Sustainable Touring: Making Concerts Eco-Friendly

Whether it’s the lively tunes of Beyoncé or the timeless, slow jazz of Miles Davis, music is all around us. With paid streaming services such as Spotify and Apple Music, listening to your favorite song has become easier than ever before. As a result, music sales have been increasing at significant rates, reaching their highest total sales since 1999, peaking at an astounding $28.6 billion globally last year. However, this extreme growth comes with a heavy environmental toll associated with music production, tours, and festivals.

Music production, from recording and distributing vinyl or CDs to streaming services, significantly impacts the environment. Between the rise of vinyl in the 1970s and the peak of CDs in the early 2000s, the United States’ CO2 emissions from this sector increased from 140 million kilograms to 157 million kilograms. By 2016, the environmental cost associated with streaming music through digital devices soared to 350 million kilograms, largely driven by the substantial power and energy demands of data centers supporting global streaming services.

Despite the increasingly large carbon footprint caused by energy-hungry streaming services, artists are beginning to use their platforms not only to entertain but also to inspire positive change and address the climate crisis. By incorporating sustainability into their music’s messaging and encouraging fans to take action, these artists are leaving a cultural footprint that extends far beyond their lyrics.

Many prominent artists have tried to bring about real change by making their tours more eco-friendly. For example, Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres Tour pledged to reduce their carbon emissions by 50% from their last tour in 2017. As of 2023, they have successfully reached 47% fewer carbon emissions, yet they are still working to improve this statistic. Some of the initiatives of this tour include sustainable aviation fuel, renewable energy generation from photovoltaic cells, and even kinetic dance floors that turn fans’ movement into power.

Chris Martin, Coldplay's lead singer, explained the motivation behind this shift. "What we’re trying to do is actually not advocate at all, but just prove that it makes business sense because that’s where we feel you’ll really get people to change, like ‘Hey, you can make more money’,” he told Ellie Goulding on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. Martin emphasized that being green isn't "some charitable, left-wing, wishy-washy thing, it’s like, ‘No, no, this is the best business sense, too’.”

Billie Eilish, co-founder of the Music Decarbonization Project, has made concerted efforts to provide only vegan menus to the touring staff and at concert venues. Eilish describes the impacts of her green touring decisions, noting that by providing over 24,000 plant-based meals for her touring crew and working with venues to ensure plant-based options for fans, she estimates they saved 8.8 million gallons of water, 240,000 square feet of forested land, 123 tonnes of CO2e, and over 8,000 animals.

Other artists like Radiohead have also committed to sustainable touring. Thom Yorke, the lead singer, has been vocal about the band's efforts to reduce their environmental impact. Radiohead’s tours avoid air freight, use biofuel for buses and trucks, and eliminate single-use plastics. This comprehensive approach demonstrates that even small changes can lead to significant environmental benefits.

Green Day has also been active in environmental advocacy. In 2006, they joined forces with the Natural Resources Defense Council to create the Move America Beyond Oil campaign, encouraging their fan base to push Congress on environmental action. By using their influence, Green Day aims to educate their fans and promote protective legislation.

Neil Young is another artist deeply committed to sustainable touring. He has long been an advocate for renewable energy and eco-friendly practices. Young's tours utilize biofuel, and he ensures that food served at tour venues is sustainably sourced. His dedication to environmental causes extends beyond his music, as he actively campaigns for climate action and sustainable practices.

Major festivals are also making significant environmental strides. Mysteryland Festival in the Netherlands receives 80% of its energy from solar farms. The Deep Tropics EDM festival in Nashville, Tennessee, banned single-use plastics and only offers compost or recycling options. Glastonbury and Coachella have implemented bans on single-use plastics and encourage the use of reusable bottles with many free refill stations available.

Larger festivals such as Glastonbury and Coachella have also made significant environmental strides. Glastonbury, for instance, implemented a complete ban on single-use plastics on its grounds from 2019 onward. The festival provides watering refill stations all over the grounds and has made the use of single-use plastics almost feel offensive. Coachella has eliminated its provision of single-use plastic bottles and encourages festival-goers to bring their own reusable bottles and fill up using one of the many free refill stations available.

Among the opportunities for progress, REVERB stands out as a shining example. This nonprofit organization helps artists maintain environmental practices on tours. REVERB’s efforts have “eliminated more than 4 million single-use bottles and reduced emissions equivalent to 300,000 tons of carbon dioxide.” They also educate concertgoers through Eco-Village, an area at concerts where people can register to vote, learn more about environmental education, or pick up a reusable water bottle.

Individuals and artists both play an integral role in fostering sustainability within the music industry. If fans want their favorite artists to be more environmentally conscious, they can write to their label or management and join fan groups to collectively ask for more accountability. Actively supporting artists that openly speak about caring for the environment not only amplifies their message but also encourages other artists to switch to more eco-friendly music-making and touring habits.

The collective actions of artists, industry professionals, and audiences can pave the way for a greener future for music and our planet alike. Sustainable touring practices are becoming increasingly crucial as the music industry grapples with its environmental impact. From reducing carbon emissions to advocating for policy change, musicians are leveraging their platforms to drive awareness and action. The world is getting hotter, and by working together, we can ensure a safer, cleaner world for future generations.