Trifoi Fest: discussions about the environment
The vegan ecological festival Trifoi Fest returns to Bucharest: it will take place between September 15-17, 2023, in the courtyard of Malmaison (Calea Plevnei 137C). The second edition brings as a novelty the zero waste certification process, based on a methodology developed by Zero Waste Europe and implemented by Zero Waste Romania.
The event is organized by the Association for Sustainable Consumption, which aims to offer inspiration and concrete tools to live better with less, covering the entire spectrum of basic needs: food, care, energy, transport, housing.
For 3 days, visitors will have access to food products, personal care and cleaning products, clothes and accessories, furniture and decorations, books and other ecological, durable or biodegradable alternatives, obtained without waste or from waste, all vegan. Attendees will be able to participate in debates and discussions about justice and anti-speciesism, about collaboration, about the role of intersectionality in the alternative proposed by degrowth, as well as about sustainable models of food production and consumption, which respect planetary limits. The evenings come with 3 film screenings: on Friday, the fiction series "The Collapse" warns us about the chaos that would set in with the collapse of the current system; on Saturday, the artistic documentary "Metamorphosis" captures the effects of our destructive behaviors on nature, offering the perspective of a transition to a more just society. On Sunday, the documentary "Stories of Growth" criticizes the current system and proposes an alternative: degrowth. "The planet is already warning us, through numerous imbalances and disasters, that we can no longer continue with the extractivist, exploitative, oppressive model we have become accustomed to. Infinite economic growth on a planet with finite resources is not possible. We need more temperate alternatives, gentler with the nature of which we humans are also a part. We talk about these alternatives at Trifoi Fest. For 3 days, we bring together products, services and activities under the umbrella of a festival that aims to be as circular, local, organic, vegan, ecological and resilient as possible. We hope to thus instill better habits towards the environment, people and other non-human animals," declares Irina Breniuc, President of the Association for Sustainable Consumption.
Find out more about concept, program , list of exhibitors on the Trifo Fest website.
How visitors can prepare
Trifoi Fest attendees are encouraged to come by bike or public transport to reduce their carbon footprint and avoid paying for a parking spot. Also, the organizers recommend bringing a plate, cutlery, and a glass. Instead, they will have filtered water for drinking and a washing area for containers. Those who forget can borrow a plate, glass, and stainless steel spoon, or they can buy fully biodegradable plates and wooden cutlery. Even if the amount of packaging waste within the festival perimeter will be significantly reduced, visitors who want to dispose of waste from outside can use the separate collection bins. These will be divided into six fractions and will have clear instructions for use: biodegradable waste for compost, paper-cardboard, plastic-metal, glass, residual/household, cigarette butts.
About the zero waste certification process
In 2021, at the first edition of Trifoi Fest, we implemented a series of quite ambitious prevention measures for the event scene in Romania at that time. Some went well: we offered free filtered water in upcycled glasses, we only had sugarcane containers for food, we collected recyclables that participants had with them, etc. Other actions still needed improvement: the collection rate of biodegradable waste would have been higher if we had been allowed to cover the park's trash cans. For better waste prevention and management, this year we started the zero waste certification process, with the support of Zero Waste Romania. We use the certification methodology developed by Zero Waste Europe for festivals and events. We aim to reduce the amount of waste that would have been generated by 98% compared to a festival that does not consider its environmental impact. For this, we have to track 27 indicators and implement 57 concrete measures. We will return after the festival with the results of the initiative and a case study prepared by Zero Waste Romania.
