Festivals aim to plant 250,000 trees to offset CO2 emissions

Flanders' biggest festivals are planning to plant more than 250,000 trees to offset their carbon emissions. Attendees will be able to pay for purchases via the Belgian payment app Bonsai, with one tree planted for every 10 transactions.

The major festivals Graspop Metal Meeting, Pukkelpop, Rock Werchter and Tomorrowland, as well as CORE Festival, Werchter Boutique and TW Classic, have committed to planting an area of around 50 football fields. The mangrove trees, which absorb more CO2 than a standard Belgian forest, will be planted in Madagascar.

That equals a carbon reduction of 75,000 tonnes, a joint press release says. "For many years, we have been committed to organising the festivals in Werchter more sustainably," says Lynn Goethals of Rock Werchter organiser Live Nation. "Thanks to this new partnership with bonsai, we are taking additional action with our festival-goers."

^{#FlandersNewsService | The first edition of CORE Festival. © BELGA PHOTO HATIM KAGHAT}