Oktoberfest ecological
A lot has happened since 1991, when regulations on waste reduction were included in the Oktoberfest's operating regulations for the first time. In cooperation with other municipal departments, strategies have been developed to organise the world's largest folk festival in the most environmentally friendly way possible.
The measures range from reducing the amount of waste and water consumption, to offering organic delicacies and regional products, to "eco-points" in the rating system for admission to the Wiesn and the use of green electricity and green natural gas. The Oktoberfest can therefore be seen as a role model for other major events.
Eco-points at the Oktoberfest
Since 1995, applicants for a place at the Wiesn have been able to score points for "ecological compatibility" during the authorisation process. Among other things, the use of biodegradable hydraulic oil, the sale of products from regional and organic cultivation or energy-saving measures, for example the installation of a solar system, the use of electric vehicles and certification as a CO2-neutral operation overall or - in the case of the rides - CO2-neutral transport are taken into account in the assessment.
ÖKOPROFIT München
43 Oktoberfest businesses took part in the environmental consulting and climate protection programme ÖKOPROFIT Munich in 2021. In 2022, seven more businesses completed the programme. In 2023, 21 businesses will again take part in the ECOPROFIT round. Together with the participants, ÖKOPROFIT Munich defines technical and organisational measures through professional environmental consulting in order to save raw materials, water and energy, avoid waste and reduce emissions. At the same time, the workforce of the participating company is sensitised to environmental issues and integrated into the company's environmental management. Measures include offsetting site-related CO2 emissions, saving water, for example through waterless urinals, the use of electric vehicles, but also the composting of fruit waste or the avoidance of paper towels in toilets or aluminium bags in street vending. ÖKOPROFIT Munich is a cooperation between Munich companies, the Department of Labour and Economic Affairs, the Department of Climate and Environmental Protection, the Munich Waste Management Company, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce for Munich and Upper Bavaria, Stadtwerke München and Munich University of Applied Sciences.
Climate-neutral Oktoberfest businesses
Since 2016, the Ammer chicken and duck roastery has been the first climate-neutral festival tent at the Wiesn. Here, unavoidable CO2 emissions are offset by projects in Nigeria (efficient cooking systems for families), India (electricity generation from mustard harvest residues) and Kenya (construction of biogas plants). The "Zum Stiftl" chicken roastery followed in 2018. Its CO2 emissions were offset by a mountain forest project in the Oberallgäu region and a forest conservation project in Papua New Guinea.
In 2019, Kuffler's wine tent was also certified as a "climate-neutral marquee operation". All CO2 emissions are offset by climate protection projects: a reforestation project in Oberallgäu, a forest protection project in Papua New Guinea and the "Clean Cooking Stoves Project" in Peru, while Hofbräu München's Oktoberfest beer, its transport to the Wiesn and all tents and festival businesses serving Hofbräu beer are climate-neutral. This is achieved by renaturalising an area of moorland in Chiemgau and a concept for binding greenhouse gases from the air in humus, implemented in Thann near Zolling. The Marstall festival tent and the Poschner chicken roasting plant, which supports forest conservation in Brazil, are now also climate-neutral.
Electricity supply
Since 2012, all Oktoberfest businesses have been supplied with M-Ökostrom. In plants that utilise renewable energy sources such as hydropower, the amount of electricity corresponding to customer consumption is generated and fed into the European electricity grid. Stadtwerke München SWM provides proof of this through guarantees of origin in accordance with Directive 2009/28/EC of the European Parliament. The use of M-Ökostrom thus reduces CO2 emissions. According to SWM, the guarantees of origin can be precisely assigned to the respective electricity supply and taken into account in the electricity labelling in accordance with Section 42 EnWG.
Supply of natural gas
In addition to M-Ökostrom, all catering establishments also receive M-Ökogas. The provision of M-Ökostrom and M-Ökogas for everyone alone can save 1,000 tonnes of CO2. The Theresienwiese has its own pipeline network of around five kilometres to supply the festival tents and businesses with environmentally friendly natural gas. M-Ökogas is SWM's climate-neutral, CO2-free natural gas supply. The CO2 emissions are offset by the purchase of reduction certificates. The money is used to support climate protection projects, usually with additional social aspects. Without the funds from the certificates, these projects would not exist. The CO2 emissions produced by natural gas consumption are thus reduced by the same amount.
Waste reduction
The two pillars of the waste prevention concept are the ban on disposable crockery and the strict separation of waste. Only reusable crockery and cutlery have been permitted at the Oktoberfest since 1991. Soft drinks are only sold in returnable bottles for a minimum deposit of one euro. The sale of drinks in cans is prohibited. Reusable transport containers are used for the delivery of food and beer mugs. All waste is sorted and recyclable materials are placed in the designated collection containers. Large catering establishments dispose of used glass in their own containers. Kitchen and food waste is collected separately and recycled separately. The municipal street cleaning service, which removes rubbish and waste deposits on a daily basis using electric vehicles and a small sweeper, reported a reduction in cleaning and disposal costs from 247 tonnes (2008) to around 88 tonnes (2022).
Water recycling
Since 1998, water has been saved at the Wiesn with the help of a recycling project: in some festival halls (for example Pschorrbräu Festhalle Bräurosl, Hacker Festzelt, Hofbräu, Löwenbräu, Schottenhamel and Paulaner Festzelt), resource-saving grey water utilisation systems are in use. Thanks to cascade utilisation, the rinse water from the beer mug washers is not channelled into the sewer but used for the tent toilets.
Organic delicacies
For the Oktoberfest, numerous businesses are certified in accordance with EU Organic Regulation No. 834/2007 and offer a wide range of folk festival specialities in organic quality: from classic Wiesn-Hendl to roasted almonds, from bratwurst to steak rolls, from chocolate bananas to waffles. In the Paulaner festival tent and in the Ammer chicken and duck roasting house, only organic chicken will be sold this year. Many products carry the label "Geprüfte Qualität Bayern" or the "Bayerische Bio-Siegel". The sale of CO2-neutral products, such as gingerbread hearts from the company "Zuckersucht", is also rated positively. Page 5 There is also a wide range of vegan products on offer at the Wiesn this year.
