European regulatory framework (sustainability and waste at events)
At the European Union level, there are clear guidelines for reducing waste at events and promoting the circular economy. In particular, Directive (EU) 2019/904 on single-use plastics sets the objective of prioritizing reusable products and reuse systems over single-use ones.
This directive, in force since 2019, requires member states to take ambitious measures before July 2021 to reduce the consumption of disposable plastic items (such as cups, straws, cutlery, plates, etc.) that are often generated at large events. The goal is to prevent and reduce the generation of plastic waste in the environment by promoting reusable and sustainable alternatives.
In line with this directive, the sale of certain single-use plastic products (e.g., cutlery, plates, straws, and expanded polystyrene cups) is prohibited, and a drastic reduction in the consumption of disposable cups and food containers is required by 2026 through the introduction of reusable or compostable alternatives and deposit systems throughout Europe.
In addition, European packaging regulations (Directive 2018/852) promote packaging reuse targets, which are then incorporated into national laws, to move towards a circular economy. For example, all packaging is expected to be recyclable by 2030 and, where possible, reusable, promoting the first option in the waste hierarchy (prevention and reuse). These EU guidelines lay the foundations that Spain and Portugal have translated into national and local laws applicable to the organization of sustainable events.
National legislation in Spain (waste and reuse at events)
In Spain, sustainability regulations for events have advanced rapidly in recent years, incorporating European requirements and adding specific obligations for event promoters:
- Law 7/2022 on Waste and Contaminated Soil for a Circular Economy: this is the state framework law that transposes European waste directives. Among other measures, it prohibits the sale of single-use plastic products identified by the EU (cutlery, plates, straws, etc.) from 2023 and encourages the manufacture and use of reusable packaging with eco-design criteria. This law laid the foundations for the phasing out of disposable plastics in all sectors, including events.
- Royal Decree 1055/2022, of December 27, on packaging and packaging waste: implements Law 7/2022 on packaging and contains specific provisions for events. From July 1, 2023, promoters of festive, cultural, or sporting events—both public and private—must implement alternatives to the sale and distribution of beverages in single-use containers and cups, while also ensuring access to non-packaged drinking water at the event. This means, for example, using reusable (or at least compostable) cups at bars and catering services at concerts, festivals, fairs, etc., instead of disposable cups. If reusable cups with a deposit are used, the regulation requires a system to be set up to refund the deposit to the consumer when the cup is returned.
In other words, if a festival charges €1 for a reusable cup, it must refund this amount if the attendee returns the cup, to ensure that it is actually reused and prevent it from becoming a mere souvenir (this deposit refund practice has been mandatory since 2023, although some promoters did not initially comply with it). Likewise, Royal Decree 1055/2022 requires that reusable cups comply with the UNE-EN 13429 standard (reusable packaging) to ensure their suitability and durability. With this regulation, Spain is leading the way in eliminating single-use plastic cups at events—in fact, "the days of non-reusable plastic cups are numbered" —and promoting deposit and return systems for a circular economy.
- Obligation to provide free drinking water: Both Law 7/2022 and RD 1055/2022 reinforce access to tap water at events and in the hospitality industry. Catering establishments (and by extension, events with bars) must offer non-bottled water free of charge. This means installing water fountains or jugs at concerts and fairs to reduce the sale of single-use plastic bottles. Public bodies must also encourage the consumption of tap water at their facilities and events. The aim is to reduce the enormous amount of disposable bottles that end up as waste.
- Container reuse targets: Spain has set quantitative targets to increase the use of reusable containers. For example, in the hospitality sector (HORECA), the aim is that by 2025, 30% of bottled water, 80% of beer, and 60% of soft drinks will be sold in reusable packaging, with these percentages increasing towards 2030. These national targets, in line with the Packaging Directive, indirectly affect events: beverage suppliers will have to offer more kegs, returnable bottles, or cup/reuse systems at concerts and festivals to meet reuse quotas.
- Regional and local regulations: Some autonomous communities and local councils have gone further with their own regulations for sustainable events. A recent example is Navarre, which approved Regional Decree 36/2024 on public events and sustainability, in force since May 2025. This regional regulation prohibits the use of single-use plastics at all public events in Navarre (cultural, sporting, festive, etc., organized or financed by administrations, or requiring a license). In practice, reusable or biodegradable cups will be mandatory, eliminating disposable plastic cups at popular festivals (such as the image of long tables at patron saint festivals where disposable cups once abounded). Navarra also includes a ban on single-use plates, cutlery, and straws at these events, as well as single-use pods and capsules, reinforcing a "zero waste" approach to public celebrations. Other municipalities, even before the national law, implemented similar measures: for example, El Puerto de Santa María (Cádiz) agreed in 2020 to require reusable cups at all municipal concerts and events, obliging the winning companies in the tender to use only reusable cups and then recycle them at the end of their useful life. The city of Pamplona also launched a pioneering reusable cup system for San Fermín 2017: the City Council distributes reusable cups to bars and clubs, charging the public a €1 deposit, which is returned when the cup is handed in at any participating bar, after which the cup is washed and put back into circulation. Thanks to this municipal system, each cup is reused multiple times a day (up to five times a day), avoiding hundreds of thousands of single-use cups during the San Fermin festival. Since 2017, it has led to a significant reduction in plastic waste during the festival, as part of the city's "plastic-free festival" strategy.
In summary, current Spanish regulations require event organizers to eliminate single-use plastics (especially cups) and offer reusable alternatives with return systems, under penalty of possible sanctions for non-compliance. These national regulations are complemented by stricter local ordinances in some cities, all with the common goal of minimizing the environmental footprint of events through waste reduction and proper waste management.
Examples of sustainable events with cup reuse and waste management
Various events in Spain and Portugal have already successfully implemented sustainable waste management systems, serving as a model for the industry. Below, we highlight real examples of festivals and events that have incorporated reusable cups or other circular economy initiatives:
- San Fermín (Pamplona, Spain): The famous San Fermín festival has been a pioneer in the use of reusable cups. Since 2017, Pamplona City Council has been distributing reusable "green cups" to more than 80 bars and clubs, with a €1 deposit system that can be refunded at any participating establishment. Each cup can be reused multiple times a day (up to ~5 uses) before being washed and reintroduced. This circular scheme has prevented hundreds of thousands of disposable cups from being used during the festivities, significantly reducing plastic waste on the streets and improving urban cleanliness. The initiative, which is part of the "For plastic-free festivals" campaign, also has a social purpose, as the company that manages the collection and washing is a job placement organization. Pamplona thus demonstrates that even traditional events with large crowds can be modernized towards sustainability without losing their essence.
- Music festivals in Spain (Cruïlla, Sonorama Ribera, BBK Live): Many large Spanish festivals have already incorporated reusable cups with a deposit system. The Cruïlla Barcelona festival, which we worked with a couple of years ago, and Sonorama Ribera (Aranda de Duero), for example, offer reusable cups with a returnable deposit (€1-2). Cruïlla explains that "without the reusable and returnable cup system, they would have used 350,000 disposable cups; thanks to this measure, they used half that amount at the last festival, reusing the same cups from the previous year." In other words, they manufactured far fewer new cups and made use of existing ones, resulting in a drastic reduction in waste.
- Another promoter, Last Tour (organizer of Bilbao BBK Live, Azkena Rock, etc.), points out that it has been using returnable cups at all its festivals since 2017. At events such as Bilbao BBK Live, the public pays a deposit for their reusable cup and can get it back when they return it; according to the organizers, most attendees accept the system and bring the cups back (although some always keep them as souvenirs). This massive transition in Spanish festivals has been driven both by environmental awareness and by legal obligations since 2023 – "the government imposed them by law to eliminate single-use cups" – and although some festivals initially failed to refund the deposit, consumer associations (Facua, OCU) reported them, ensuring that the situation was corrected in favor of the public. In practice, it is now common in Spain to see large concerts and sporting events free of cups thrown on the ground, thanks to these durable reusable cups (rigid polypropylene) that people keep or return.
These real-life examples show that measures for reuse and sustainable waste management at events are viable and beneficial. Organizers have seen results: cleaner environments, lower cleaning and collection costs, a better green brand image, and even new sources of income or customer loyalty (many festivals sell reusable cups with custom designs that the public collects, generating brand recall and reducing waste). It is important to plan the logistics well: have enough reusable cups, washing or exchange points, staff for collection, clear communication to the public about how deposits work, etc.
When done correctly, sustainable events not only comply with current regulations in Spain and Portugal, but also enhance the attendee experience and contribute to protecting the environment in a tangible way. In short, sustainability in events has gone from being optional to being a regulatory and operational requirement that professionals (organizers, operations, logistics, and marketing) must integrate into every phase of planning a modern event. Complying with these regulations—and learning from the success stories mentioned above—will enable the organization of more responsible, innovative events that are in line with current social and legal expectations.
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