LITTLE ROCK, AR: The 2019 Arkansas Cornbread Festival, one of the Natural State’s favorite fall festivals, returns to SoMa (S. Main in Little Rock) for the ninth time, greener than ever before. You’ll notice a preference for paper over plastic, refillable water bottle stations, and a refreshing absence of styrofoam at this year’s Arkansas Cornbread Festival.Plastic-Free Little Rock and Arkansas Cornbread Festival have cooked up a five-year plan to become the standard for a low-waste, plastic-free event.
With a clear focus on eliminating specific trash items and single-use plastics from the festival footprint each year, we will show our community that sustainability goals are completely achievable and can become a city-wide—and eventually state-wide—standard.
The festival’s green guidelines will expand over the half-decade evolution, with each new year heralding additional expectations:
YEAR ONE:
*Stamp Out Styrofoam *Say No to Straws *Boycott Bottles (phase 1: Single-Use Plastic Water Bottles)
YEAR TWO:
*Banish Balloons *Quit Condiment Packets *Ban Plastic Bags
YEAR THREE:
*Skip Stickers *Get Rid of Glitter *Boycott Bottles (phase 2: All Single-Use Plastic Bottles)
YEAR FOUR:
*Cut Out Plastic Cutlery *Lay Off Lids *Phase Out Flyers
YEAR FIVE:
*Everywhere You See: Plastic-Free *Donate Food to Local Charities *Compost Food Waste and Bio-Plastics
We know the task seems daunting, but our plan was developed by researching adopted measures in similarly sized cities and festivals. We will support our vendors and food trucks with resources and information through the transition, and will educate festival-goers both before and during the event to ensure our mutual success. We want this to be an opportunity for practice and education for all to take to their homes or businesses and continue them – what it means and how it can fit into their lifestyle.
Because moving Towards Zero Waste will require everyone’s attention and dedication, this three-pronged approach will guide the journey:
What the event WILL do
*INFORM by clearly communicating sustainability guidelines.
*EDUCATE by sharing resources and helpful tips.
*ENFORCE sustainability practices.
What the vendors MUST do
*ACCEPT responsibility for your business and home, and commit to being a steward of the Natural State for future generations.
*ABIDE the sustainability standards with your product packaging and presentation. Think minimal, biodegradable, and easily recyclable.
*THRIVE—Share with your patrons why your business practices kindness to the planet, which we want to be a healthy home for generations to come.
What the attendees SHOULD do
*REACT: Share your support of the festival’s sustainability practices through social media channels and real-time, face-to-face conversations.
*RESPECT: Bring a reusable water bottle to the festival and, while you’re there, remember to say no to straws, separate waste properly, and encourage your friends and family to do the same.
*RELIVE: Urge your fellow attendees and community members to take these lessons beyond SoMa. Challenge them to continue to think outside the “plastic” box and form green habits that will, eventually, become a sustainable lifestyle.
Each year, builds on the previous one, adding new sustainable elements to help move everyone Toward Zero Waste by the fifth year.
SAVE THE DATE: Bring your refillable water bottle, join in all the fun with interesting vendors, music and kid’s activities. And of course get your fill tasting cornbread, along South Main between 13th-17th Streets—Little Rock’s SoMa district—from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, October 26, 2019. The event is free, however to taste all the cornbread tasting tickets may be purchased beginning August 1, 2019 online https://www.arkansascornbreadfestival.com/attend/.
Learn more about the festival at https://www.arkansascornbreadfestival.com/.
Discover how you can personally move Towards Zero Waste at a Plastic-Free Little Rock Meetup. Details available at https://www.facebook.com/plasticfreelr/.
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