Sustainability

We are committed to implementing and promoting environmental sustainability. We aim to reduce the impact on the environment and help our partners, vendors and visitors to do the same.

Food and drink

We’re all about amazing food experiences onsite, so you can work your way through the incredible variety of vendors. All of them are serving up delicious dishes using compostable serveware and Fairtrade ingredients.

We are working with the traders to make an ethical food environment easier.

Prioritising certified food products - such as Red Tractor, RSPCA Assured, MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) Certified, Fairtrade - is at the heart of our product sourcing. Food will also be sourced locally and within season wherever possible.

Cups and plastic

We’ve partnered with Re-uz® to bring reusable cups to this year’s event — helping us cut down on single-use waste and sail toward a more sustainable future.

Grab a Re-uz® cup at the bar
Enjoy your drink
When you're done, return it to the specially marked Re-uz® return bins located throughout the site

These cups will be washed and reused at future events, keeping waste out of landfills and supporting a circular system we can all be proud of.

Sustainable packaging

We aim for all packaging and takeaway serveware at the Tall Ships event to be eco-friendly and made from:

FSC-certified or recycled cardboard
FSC-certified or recycled paper wrap
FSC-certified wood

All takeaway containers (including boxes, plates, bowls, paper cups, coffee cup lids, straws and napkins) will be paper-based and certified compostable to BS EN 13432.

Used items should go in the organic or recycling bins – let’s keep it sustainable!

Bins

Under Scottish law, all businesses (yep, even at Tall Ships) must separate recyclables and food waste right where it’s created — which means sorting before anything leaves the site.

We’re making it easy with clearly marked bins for general waste, recycling and organic waste across the site.

So do your bit—sort it right and help keep the Tall Ships sustainable.

Power

We're running on HVO – a fossil-free alternative to diesel that cuts greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90%.

Even the Tall Ships will be using HVO while in port.

Drinking water

No need to carry heavy bottles — we’ve got FREE drinking water available across the site.

Bring your reusable water bottle and refill as you go, or grab a stylish one from our official merch store.

There are seven public water refill points:

Streamline’s Yard
Jamieson’s Quay
Upper Quay
Food Run (R1) – Regent’s Quay
Bar between the Transit Sheds – Regent’s Quay
Food Run – Waterloo Quay
Bar – Petersons Yard