Climate Positive Trends In Touring And Events

Climate Positive Trends in Touring and Events  

In the last 5 years, the music and events industry has increasingly focused on sustainability and reducing environmental impacts. In context, Coldplay's sustainability plan for the recent Music of The Spheres Tour was based around three principles to achieve a net zero tour: Reduce, Reinvent and Restore. Shambala Festival, in the UK, is committed to being sustainable, regenerative and net positive.  They have reduced the festival’s carbon footprint by over 90%, achieved 100% renewable electricity, become meat & fish free, and eradicated single use plastic.  Following on from these examples, here are the most positive recent climate trends in artist touring and events:

1.  Carbon Offsetting and Neutral Tours

Many artists from Pearl Jam to The 1975 , and event organizers are now investing in carbon offset programs to mitigate the environmental impact of touring and events. They calculate the carbon emissions generated by their tours (including travel, accommodation, venue energy use and fan behaviour) and then fund projects that reduce carbon emissions elsewhere, such as reforestation projects or renewable energy initiatives.

2.  Green Touring Initiatives

Talent like Billie Eilish and Shawn Mendes have committed to making their tours transparently more environmentally friendly. This includes everything from using renewable energy sources for stage production, minimizing single-use plastics, and promoting and empowering sustainable practices among fans.  Non-profits like REVERB unite around the music fans love, tackling the environmental issues they face engaging with comprehensive programs to take action.

More venues are adopting green practices, such as using energy-efficient lighting, composting food waste, donating artists’ excess riders to local food banks and offering recycling programs. Some venues are even being built with sustainability in mind, using eco-friendly materials and technologies, such as the newly built Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, CA, that includes solar covered parking canopies that help power the arena.

4.  Eco-Friendly Transportation

To reduce the carbon footprint associated with travel, some artists are opting for more sustainable transportation methods. This can include traveling by train instead of flying, using local and electric or hybrid vehicles, shipping via sea-freight as opposed to air freight, and encouraging fans to use public transportation or carpool to events.

5.  Digital Concerts and Live Streams

The pandemic accelerated the trend of virtual concerts, which can significantly reduce the carbon footprint of live events. By streaming performances online, artists can reach a global audience from one location without the need for extensive travel and large-scale physical setups.

6.  Embracing Digital Technology

A sustained move to digital ticketing and mobile wallets are removing the need to produce paper tickets and help remove the need for vouchers/ card/ paper and cash.  Enabling fans with a seamless, smarter, faster and more sustainable solution to control access and purchasing.  Coldplay even created a free tour app, which encouraged fans to use low carbon transport and fans were rewarded with discount codes to use at the venues.     

7.  Sustainable Merchandising

Artists and event organizers are increasingly aware of the environmental impact of merchandise. Many are now offering eco-friendly options, such as clothing made from organic or recycled materials, and minimizing packaging waste.  The 1975 even asked fans to bring old t-shirts to their recent concert to be overprinted with new designs.

8.  Partnerships with Environmental Organizations

Many artists are partnering with environmental organizations to raise awareness and funds for sustainability causes. These partnerships can involve direct donations, awareness campaigns, and incorporating educational elements into tours and events.

9.  Fans Engagement in Sustainability

Engaging fans in sustainability efforts has become a key focus. From education at source from buying the ticket to travel plans, to the event itself.  This can include encouraging fans to bring reusable water bottles, providing incentives for recycling at events, and organizing green volunteer initiatives.

10.  Sustainable Catering

Catering at events is becoming more sustainable, with an emphasis on locally sourced, organic, and plant-based foods. Reducing food waste through better planning and donating surplus food to local charities is also a growing practice.  Taylor Swift on the recent Era’s tour recently donated funds to a Cardiff food-bank, enough to provide 10,800 meals to local families.  In the US, non-profits like MusicallyFed have a goal to make it easy for promoters and artists to leave each city they visit with a lasting and positive impact.  

Conclusion

These trends represent a growing awareness and commitment within the music and events industry to address climate change and environmental sustainability. By adopting these practices, artists and organizers can help reduce the carbon footprint of their tours and events while inspiring fans to make eco-friendly choices in their own lives.  If the industry can strive to Reduce, Reinvent and Restore by taking the lead, they can influence and inspire fans to step up and in turn be engaged and expect more from their events and artists.