German independent talent buyer and booking agent Stefan Lohmann has unveiled a sustainability checklist and rider for people in the live music industry, with green ticketing as a key point.
The rider revolves around three pillars of sustainability, which are environmental protection (avoiding pollution), social justice (considering future generations) and economic efficiency (reduced costs through conscientious use of resources).
The accompanying checklist includes 13 guiding principles that can be checked off when organising an event to be environmentally friendly.
The points cover CO2 emissions and offset, the environmentally friendly arrival of attendees/green ticketing, increase of energy efficiency and use of renewable resources, sustainable purchasing, use and recycling, as well as tips on what food and beverages to offer.
Lohmann goes on to detail how touring artists and their teams can avoid plastic waster and reduce water consumption, and offers practical suggestion like using local accommodation and transport, and avoiding unnecessary printing.
The checklist is currently located on a dedicated website that Lohmann hopes to expand into a database and search engine that gives event organisers quick access to all sustainable suppliers.
Sustainability has become a widely discussed issue in the live industry lately as artists begin to recognise the heavy impact that touring has on the environment. In November, Coldplay announced it would refrain from touring its new album until it can find ways to make its concerts more “sustainable” and “actively beneficial” to the environment.
Also in November, Massive Attack approached Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research to help find solutions to the climate crisis, with the University of Manchester looking to compile a blueprint on how performers can tour with a much lower impact on climate change.
The new research will look at all aspects of touring and how its carbon footprint can be reduced to zero, or as close to zero as possible.
Image: Walter Kolm