Trinidad's Carnival Embraces Sustainability Amid Festive Spirit

As Trinidad's carnival approaches, participants and organizers are taking steps to enhance sustainability by recycling costumes, utilizing biodegradable materials, and promoting second-hand fashion. Local groups like Carnicycle and 2nd Closet are at the forefront, aiming to reduce waste and carbon emissions associated with the celebrations.

The vibrant festivities of Trinidad's carnival, widely hailed as "the greatest show on Earth," are being reimagined with an eye toward sustainability. While the annual celebration is famous for its spectacular costumes and vibrant parties, it is also responsible for an estimated 3.4 tonnes of waste each year, according to Carnicycle, a local initiative dedicated to promoting eco-friendly practices during the event.

Co-founded in 2018 by Danii McLetchie, Carnicycle recognizes the cultural significance of carnival but also the pressing environmental consequences derived from the events and the materials involved. McLetchie notes that producing just one festival costume bra can result in about 37.68kg (83lb) of CO2 emissions, a figure that they seek to verify with third-party assessments.

To combat these emissions, Carnicycle has initiated a recycling program to salvage unused costumes that would otherwise be discarded. Collection bins have been strategically placed in hotels and venues to encourage the repurposing of materials. "Last year we collected around 10,000 pieces of costume materials," McLetchie shared, explaining the effort to recover feathers, beads, and other reusable components from discarded costumes.

These recovered materials are then offered for sale to costume designers and performers, effectively promoting a circular economy within the carnival community. Additionally, Carnicycle rents out popular costume accessories, easing the financial burden on participants, who often find the heavy pieces cumbersome during parades.

Joining in the mission for sustainability, professionals Aliyah Clarke and Kaleen Sanois created a pop-up thrift shop called 2nd Closet, allowing carnival-goers to buy and sell pre-owned clothing. They're innovating ways to transform costumes into stylish everyday attire, demonstrating how post-carnival pieces can remain useful. Their project also gained attention when they sorted through the wardrobe of renowned Soca artist Machel Montano, organizing a successful sale of his former stage outfits.

In parallel, events like Fete with the Saints are adopting responsible practices by using biodegradable utensils and reusable cups, while also employing "bin detectives" to enhance recycling efforts. Their initiatives reportedly helped double the amount of recyclables captured compared to the previous years. "Over the past three years, we’ve prevented over one million single-use plastics from entering the landfill," stated Vandana Mangroo of Close the Loop Caribbean, who collaborates with event organizers.

The steps taken for a greener carnival have garnered appreciation from attendees, confirming that the celebratory spirit remains undiminished, even as sustainability becomes a priority in Trinidad's beloved annual festival.