In the UK, Decathlon’s ‘No Tent Left Behind’ scheme tackles festival waste—turning abandoned tents into circular wins.
What unsustainable behaviour needs to change:
Every summer, UK music festivals generate a tidal wave of waste—an estimated 250,000 tents are left behind after just one use. Often made from non-recyclable, fossil-fuel-based materials like polyester and nylon, each tent equals the plastic content of about 200 bottles or 9,000 straws.
Despite awareness campaigns and environmental concern, this wasteful habit lingers. Why? Behavioural barriers stand in the way:
Present bias: When tired festival-goers head home, packing up a tent feels like too much effort.
Diffusion of responsibility: Seeing others leave their tents makes it feel acceptable to do the same.
Perceived disposability: Cheap, easy tents marketed for single use reinforce throwaway culture.
The result? Mountains of tents destined for landfill or incineration—despite good intentions.
Purchase: Buy any Decathlon tent between 9 June and 14 September 2025.
Return: Bring it back used or unused to any Decathlon store, with proof of purchase, before 14 September.
Reward: As a free Decathlon Member, receive a gift card for the full purchase value.
Reuse: Returned tents are refurbished for resale through Decathlon’s Second Life programme or dismantled and recycled.
The scheme removes friction and reframes the end-of-use moment as a win-win—rewarding responsible behaviour rather than relying on guilt. It works by:
Framing the return as a reward instead of a loss.
Simplifying the process with clear steps and no hidden costs.
Normalising reuse through visible reminders at festivals—look out for flags reading “I’m not leaving my tent behind. You shouldn’t either.”
By embedding circular design into the experience, Decathlon shows how businesses can lead on sustainability—making it easy to do the right thing, not harder.
Are you aware of any other nudges that help cut wasteful habits at events? Feel free to comment or get in touch: hello@green-nudges.com
From Tessa Clarke, co-founder and CEO of Olio, the award-winning app tackling household and community waste. Tessa grew up on a farm where wasting food was unthinkable—a mindset shaped by her mother’s mantra: “Waste not, want not.” After more than 15 years in the corporate world, where waste was rife, she set out to become part of the solution. Through Olio, she’s built a global community of over 8 million users who have shared more than 100 million meals and 14 million household items—proving that systemic change starts with local action.
