By Alliance Intern Noelia Almanzar from Rutgers University ‘26
Crowd thumping, music pumping and yet the only thing I notice is the surrounding trash as I try to enjoy my favorite band at the Forest Hills Stadium in NYC. When the concert was over, the ground was littered with plastic wrappers and bottles, cups and even broken shoes and heels. I couldn’t help but wonder how much trash was produced that single night, as it felt like I was parting the sea of litter with my feet. At the peak of attendance in 2019, music festivals produced 53,000 lbs of waste, with nearly 70% ending up in landfills, according to CNN.
In an effort to curb these numbers, the Music Sustainability Alliance (MSA) is working towards sustainable concerting, a new way of addressing the climate crisis from the perspective of the music industry. This green association acknowledges the massive impacts festivals and concerts have on the environment and feels morally inclined to reduce the carbon footprint of artists in every sector. By encouraging artists and venues to decrease energy consumption and both food and plastic waste, the MSA is fostering a new era of change in entertainment.
Insights from the MSA’s Sustainability Summit
The Music Sustainability Alliance is leading the music industry toward sustainability alongside artists, venues and fans for societal benefit. They were the first to gather leaders from all sectors of the music industry in one room for their inaugural Music Sustainability Summit. On February 5, 2024, the Summit brought together over 300 panelists, partners and attendees to discuss the best sustainable practices that can most effectively reform the “various environmental and social challenges affecting the music industry and beyond,” according to the Environmental Media Association.
As Billboard noted, one panelist said, “The good news we don’t hear enough about is that we already have the solutions to climate change that work and are affordable. How do I know this? Because we’ve scienced the s— out of it.” From an evidence-based approach, the MSA examines sustainable waste management practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote recycling and reuse as they strive for a circular economy. They are also trying to successfully transition the industry away from its use of fossil fuels as they address the high energy consumption associated with concerting.
While the extent of such change requires further analysis, it is important to recognize that musicians and artists have a huge impact on culture and can thus shift social attitudes on climate change. Artists such as Coldplay, U2, AJR and Billie Eilish have long been concerned about their impact on the environment and believe in the power of music to inspire action, raise awareness and mobilize communities towards sustainable practices.
One of the Most Significant Music Eco-Voices, Billie Eilish
Singer and performer Billie Eilish recognizes her influential role in environmental consciousness and has made proactive changes to align her career with her values. She has made crucial changes to how she tours, produces merchandise and collaborates with brands to reduce her carbon footprint and promote eco-friendly initiatives.
Her latest album, Hit Me Hard and Soft, reached over 500 million streams worldwide in just one week of its initial release. Her influence on today’s culture is evident and she knows it, stating: “If I don’t use [my] privilege to do some good in the world, then what’s the point?” She has updated her website’s homepage to include her album’s eco-friendly choices in the name of sustainability. Her merchandise is now being produced and packaged in almost 100% recycled material and is post-consumer recyclable.
As Billboard has pointed out, so far she has:
- Produced the Hit Me Hard and Soft black vinyls in 100% recycled black vinyl and the seven other color variants from ECO-MIX or BioVinyl. ECO-MIX is made from 100% recycled compounds of other leftover vinyls and BioVinyl is made with non-fossil fuel materials like used cooking oil or industrial waste gasses to reduce carbon emissions by 90%.
- Packaged the vinyls in 100% post-consumer waste and pre-consumer recycled fiber packaging
- Used ink that was raw plant-based and water-based
- Made vinyl sleeves that were 100% recyclable and reusable
- Packaged and shipped her merchandise in 100% renewable fibers
- Denied the use of plastic packaging in her cassette tapes and CDs
Billie Eilish exemplifies how influential artists can leverage their platforms to advocate for environmental change. In conjunction with the Music Sustainability Alliance, artists like Eilish are driving significant change for newer artists within the music industry.
Coldplay’s Hand in Sustainability
Coldplay is committed to reducing, reinventing and restoring 12 different aspects within their operations. Their global tour, Music of the Spheres, pledged to reduce direct carbon emissions by at least 50% and have created an ongoing sustainability report to continually track and share their progress in achieving these goals. So far, they have reduced their CO2 emissions by 59%, surpassing their initial goal in the first two years since the tour was announced in 2021.
They have implemented the following initiatives:
- Reduced CO2 emissions by partnering with DHL to minimize transportation emissions and if unavoidable, adhered to the Oxford Principles for Net-Zero Aligned carbon offsetting
- Powered stage production using almost all renewable, low-emission energy and avoiding the use of fossil fuels by opting for solar power, battery power, kinetic energy, sustainable biofuels and grid renewables
- Planned tours to be accessible without the use of flights; when flights were unavoidable, paid for the use or supply of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (fuels produced from 100% waste and residues like cooking oil) for themselves or others
- Collaborated with venues and stadiums to utilize local equipment and resources
- Created LED wristbands made of 100% compostable, plant-based materials that can be returned and reused
- Employed low-energy LED screens, lasers and lighting systems, reducing power consumption by up to 50% compared to previous tours
- Used special effects such as confetti that are 100% biodegradable
- Partnered with SAP to develop a free tour app encouraging fans to use low-carbon transport methods like biking and carpooling, to and from shows
Keeping the Fan Experience with U2
For years, U2 has also contributed immensely to the greening of concerts with their platform. Since 2011, they have been committed to sustainability, creating an Environmental Impact Strategy in an effort to hit net zero emissions for their global tours. How you may ask? By altering almost every aspect of their touring experience!
According to their touring website, U2 has:
- Partnered with EFFECT™ to produce less waste, compost, recycle material and educate fans on environmental impacts
- Partnered with EnviroRider™ to ask stadiums to try composting, sod recycling/composting and to conserve more energy
- Provided fans who carpooled or used hybrid and electric cars with free VIP parking
- Provided educational videos for fans who wanted to get involved in their mission to offset carbon emissions
Artists Billie Eilish, Coldplay and U2 have set powerful examples for fans and peers alike, contributing meaningfully to the broader cultural shift towards greater environmental responsibility.
Businesses Pitch In to Support a Shift to Sustainability
MSA co-founder and U2’s former sustainability advisor, Michael Martin, who also founded EnviroRider and r.World (and a member of the Alliance for Sustainability’s Dream Team), helped introduce these new eco-friendly initiatives. One of his key contributions, the creation of the r.Cup, is an already-implemented sustainability strategy that has significantly reduced the music industry’s environmental impact. These are high-quality, reusable cups that are collected and sanitized for reuse up to 300 times and then can be recycled. Who would have thought that drink cups could reshape the way fans think about their concert experience?
Creating a Future of Sustainability for Music and the Arts
Together, the MSA and dedicated artists are proving that a more sustainable future is possible and achievable with commitment and innovation. By embracing sustainable practices and utilizing their substantial influence, the Music Sustainability Alliance is helping to confront and address some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges. With much more to be done, hopefully, the MSA can inspire other industries like the film, theater and visual arts industries to do the same.