Re-turn: Making A Big Difference with Small Actions

It's a tough old world out there – but every now and then there’s a bit of good news to brighten our day. We go to a music festival to reconnect with friends, to soak up new sounds, and generally relax and enjoy ourselves. Well, the good news is that, even in the middle of throwing ourselves into the festival spirit, the vast majority of Irish people still hold onto one key guiding principle: that of trying to do the right thing, every day.

That’s according to new research from Re-turn, who operate Ireland’s Deposit Return Scheme – with 93% of those surveyed saying that doing good in their daily lives is important to them.

Of course, “doing good” can mean different things. For 74%, it’s about taking small, everyday actions that benefit others or the environment. 52% associate it with actions like recycling, reducing waste, and shopping sustainably – while others believe in making a positive difference through community support, charity, and fundraising.

Crucially, the research – carried out in partnership with 3Gem – found that Irish people are not just talking the talk, but are already walking the walk. 98% said that – at least some of the time – their good intentions become positive actions.

All told, it paints a powerful picture of Ireland as a country in which people are not only generous, but also passionate about making a real difference.

With sustainability a growing concern for so many people these days, the research also showed strong support for easier, more straightforward ways to make positive choices at large events and festivals – including opportunities for recycling and waste reduction.

That’s precisely why Re-turn are upping their game even further and helping even more people to make a difference this summer, through their Orange Bins – providing a quick, easy way to do good on the go.

Having already popped up at events, stadiums and festivals across the country this summer, the Orange Bins will be back at Electric Picnic this month, allowing people to do the right thing in more ways than one – both supporting great causes and making sustainable choices, while catching all their favourite acts across the weekend.

POSITIVE CLIMATE ACTION

Let’s talk about supporting great causes for a minute. The way it works is simple. Every empty can and bottle that festival-goers return – or Re-turn if you prefer – through one of the Orange Bins, located across the site, becomes a donation to Return for Children. This unique initiative makes a contribution to the value of the drinks containers, accumulated through the Deposit Return Scheme, to six of Ireland’s leading children’s charities: Barnardos, Barretstown, Childline by ISPCC, Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation, LauraLynn Ireland’s Children’s Hospice and Make-A-Wish Ireland.

Since launching in 2024, Re-turn for Children has already raised over €515,000 through these donations – helping to support vulnerable and seriously ill children and their families throughout Ireland.

“It is incredibly encouraging to see that people across Ireland want to make a positive difference and recognise the impact of small everyday actions,” says Ciaran Foley, CEO of Re-turn. “This summer and beyond, our Orange Bins will be available at concerts, festivals, sporting events, workplaces, community spaces and other venues across the country, giving people a simple, visible way to support Re-turn for Children, while they are on the move.”

Since their first year in operation, in 2024, Re-turn have had a central presence at Electric Picnic – through both their Orange Bins, and Re-turn points, where cans and bottles can be redeemed at 25c each.

It’s a move that has been welcomed by festival-goers and artists alike – with more and more people wanting to play an active part in the drive to achieve sustainability. As set out in its Green Nation Sustainability Charter, Electric Picnic has led the way in recognising the importance of preserving the live music experience for generations to come – and in promoting positive climate action at the festival and beyond.

MASSIVE INCREASE ON LAST YEAR

Dublin-based band Críothe – who were named among Hot Press’ ‘Hot For 2026’ Irish Acts – are among those to welcome Re-turn’s Orange Bins initiative, ahead of their eagerly anticipated Electric Picnic set.

“Sustainability is really important to us,” they reflect. “A lot of festivals are held on preserved grounds, farms, or wildlife areas. We have to look after these areas, so we can keep having these festivals.”

“Just throwing a can into one of the Orange Bins,” they observe, “is an effortless way to help."

“It’s such an easy thing to do. And every individual makes a difference because there will be tens of thousands at Electric Picnic, and it all adds up.

“Everyone can do their bit to make Stradbally the best possible environment to be in, for the acts, the festival-goers, everyone.”

Another Stradbally-bound star-on-the-rise, Lemonade Shoelace, agrees that the Orange Bins are an amazing idea.

“I’m definitely on board with that,” he tells us. “The more sustainable and clean we are, the tidier the festival will be. It helps everyone – especially with the charity incentive. It’s an amazing thing to do.”

In fact talking to Irish artists, they consistently reinforce a sense of the importance of those ordinary, everyday actions, that Irish people in general value so highly, when it comes to helping the environment.

Thankfully, it’s an awareness that’s spreading. At Bord Bia Bloom this summer, Re-turn reported that over 40,000 cans and bottles were donated through their Orange Bins across the festival site – a massive increase from 13,000 the year before.

Re-turn also noted that contamination levels in the bins were significantly lower than in 2025 – demonstrating stronger public awareness of how to return drinks containers correctly.

Keep an eye out for the Re-turn area at EP, where there’ll be lots of fascinating things going on. But most of all, be sure to play your part at Electric Picnic 2026 – by reducing waste and donating your deposits to help make a difference for children all over Ireland.

See you there…

RETURN TIPS FOR ELECTRIC PICNIC:

• Make sure you don’t crush or squash your cans/bottles

• At your campsite, keep your cans/bottles separate from other rubbish

• Shake out your containers to make sure they’re completely empty

• Leave caps on plastic bottles to reduce waste – they can be recycled with or without caps

• Ensure you’re only discarding your cans/bottles in Orange Bins or at Re-turn points