CARBON FOOTPRINTING

SustainableTouring has developed a bespoke carbon footprinting tool for the live music and event industries. The term 'carbon footprint' has been adopted for the amount of carbon dioxide (usually in tonnes) being emitted by an organisation or activity. Measuring the carbon footprint of an event or tour during its planning stage can help us identify where reductions can cost effectively be made. This process also creates a baseline from which we can measure the success of reductions implemented via follow-up footprints on future productions.

ENVIRONMENTAL AUDIT
We carry out a detailed survey of the potential environmental impact of an event or tour. This study examines routing, event production, venue energy and waste, hotel accommodation, band and crew catering, ground and air transport for band, crew and equipment, fan travel and merchandise. 

As part of this service, SustainableTouring contacts participating venue(s) and their suppliers to request documentation on in-house environmental policies and practices. Information in key areas such as transport, energy use, and waste & recycling are requested in an effort to encourage further environmental efficiencies.

A detailed survey of an event or tour enables us to identify where the client can cost effectively reduce its environmental impact. Often the biggest environmental wins are made in the planning stages of an event, so the earlier this process is implemented the better. However, due to the nature of event production, we are used to being called in to consult at all stages of event production.

GREEN SOLUTIONS - IMPLEMENTATION & TARGET SETTING
Once we have undertaken the carbon footprint and survey, we submit a report to the client and agree which recommendations can cost effectively be incorporated into the tour or event. We have green solutions to all areas of event production. Some of these follow:

• Creating an environmental rider as part of the contract to ensure that all tour suppliers take every reasonable step possible to reduce the environmental impact of the services they provide.
• Creating incentives to promote the use of public transport for audience travel.
• Working with venues on energy efficiency and switching to green power.
• Biodiesel generators.
• Waste reduction and working with venues, and their waste service providers on improving recycling rates.
• Sustainable set design.
• Green sponsorship initiatives.
• Efficient tour routing.
• Sustainable procurement in all areas of the supply chain, including environmentally friendly merchandise.
• Locating and booking hotels with good environmental policies.
• Supporting band and crew caterers in the sourcing of organic, local and seasonal and Fairtrade produce. Working with caterers and vendors in the use of reusable plates and cutlery and ensuring disposable items are made of recyclable materials.
• Advising on hybrid or biodiesel ground transportation.

OFFSET PROGRAM
Even with the best practices, greenhouse gas emissions will always be produced through events and touring – especially as fan travel can amass up to 90% of an event’s CO2 emissions. At SustainableTouring our primary focus is on generating measurable results in helping reduce an event or tour’s environmental impact. However, some of our clients also choose to offset their remaining unavoidable CO2 emissions. Therefore, in addition, we are happy to advise on which offset providers are the most ethical and transparent to invest in and are continually monitoring the marketplace for the most effective schemes.

COMMUNICATION

• Identifying creative ways to publicise our client’s environmental commitment to the audience: such as creating engaging and informed content for the client’s web presence.

• Inspiring and engaging fans to implement environmental efficiencies in their own lives.
• Devising competitions and incentives to encourage public transport to venues
• Providing and creating well-researched, inspirational content for Jumbotron screens.
• Facilitating promotion of artist-supported causes in venue foyers.

CARBON COACHING
Some clients prefer to implement our program without publicity, however, should they choose to promote their achievements, we ensure they are properly briefed on climate change and the efficiencies implemented on their tour or event. Additionally, we also provide consultancy on improving environmental efficiency in the homes of artists and management teams so they can “walk their talk”. This includes providing reduction strategies, sustainable procurement for the home and advice on green building.

For general inquiries contact: info@sustainabletouring.com