Tomorrowland is a celebration for all the senses, with delicious food as a key element of the experience. But what happens to leftovers when the party ends?
Each year, chefs and caterers from around the world gather on the ‘Holy Grounds’ of De Schorre to create unique dishes. Whether grabbing a quick snack or indulging in fine dining with a view of the main stage, visitors are spoilt for choice.
From Surplus to Shared Meals
Tomorrowland prioritizes reducing food waste at their own food stands by collaborating with caterers. This means mindful meal planning to minimize excess from the start.
In 2024 the festival, which took place over two weekends, managed to keep the leftovers limited to:
- 5 pallets of fresh produce (butter, cheese, vegetables, etc.), with the heaviest pallet weighing 590 kg
- 5 pallets of frozen treats (ice cream, waffles, etc.), weighing 232 kg in total
40 packages of dry goods, like jam and spreads, as well as fresh produce were donated to the local food bank, ’t Stampertje in Merksem.
The rest of the leftovers weren’t wasted either. They became part of a community-driven initiative at Tuin van de Chef (Garden of the Chef), a local social restaurant. Jan Vermeulen, director of Vlotter, a social enterprise that employs people facing barriers to the job market, shared: “We’ve partnered with Tomorrowland for years, from making bins to assisting with the clean-up. This year, we transformed surplus ingredients into a special ‘No Waste Street Food’ menu, featuring creative dishes like a twist on Caprese salad, tacos with cheese, baba ganoush, spinach, and rocket. For dessert, there was a playful take on a Dame Blanche, made with ice cream, cream, and waffles. In total, 250 guests enjoyed a complimentary meal, and the local community embraced the initiative. We’re excited to build on this success and continue the project next year.”
Party with Purpose
You may wonder what happens to the food waste left behind by visitors, which constitutes about 2% of our total waste. This waste is collected in organic bins scattered throughout the festival grounds, and is processed by an industrial partner to produce biogas.
These efforts align with of the 2023-2030 strategic plan to make Tomorrowland the world’s most environmentally responsible festival, under the ‘Responsibility – Holy Grounds’ pillar, which treats waste as a valuable resource.
