Sustainability in Slackline / Highline Events: Lessons from the Choose Life Festival – World Cup Edition 2025

As adventure sports, especially slacklining and highlining events, continue to grow worldwide, organizers face an increasingly important challenge: how to create unforgettable experiences while protecting the natural environments that make these events possible.

The Choose Life Festival – World Cup Edition 2025, held in the stunning landscapes of Chapada dos Veadeiros, Brazil, offers a valuable case study in both the opportunities and challenges of sustainable event management.

The festival brought together more than 500 athletes, volunteers, organizers, and visitors from around the world for four days of highlining, competitions, workshops, cultural activities, and community exchange. Hosting the first Highline World Cup in Latin America, the event represented a significant milestone for the global slackline community. At the same time, its location within one of Brazil’s most ecologically sensitive regions made sustainability a critical consideration.

Areas of Strength

One of the most encouraging findings was the festival’s commitment to responsible waste management. Partnerships with local organizations such as Murundu Compostagem and Cavalcante Recicla helped create waste separation systems that encouraged attendees to sort recyclable, organic, and mixed waste.

Participants recognized these efforts, making Responsible Production and Consumption the highest-rated sustainability category, with nearly 80% positive responses. Waste collection points were available in key areas, and many attendees actively participated in recycling initiatives. While improvements are still needed, the festival demonstrated that collaborative waste management systems can successfully engage both visitors and local organizations.

Another positive result was found in the Health and Wellness category. Medical support teams, first aid stations, rescue personnel, and safety infrastructure were present throughout the event. Approximately 70% of survey respondents expressed confidence in the available medical support. This reflects the organizers’ strong focus on participant safety in an inherently high-risk sport environment.

The festival also achieved moderate success in fostering community participation. Local volunteers, sports teams, and social initiatives contributed significantly to event operations. Community groups were provided space for dialogue and engagement, helping strengthen connections between the event and the surrounding region.

Recommendations for the Future

• The report provides a roadmap for strengthening sustainability performance in future editions of the festival. Key recommendations include:
• Expanding access to safe drinking water and ecological sanitation systems.
• Implementing environmental education campaigns before and during the event.
• Encouraging the use of renewable energy technologies such as portable solar systems.
• Increasing environmental signage throughout natural areas.
• Strengthening wildfire prevention protocols and emergency preparedness.
• Eliminating single-use materials and further promoting reusable products.
• Improving communication regarding safety procedures, medical services, and environmental guidelines.
• Conducting post-event restoration activities, including reforestation and soil recovery initiatives.

A Promising Foundation

Overall, the sustainability assessment concluded that the Choose Life Festival demonstrates a moderate level of sustainability performance. The event has established important foundations in waste management, participant safety, and community engagement. However, substantial opportunities remain to improve water management, climate education, fire prevention, and ecosystem protection.

Perhaps the most important takeaway is that the festival has already shown a willingness to evaluate its impacts transparently and identify areas for improvement. This commitment to continuous learning is a critical step toward becoming a model for sustainable slackline and highline events in Latin America and beyond.

As outdoor sports continue to attract larger audiences, events like Choose Life have the opportunity not only to celebrate adventure and community but also to demonstrate how recreation, conservation, and social responsibility can successfully coexist in some of the world’s most extraordinary natural environments.

Acknowledgments

As this assessment demonstrates, sustainability is not a destination but an ongoing process of learning, adaptation, and continuous improvement. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the entire Choose Life Festival organization for their openness, collaboration, and willingness to be part of this evaluation process. Their genuine interest in understanding both strengths and areas for improvement made this assessment possible and set an important example for the slackline community.

We also extend an open invitation to organizers of slackline and highline events around the world. By working together, we can develop practical sustainability strategies tailored to each event’s unique context, helping reduce environmental impacts while strengthening community engagement and participant experiences. Through collaborative planning, education, monitoring, and implementation, we have the opportunity to create events that not only celebrate our loved sport and culture but also actively contribute to the protection of the natural environments that inspire us. The future of outdoor events depends on this shared commitment, and we look forward to building that future together.

The festival took place near Cavalcante, Goiás, in the heart of the Brazilian Cerrado, one of the world’s most biodiverse savanna ecosystems. The region is home to unique wildlife, fragile soils, important water resources, and several endangered species. However, it is also highly vulnerable to environmental pressures such as erosion, habitat disturbance, and especially wildfires during the dry season.

Recognizing these challenges, the International Slackline Association’s Nature and Access Commission conducted a comprehensive sustainability assessment aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The evaluation focused on eight key categories:

• Climate Action
• Life on Land
• Clean Water and Sanitation
• Responsible Production and Consumption
• Health and Wellness
• Sustainable Communities
• Soil and Post-Event Restoration
• Fire Management and Prevention

The assessment combined expert observations, participant surveys, and qualitative feedback to establish a baseline understanding of the festival’s environmental and social performance.

Key Sustainability Challenges

Despite these positive achievements, the assessment identified some areas requiring attention.

Water and Sanitation

While the festival successfully provided access to water across its different activity areas, the assessment identified opportunities to further strengthen water and sanitation management. Expanding access to drinking water points, improving communication about water quality, and introducing ecological sanitation solutions in high-use locations would enhance both participant comfort and environmental protection. Given the ecological importance of Chapada dos Veadeiros, these improvements represent a valuable opportunity for future editions to further reduce environmental impacts and reinforce the festival’s commitment to sustainability.

Climate Action and Environmental Education

The assessment identified an opportunity to further strengthen environmental education and sustainability communication throughout the festival experience. While the event naturally fosters a strong connection with the outdoors and the “highline vibe”, participants expressed interest in seeing more climate awareness activities, educational talks, and sustainability-focused information. Given the community’s strong appreciation for nature and conservation, future editions have an excellent opportunity to expand their positive impact through workshops, environmental campaigns, and educational signage that inspire responsible behavior both during and beyond the event.

Fire Prevention

The assessment also highlighted opportunities to further strengthen fire prevention measures. Operating in the Cerrado—one of the world’s most fire-sensitive ecosystems—requires a proactive approach to risk management, particularly during the dry season. While positive initiatives were implemented, including the distribution of biodegradable cigarette waste envelopes by Papelito, future editions could benefit from enhanced awareness campaigns, clearer signage, designated smoking areas, and more visible fire prevention activities. By building on these foundations, the festival can further protect the surrounding environment while reinforcing its commitment to responsible event management in this high valuable landscape.

Balancing Growth with Environmental Protection

The assessment also highlighted growing concerns about visitor pressure on natural areas.

As the festival continues to expand, some locations experienced overcrowding, particularly around waterfalls and highly attractive natural sites. Participants expressed concerns about noise levels, trail impacts, vegetation disturbance, and pressure on local wildlife.

Experts emphasized that future growth should be carefully managed through visitor capacity planning, improved signage, environmental zoning, and stronger protection of sensitive habitats. Establishing clear boundaries for high-traffic areas will help reduce ecological impacts while maintaining a high-quality experience for participants.

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