By Community Correspondant Lindsay Stewart

A staggering 12 million of us will go to a festival this summer, but we will also leave a huge carbon footprint by doing this. Are you one of the millions who are excited for their festival, but have a sinking feeling that you’re helping to kill the planet? If you are one of these people , then take a look at these 5 handy tips on how to reduce your CO2 emissions this summer at your favourite festival:

1. GREENER TRAVEL!Most of the CO2 emissions at festivals actually come from the audience travelling there. If you travel in a car on your own, you are emitting ten times the amount of CO2 than if you travelled by bus and three and a half times as much as if you travelled by train. So why not travel in a lift share or by public transport? Travelling by bike emits the least CO2, but if you live too far away why don’t you go by coach or train? These options not only reduce your carbon footprint, but also reduce congestion in the roads. If you HAVE to travel by car, then fill your car with other people. You can find festival goers who are in need of a lift at www.liftshare.com.

2. DON’T LITTER! Bring three bags to your festival, so that you can recycle.

BAG 1. Recycling. For aluminium cans, plastic bottles, food tins, general plastic containers, newspapers, flyers & brochures, magazines, cardboard and beer cases.

BAG 2. Compost. Food scraps, leftovers, takeaway food packaging, coffee cups, etc.

BAG 3. Rubbish. Crisp packets, straws, coffee cup lids and all other rubbish that can’t be recycled or composted. Try to reduce your general rubbish as this goes into a land fill.

3.LEAVE NO TRACE! Don’t leave your tent behind so someone else can clean up your mess. If you can’t be bothered to do this, then why not try a podpad or a myhab, which are both amazing festival accommodation which is put up and taken down for you (www.podpads.com and www.myhab.com). For extra (metaphorical) brownie points you can clean your surrounding area of litter, whether it’s yours or not.

4.RE-USE! Bring durable bottles, cups and bags to reduce your waste. Bring a good bottle that you can refill without throwing away and do the same with cups. To reduce the amount of plastic bags floating around your campsite, bring a canvas bag which you can carry around while stocking up at the stalls.

5.BE A GOOD CAMPER! Try these tips to be a good camper: Take short showers and don’t leave the water running. Use phosphate free shampoo. Try to buy fair trade products. Don’t buy over packaged food and use re-sealable containers. Don’t drop litter, use bins. Don’t drop your cigarette butts. Use rechargeable batteries. But the best tip for being a good camper is ... Have a great time!

This may not seem like a lot, but one person can make a difference. If you encourage your friends to do the same then you won’t just be reducing your carbon footprint, you’ll be saving the world!