Why do Coldplay-like sustainability concerts matter?

[Source - Kathy Xu - Medium]

The band itself is so famous & generous that it needs no introduction. Coldplay has been the talk of the town lately with their sustainable noble practices combined with humongous entertainment. The event industry has been booming for the past decade. The craze of live events has been increasing more than ever. The Coldplay live show is the best example of sustainability concerts lately. The band has released the “Coldplay Sustainability Report” which has details about the steps they have taken to reduce carbon emissions. Sometime back, there were concerns raised about sustainability management, trash disposal & filth spreading vividly during such live music events. Technology, audience engagement, & creativity are the aspects involved when Coldplay performs. A one-of-a-kind show & artists wherein entertainment & showing concerns about the environment has become a cult classic.

As the event industry has become more conscious about the environment concerns, organizers too have taken the plunge to help diminish waste & embrace sustainable solutions. Let’s have a look at what measures the band takes for reducing their carbon footprint:

• Usage of kinetic dance floors to generate electricity at the concerts
• Plant-based LED wristbands
• Tree plantation against every ticket sold, resulted in them planting 5 million trees
• 100% renewable energy power production was embraced
• Distributed unused meals & toiletries to those in need

All of this resulted in a reduction in emissions by 47% in comparison to their previous tours. Here is a list of bands & musicians who have embraced sustainability:

• Billie Eilish
• The 1975
• Radiohead
• Miley Cyrus
•  Dave Matthews Band

What Makes a Concert Sustainable? (Coldplay-like)

[Source - NDTV]

Green initiatives at music festivals have been on the rise. Many musicians and bands have initiated eco-friendly practices lately. Organizers have embraced eco-friendly concert trends, eliminated the use of plastic, and arranged concerts at sustainable venues, too. A single initiative by one artist or organizer leads to setting an example for fellow artists. From Coldplay to Beyonce, the concept of sustainable live concerts have been on the rise since the last 5 to 6 years. Here we will discuss how to implement a sustainable concert:

A. Select a sustainable event space:

Considering the environment, the venue itself should be eco-friendly wherein no measures against the environment should be tolerated. It will compel people to adopt all eco-friendly measures. Coldplay is a huge example of the same. When hunting for venues, see if there's room for using renewable sources of energy, having an efficient light & sound system that will work on solar energies, & minimizing water usage.  

B. Opt for eco-conscious products

The promotional products that will be used produce a lot of waste & litter unnoticeably. A solution for the same is biodegradable, recycled & organic materials. E.g. the promotional pamphlets can be printed on recycled paper, the use of organic cotton can be embraced for t-shirts or bags, & stopping use of plastic or other single-use items.

C. Encourage to embrace:

Concerts like Coldplay are a great opportunity for the artists to spread such positive & eco-friendly messages to the audiences. Bands can engage their fans & partners in environmental efforts. In the promotional events, all the measures to adopt to encourage the initiative can be published on the official website, social media handles, & wherever necessary. The music industry sustainability efforts spread the message gradually & became a success.

D. Reduce travel emissions:

In this, you can encourage people to exercise by carpooling, commuting by electric vehicles etc while giving them some offer with it. The artist himself has an opportunity to gain the spotlight much before the show. He/she can travel in eco-friendly automobiles to adopt eco-friendly ways to get to the venue. Announce the same on social media, post reels of the commute of the artist to the venue. This will be doubly advantageous as the brand image of the artist will improve, & the fans of the artist will imitate these actions. The artist can personally appreciate some selected number of fans via their posts on social media of adopting eco-friendly measures. It will encourage audiences that will hugely impact the green initiative.

Environmental challenges of traditional concerts.

[Source - Meatless Kingdom]

Given above were the solutions to conventional problems that arise during live music events like Coldplay. Live music events have been crucial in spreading cultural vibes that bring people of all religions together under one roof. But the chaos that goes on in the prep, or as they call it behind the scenes, is surely a daunting task. Let’s look at some of the challenges:

1. Automobile emissions:

Automobile emissions are one of the major factors in causing air pollution. The audiences of the event turn up in huge numbers resulting in substantial amounts of air pollution. Also, the logistics assistance that is required for prepping the event should also be considered that starts days before the actual event. The music festivals should announce & encourage more people to implement carpooling that will sort the parking issue & also lessen air pollution issues.

2. Waste material saturation:

Disposable items like food packaging, beverage containers, & promotional materials etc can end up in huge heaps of garbage if not handled properly. Music festival organizers can implement & encourage recycling programs while promoting the use of recyclable materials to avoid environmental pollution.

3.     Energy consumption:

The lights, sound systems & stage production systems take up a major chunk of energy. It directly contributes to the carbon footprint of the environment. Traditional energy sources such as fossil fuels are often used to power these activities leading to greenhouse emissions in huge numbers. Exercising energy-efficient lighting and sound systems, as well as utilizing renewable energy sources like solar or wind power, can help reduce the carbon footprint of music fests.                                                   

4. The cost factor:

Implementing sustainable strategies can be expensive. It may lead to higher ticket prices that can lead to a lesser number of attendees to the event. Some efforts can be made via cost cutting but there’s a limit to it as the efforts for the event & the manpower required for the same is immense. Managing this whole arena can shell out money more than expected.

Conclusion

[Source - Fandom]

As the live music industry evolves, it stands at a pivotal moment. Events like Coldplay’s tours, Coachella, and Sunburn demonstrate that electrifying musical experiences can coexist with environmental responsibility. The focus has shifted from whether concert organizers should embrace sustainable practices to how swiftly and effectively they can implement them. Let us hope the future of sustainable concerts keeps on growing & flourishing as the world embraces the concept even more. 

Uncover the latest trends and insights with our articles on Visionary Vogues