A Spotlight on Sustainable Music Events from Across the World

A Spotlight on Sustainable Music Events from Across the World

• The music industry is taking steps to create a more sustainable future.
• As a Founding Partner of Co-op Live, we understand the importance of this.
• We explore five ways in which music events and venues are contributing to an eco-friendlier planet.

As awareness of environmental issues grows, people are making more sustainable choices. In all aspects of their lives. This includes the venues they choose for music events, where the impact on the planet is now more prominent than ever.

Historically, the music industry has had its challenges when it comes to the planet. The energy required for travel, venue operations, and waste management all contribute to this. However, in recent years, a more sustainable approach has gained popularity.

Organisers, artists, and fans are recognising the environmental impact of large-scale gatherings. We are proud to partner with Co-op Live, the UK's first fully electric arena, set to open its doors in 2024. It’s a next-generation music venue with sustainability at its core.

In this article, we take a look at some of the most sustainable music events and venues from around the world.

Glastonbury Festival

Glastonbury Festival, one of the world’s most iconic events has always valued sustainability. A number of green policies are in place to reduce its environmental impact and inspire better choices. These include:

• A ban on the sale of single use plastic bottles and disposable vapes.
• Generators that run on waste cooking oil, which is palm oil-free.
• Travel initiatives to encourage festivalgoers to use bikes or public transport to get to and from the event.
• Temporary wind farms to help power food stalls.
• The use of compostable food packaging, plates, and cups.

Green Man Festival

Green Man is another festival firmly committed to eco-friendly practices. Festival organisers encourage attendees to bring biodegradable tent pegs and glitter. Single-use plastics are banned - it's estimated this has prevented around 250,000 straws from ending up in landfill since 2007!  Additionally, any unwanted items at the end of the festival can be donated to charities worldwide, ensuring that nothing goes to waste. Examples of donated items include tents, sleeping bags, and blankets sent to refugee camps.

We Love Green

We Love Green Festival in Paris is not just about music, but also about sustainability!

Organisers have created an eight-point sustainability charter that focuses on the following areas:

• Energy
• Food services
• Water
• Waste management
• Transportation
• Raising awareness
• Carbon offsetting
• Circular economy

Additionally, an online carbon calculator is available on the festival website. This allows festivalgoers and artists to calculate their carbon footprint. Giving them the opportunity to offset any emissions from travelling to the festival.

Corona Discoteca

This double-decker structure brought an Eco Disco experience to Suenos, a Hispanic music festival in Chicago. It was also used at Bonnaroo, a multi-genre music festival in Tennessee.

The cool venue features a lively bar and trendy rooftop deck. The best part? The floor generates renewable energy from the movement of people dancing on it. It’s a novel and innovative concept that could see partygoers powering venues all over the world.

Co-op Live

And then there’s Co-op Live! The brand-new entertainment arena that puts people and the planet first.

Construction materials have been sourced from the local area. Solar panels on the roof will power the venue. A heat recovery system means no heat is wasted. There's a policy that eliminates landfill disposal. There's a complete absence of single-use plastics. And it harvests Manchester's rainfall to flush the toilets. Those are just some of the ways the venue is prioritising the planet.

It's set to become fully carbon neutral, and with ambitions to be one of the most sustainable arenas in the world, it's a project we're proud to be a part of.

The future of sustainable music events looks promising. Want to be a part of it? Stay up to date on our Newsroom.

Learn more about Co-op Live