Decathlon is adding a bank transfer option to its No Tent Left Behind programme, allowing UK customers to claim up to 50% of the purchase price in cash when returning a used Quechua tent by September 6, 2026.
Decathlon is expanding its No Tent Left Behind initiative for summer 2026, adding a cash refund option alongside its existing gift card return to give festival-goers a stronger financial incentive to bring their tents back rather than abandon them after an event.
Under the updated scheme, customers who purchase a qualifying Decathlon own-brand tent (primarily Quechua) between May 23 and September 6, 2026 can return it to a UK store in good condition and receive either the full purchase value as a Decathlon gift card, or up to 50% of that value via a bank transfer processed within one hour. Membership of Decathlon’s free loyalty program is required at the point of return, and proof of purchase must be provided.
The initiative targets a well-documented problem in UK festival culture.
UK festivals generate approximately 25,800 tons of waste annually, while an estimated 250,000 tents are abandoned at events each year, according to figures cited in press coverage drawing on Decathlon-commissioned research. More than half of festival-goers describe their tent as a disposable item: a behavioral pattern the scheme aims to disrupt by introducing a direct financial return.
Refurbishment pipeline ties circularity to affordability
Returned tents that meet quality criteria are inspected and then reintroduced for resale through Decathlon’s Second Life programme. The scheme therefore serves two purposes: diverting material from landfill while increasing the availability of lower-cost, pre-owned camping equipment, an increasingly relevant offer as cost-conscious consumers look for more accessible entry points into outdoor activities.
The No Tent Left Behind scheme has returned annually and grown in prominence within Decathlon’s sustainability strategy. For 2026, the inclusion of cash refunds represents a structural shift: while gift cards retain spending within the Decathlon ecosystem, bank transfers do not.
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Geographic rollout remains uneven
While the 2026 update introduces a cash payout in the UK, the No Tent Left Behind program is not yet standardized across markets. It has been extended to Ireland for the first time this year as a pilot, but without the cash refund mechanism: customers can return a limited selection of entry-level festival tents in exchange for a full-value gift card only.
Part of a wider resale strategy
The tent scheme sits within a broader circular retail build-out at Decathlon. The company’s BuyBack program, launched in 2023, has expanded to cover products across roughly 15 sport categories and has processed more than 10,000 items to date.
Taken together, these developments point to a coordinated effort to position Decathlon as a leading platform for second-hand sporting goods. The Second Life program provides the resale infrastructure, while BuyBack and tent return initiatives generate supply.
