10 July, 2026

Sustainability is often discussed in terms of targets, regulation and transition plans. These are vital parts of change. But it’s also great when people come together around something immediate: creativity, community and the joy of making better use of what we already have.

This week, Good Business attended the Festival of Thrift, the nationally recognised celebration of sustainable living, creativity and positive change. Based in the North East, the festival returned to Kirkleatham Museum and Grounds in Redcar for its 14th edition.

Across the weekend, the site was transformed into a free festival of arts, craft, performance, fashion, food, traders, workshops and sustainability. Visitors could explore outdoor performances, hands-on activities, interactive installations, pre-loved fashion and market stalls from independent makers. The festival also had on-site repair cafés (think real-life Repair Shop!) and multiple stalls showcasing where people could give their old tech, bikes and scrap wood a new and very useful home.

What makes the Festival of Thrift interesting is not just the programme of events, although that is clearly part of its appeal. It is what the festival stands for. Rooted in the Tees Valley, it celebrates the region’s heritage, while reimagining its future as a hub for resourceful, low-impact living. The festival celebrates many grassroots initiatives, alongside major developments such as the Teesside Freeport, which is helping position the area as a leader in the UK’s net-zero transition.

We love the way the Festival of Thrift gives local makers, artists, food producers and organisations a platform, while attracting thousands of visitors and supporting the local economy.

This is a fantastic example of what place-based sustainability can look like: rooted in community, proud of local identity, and open to everyone.

By Emma Lindsay