Creamfields 2010: Raving About Recycling

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Thursday 26 August: Creamfields festival-goers will be given the opportunity to recycle their aluminium cans and plastic bottles this weekend whilst enjoying some choice dance tunes from the likes of David Guetta and Kaleidoscope.

Volunteers from Coca-Cola Enterprises Ltd (CCE) and vinspired will be running a 'Swap for Swag Shop' at Creamfields in Daresbury, Cheshire on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 August. The 'Swap for Swag Shop' provides an opportunity to swap plastic bottles for limited edition festival essentials made out of recycled PET.1

Throughout the weekend, visitors to the festival will be able to see the recycling process in action as their bottles are crushed into bales, to be used as tables and chairs during the festival, and then sent on for recycling once the festival closes.

The scheme has already proved a hit this year at the likes of Isle of Wight Festival, Sonisphere at Knebworth, and V Festival. At Sonisphere alone, 23,800 PET bottles were swapped while nearly 25,000 were swapped for festival goodies at V Festival.  In all, nearly 20 tonnes of recyclable materials have been collected throughout the summer.

CCE and vinspired volunteers will also be circulating the Creamfields festival ground to ramp up enthusiasm for recycling and giving out bags to encourage people to collect empty bottles and swap them for limited edition swag at the Swap Shop.

Here's a list of what the crowds at Creamfields can Swap for Swag:

• 5 bottles = poncho
• 10 bottles = neck tote
• 10 bottles = torch
• 10 bottles = lanyard
• 15 bottles = cap
• 20 bottles = t-shirt

Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) Recycling Director, Patrick McGuirk said:

"We have found that music festivals are a great place to promote our Coca-Cola recycling message. The 'Swap for Swag' shop shows people that recycling is worthwhile and that a used bottle has a multitude of second uses.

"Creamfields is the last event that we are attending this summer, and we want every festival-goer to leave at the end of the weekend committed to being a recycler for the rest of their life. We're trying to make recycling cool and it's inspiring to see the positive reaction to our teams of volunteers."

CCE's presence at Creamfields comes as part of its Keep It Going programme which, in partnership with Recoup, has set up recycling points in public spaces across Great Britain. Over 70 permanent recycling zones are currently in place, helping people recycle on the go in shopping centres, hospitals, theme parks and transport hubs.

CCE aims to give all PET plastic bottles a second life - to take this plastic back, wash it, break it down and turn it into new PET bottles for the next round of festivities.  By 2012 Coca-Cola Enterprises aims to have 25% recycled PET in every plastic bottle it sells in Great Britain.

Follow us on twitter for the latest information and updates: www.twitter.com/keepitgoingrz

-ENDS-

Notes to editors

1 PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) is a recyclable plastic that is commonly used for carbonated beverage and water bottles.

For more information contact:
Elisabeth Middlemas or Kate Ward at Coca-Cola Enterprises press office
Tel: 020 7009 3802
Email: elisabeth.middlemas@3-monkeys.co.uk or kate.ward@3-monkeys.co.uk

About Coca-Cola Enterprises Ltd
Coca-Cola Enterprises Ltd (CCE) is a UK based subsidiary of Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc, the world's largest marketer, producer and distributor of The Coca-Cola Company's (TCCC) products.

CCE manufactures and distributes products for TCCC as well as products for other brand-owners, throughout England, Scotland and Wales, employing around 4,500 people in Great Britain across seven manufacturing sites and a number of regional offices and depots.

CCE is committed to minimising the environmental impact of its products and operations, with a particular focus on sustainable packaging, water stewardship, and energy and climate protection.

About vinspired
v, the national young volunteers service, is an independent charity dedicated to helping young people volunteer in ways that matter to them.
www.vinspired.com

About Recoup
Recoup are a plastics recycling consultancy based in Peterborough. For over 20 years, Recoup has been a key player in the recycling of plastics, through setting up schemes to collect plastics to producing guidance documentation around the recyclabililty of plastic packaging.
www.recoup.org