Werchter rocks greener in 2025

Werchter rocks greener in 2025: no giant leaps, just decisive steps

For years, the organizers of the Werchter festivals have been investing in making their activities more sustainable. We consciously choose to take responsibility and aim to make a difference. Not with grand words, but with concrete actions. The ambition to reduce our ecological footprint remains strong. In 2025, we continue to build with conviction, enthusiasm, and great energy on the foundations laid in recent years.

Sustainability is a shared responsibility. Everyone is involved: festivalgoers, volunteers, crew, suppliers, partners, and artists. Together, we take small and big steps toward greener festivals. Every step counts.

Achieving the VOKA Charter for Sustainable Entrepreneurship confirms we’re on the right track. A sustainably organized festival is not a trend. It’s a reality.

Traveling to Werchter with Minimal Impact

There are many accessible options to travel to the Festivalpark with minimal environmental impact. To reduce CO₂ emissions, we promote comfortable, carefree, and fast alternatives to cars.

For nearly 20 years, Rock Werchter has offered tickets that include public transport. Ticket holders travel for free by train to/from Leuven or Aarschot. From there, De Lijn shuttle buses take them quickly and easily to the festival. After each festival day, extra night trains run to cities like Antwerp, Brussels, and Ghent. This additional service is offered at a low cost. The same applies to one-day festivals TW Classic and Werchter Boutique.

More and more festivalgoers and festival volunteers from the region choose to bike. There are free, secure bike parking areas near the Festivalpark. For those coming from farther away, there are convenient and free park + bike locations within 15 minutes cycling distance.

We don’t ban cars, but we do encourage more conscious choices. Parking spaces are limited and must be booked in advance. Carpooling is also highly recommended: it’s better for the environment and way more fun when you travel together!

Together Toward Circularity

Producing less waste, collecting more, and creating a circular system only works if everyone participates: suppliers, sponsors, volunteers, artists, and crew. Sustainability is teamwork.

Food in the Festivalpark is served on cardboard plates, and plastic straws have long been a thing of the past. In Apero’s, backstage, and hospitality areas, drinks are served in glass. In the Festivalpark and The Hive, we use reusable cups for beer, cocktails, and coffee. Festivalgoers are encouraged to collect 15 rPET bottles or cans and receive a free Coin.

Waste is sorted everywhere, from the Festivalpark to backstage and artist areas. There are many clearly marked bins to make sorting easy. Properly sorted waste can be recycled. That’s how we bring the circular story to life and giving materials a second life.

On the campsites, we focus on reducing waste and increasing reuse. The “Join Us on the Road to Zero Waste” campaign encourages campers to participate. Guests at The Hive receive a recycle kit with waste bags and sorting instructions. Extra drop-off points are available for waste and broken camping gear. On Monday, leftover food can be donated at recycle/return points.

Waste prevention starts with packing smart. Campers are encouraged to travel light. There’s a wide range of pre-pitched tents - from basic to glamping. With breakfast vouchers, Albert Heijn’s healthy snack swap bag, and the option to pre-order cold Jupiler or Jupiler 0.0 beers, it’s even easier to bring less to The Hive.

Less Diesel, More Green Power

When the landscaped park was created, the Festivalpark gained a high-voltage cabin. The backstage area runs on green energy from the first day of setup. We use green grid power as much as possible. However, we have not been able to completely dispense with diesel generators. But there are fewer than ever. The diesel generators are also used more intelligently, and where possible we opt for hybrid solutions. Our partnership with energy platform Bolt is being scaled up. This year, two temporary wind turbines and a mobile solar installation provide locally generated green power on-site.

Deliciously Local

Artists are offered local alternatives for special hospitality rider requests. Catering partner Bevers & Bevers works mainly with Belgian suppliers. Crew and volunteers are served local products and enjoy of meals with a low ecological footprint on a regular base. In Rock Werchter’s pop-up restaurant De Smaakfabriek, local and tasty are key. Curated by Loïc Van Impe in collaboration with Boerenbond, the dishes are made with ingredients straight from the farm. For non-food purchases, we also choose local suppliers. Our festival merchandise carries the Fair Wear label, ensuring fair production.

Positive Impact

More than 12,000 volunteers from over 190 local organisations help during the festivals; at bars, in eco-teams, on parking lots and campsites. These associations receive a fair compensation, which is reinvested in youth clubhouses, school improvements, sports equipment, and more. Rock Werchter plays an active social role.

The festivals promote diversity and inclusion. In collaboration with Inter, major efforts are made to ensure accessibility for people with disabilities. We raise awareness for safe and healthy festivals through Feel Good, Rock Werchter and as co-initiators of We Care A Lot. We want our festivals to be safe spaces where everyone feels welcome and comfortable. At the We Care A Lot prevention stand, various well-being and health topics are highlighted.

Small gestures can make a big difference. On Monday, leftover food from The Hive is donated to the Food Banks. Festivalgoers can donate reusable cups for charity by dropping them in “gitterboxes”. Proceeds from the deposit of these reusable cups goes entirely to Join For Water, supporting two projects: Waterwijs Werchter and a water project in the Andes.

Our partners also contribute to a better world. Proximus invites visitors to bring old cellphones to their booth. In return, participants receive 2 Coins per phone. Through urban mining, valuable materials are recovered from the cellphones. Odette Lunettes combines style with solidarity. Buying Rock Werchter sunglasses supports the NGO Light for the World.

Everyone Informed, Everyone Involved

Communication is key. We raise awareness among crew, suppliers, artists, and festivalgoers. Together, we rock toward a greener festival.

OurWerchter Rocks Green campaign runs across various channels: emails, social media, festival apps powered by Proximus, and on-site screens, tickers, and info boards. We also believe in reporting back on our achievements. You can consult the 2024 sustainability report via this link.

We continue to learn, explore, and improve. Every step brings us closer to more sustainable festivals. Go green, rock Werchter!