Since 2015, Sarawak Tourism Board has embarked on a journey committed towards a sustainable festival. Having started as a small initiative with Biji-Biji Initiative in sustainable awareness, this event has now seen different partners and organizers coming together and making different components of the Rainforest festival green. Together, we are going the extra mile to incorporate green initiatives into various aspects of the international event, in alignment with UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) has been recognized as one of the leading music festivals in the region through its vivid musical performance and live events on stage. Not only known for that, but getting recognition made through efforts in implementing sustainable elements within RWMF.
Want to know how we are driving change? Read on.
Waste Management Strategy
Our Initiative:
- Across the Sarawak Cultural Village, festival attendees will find green waste stations provided by Trienekens (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd and managed together with Biji-Biji Initiative with creative signages and posters that help to boost recycling efforts. In tandem with waste collection, we are also carrying out proper and transparent waste segregation especially for recyclables and food waste. From 2016 till 2018, we successfully diverted away 2108.10kg of waste and recyclables that would usually end up in the landfill.
What can you do:
- Use the trash, compost and recyclable bins at the waste stations accordingly. Our green ambassadors on-ground will assist with your segregating experience and answer any curious questions on our sustainable efforts that you have.
Sustainable Food Market
Our Initiative:
- From the initial planning phase, one initiative taken is to source for alternatives and eco-friendly products. Through cooperating closely with Canard Media, we ensure food and drink vendors only use biodegradable tableware and avoid disposable plates or cutlery made from styrofoam. Not only that but for this year we try to ensure that the vendors adhere to the minimum standards of Biji-Biji Initiative Sustainable Events Guideline where we encourage them to source ethical, sustainable and local produce.
What can you do:
- You can join the initiative by bringing your own food container to pack your food or take back your leftovers and enjoy it later.
Food Composting
Our Initiative:
- Food is one of the main wastages during festivals aside from plastic; according to the Solid Waste Corporation, Malaysians generate 16,687.5 tonnes of food waste on a daily basis and during festivals, there is a reported 15-20% increase in food waste. Our mission alongside with WormingUp, a Kuching-based social enterprise and Biji-Biji Initiative is in collecting and channelling leftover food into compost bins. These organic waste and food scraps will either be given to the worm farm to make bio-protein or be donated to farmers for composting.
What can you do:
- Do not waste food during the festival. Purchase only what you need and be mindful of your intake.
Upcycled banner bags
Our Initiative:
- Since 2016, Biji-Biji Initiative offers an ingenious solution to RWMF festival banners – by channelling them away from landfills. They created beautifully designed tote bags yearly for VIP gifts from those banners. We have saved and converted a total of about 700 meter square of banners.
Green Warriors
Our Initiative:
- For the last two years, we were able to synchronize waste management strategies across multiple waste stations by enlisting the help of local university students and mobilizing volunteers on the spot. We are proud to have these amazing green heroes spreading the message on topics related to recycling and food waste composting and raising public awareness. For this year we are introducing the Green warriors campaign, where every day during the festival from 4.30pm till 5.30pm we will be conducting a round of festival ground cleanup with the audience starting with a talk at the Biji-biji Booth.
What can you do:
- Join in the Green Warrior Campaign!
Water Station
Our Initiative:
- As a case study last year Biji-biji Initiative provided a mini water station for our green volunteers, which saved up to 600 units of 0.5L bottles that are usually given out during festivals. This year, in partnership with Cuckoo, we provide free filtered water stations for festival goers throughout the festival grounds. This is to cut down on single use-plastic and aimed at saving up to an equivalent 40,000 units of 0.5 L water bottles!
What can you do:
- We encourage you to bring your own empty refillable water bottles or you can purchase our RWMF limited collapsible cups.
Smoking on site
Our Initiative:
- We do not promote smoking in the festival grounds area. Why? This is to avoid not only the effect towards your health but also to protect other festival-goers especially children from the effects of second-hand smoke. Furthermore, cigarette butts and filters do not biodegrade and their fibres can take up to 10 to 15 years to break down.
What can you do:
- Please do not smoke on the festival grounds. Let’s make a change together and set the bar higher at RWMF 2019.
Let’s make a change together and set the bar higher at RWMF 2019.
