Cover The crew of “L’Amour Ouf” (Beating Hearts) on the red carpet at the 77th Cannes Film Festival (Photo: Getty Images)
The crew of “L’Amour Ouf” (Beating Hearts) on the red carpet at the 77th Cannes Film Festival (Photo: Getty Images)
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As the 77th Cannes Film Festival comes to a close, Tatler takes a look how the event this year sought to be more sustainable—from reusable red carpets to beef being taken off the menu
One of the biggest celebrations of international cinema, the Cannes Film Festival returned to the southern French city from May 14 to 25.
Beyond the glitz and the glamour of the festival, which welcomes screen icons the world over, the organisers of the event have taken steps to make the festival more sustainable in recent years. It works with Palais des festivals et des congrès, an exhibition centre that serves as a primary venue for the festival, in the reduction of electricity consumption as well as recycling its tarpaulins. The festival has also gone paperless where possible and even incentivised attendees to carbon offset their flights.
In 2021, significant measures were put in place at the festival, with the goal of reducing emissions and waste, recovering residual resources and contributing to carbon offsetting.
As the 77th edition of the festival draws to a close, Tatler takes a look at five sustainable measures made at the event this year.
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1. Saving and reusing red carpets
Above The Cannes Film Festival’s famous red carpet is now only replaced once daily (Photo: Getty Images)
The Cannes Film Festival’s famous red carpet is now only replaced once daily (Photo: Getty Images)
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The festival’s famous red carpet used to be changed three times a day—once per film screening. Since 2021, however, the red carpet is only changed once a day. Efforts are also made on its layout, and between 2019 and 2013, its volumes were reduced by 12 per cent.
The used red carpet is reused for set designs, as decorative elements for ceremonial events and as part of other upcycled objects.
2. Beef was taken off menus
Above Beef, being the food with the highest carbon footprint, was banned from this year’s Cannes Film Festival (Photo: Getty Images)
Beef, being the food with the highest carbon footprint, was banned from this year’s Cannes Film Festival (Photo: Getty Images)
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The festival has removed beef from its menus and increased the number of vegetarian options.
Red meats have a sizeable carbon footprint, compared to other meats, and out of these, beef releases the most amount of greenhouse gas per kilogram produced. This is thanks to modern industry practices and the fact that cows release significant amounts of methane.
Meanwhile, the festival also requires its caterers to serve local and seasonal products, shorten food supply chains for their ingredients and limit waste in their operations.
3. All official vehicles are electric
Above The Cannes Film Festival’s official vehicles are all electric this year (Photo: Getty Images)
The Cannes Film Festival’s official vehicles are all electric this year (Photo: Getty Images)
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Though festival goers are encouraged to walk whenever possible, thanks to the close proximity of event spaces, more than 200 BMW electric cars are available to festival organisers and some of their official partners to chauffeur stars and VIPs around.
Festival goers also enjoy free public transportation within the city of Cannes.
4. Paperless promotional material
Above Taking steps towards a greener future, the Cannes Film Festival has gone paperless for media releases (Photo: Getty Images)
Taking steps towards a greener future, the Cannes Film Festival has gone paperless for media releases (Photo: Getty Images)
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Promotional content made for journalists are no longer printed. The festival has also transitioned to a more paperless system for its publications and ticket office material, reducing the weight of its print-outs by 79 per cent. What it does end up printing is Imprim’Vert PEFC-certified—a recognition given to green printing.
5. No more plastic water bottles
The festival eliminated the distribution of plastic water bottles. Water fountains are installed throughout the Palais des festivals et des congrès.
Khoa Tran is Social Impact Editor at Tatler Hong Kong. He covers stories touching on sustainability, entrepreneurship, philanthropy and diversity. Trained as a lawyer, Khoa’s work as a writer had previously touched up topics such as regulatory compliance, ESG, and banking. Outside of the office, he enjoys rock climbing and relaxing in jazz clubs.
