, ensuring every supplier meets our environmental and social standards through increased monitoring, pre-event engagement, and on-site checks.
Accessibility & Inclusion
We are enhancing accessible facilities across all venues, choosing sites with inclusive features and taking extra steps to ensure everyone can take part in the celebration.
Biodiversity
We are weaving nature into the heart of the festival through community workshops using natural materials and collaborations with horticulture students who are creating interactive educational plant displays.
EarthCheck Certified
We are proud to be officially EarthCheck certified, aligned with ISO 20121, the international standard for sustainable event management. This recognition reflects our ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship and inspires us to continually raise the bar.
Renewed Partnership with Meath Camogie for “Your Plastic, Our Pitch”
Púca Festival is delighted to partner once again with Meath Camogie on the innovative “Your Plastic, Our Pitch” initiative.
Throughout the festival, visitors will be encouraged to place eligible plastic bottles and drinks cans in the specially marked collection points. The containers will be returned through Ireland’s Deposit Return Scheme, with the proceeds supporting the continued development of camogie in County Meath.
The partnership gives festivalgoers a simple way to dispose of their drinks containers responsibly while supporting local sport. It also helps Púca Festival reduce waste, improve recycling rates and ensure that valuable materials remain in circulation.
The initiative reflects the shared commitment of Púca Festival and Meath Camogie to community participation, environmental responsibility and positive local action.
Visitors attending Púca Festival in Trim and Athboy are asked to look out for the “Your Plastic, Our Pitch” collection points and donate their eligible bottles and cans.
Enjoy the festival, return your containers and support the future of Meath Camogie — one bottle and can at a time.
Spirit of Sustainability Tent
Púca Festival is partnering with the Meath County Council Climate Action Team to present the Spirit of Sustainability Tent.
The tent will offer practical demonstrations, helpful advice and simple ideas that visitors can use at home. Topics will include reducing energy use, preventing food waste, recycling more effectively and making everyday choices that are kinder to the environment.
Visitors are invited to drop in, ask questions and discover how small, practical changes can reduce costs, cut waste and make a meaningful difference.
Traditional Crafts and Sustainable Living
The Spirit of Sustainability area in the Harvets market Trim will feature demonstrations of traditional crafts and the practical skills that formed part of everyday life in earlier generations.
Visitors can explore how people repaired, reused and made the most of the materials available to them. These demonstrations will connect older ways of living with modern sustainability, showing how traditional knowledge can inspire us to reduce waste and live more resourcefully today.
