As the world’s biggest live entertainment company, Live Nation is making major moves to protect the environment. They will be banning single-use plastics at their music festivals. Furthermore, by 2021 they will be free of plastic items such as straws, food trays and even water bottles. Notably, other festivals such as Glastonbury are following with a plastics ban in the near future.
“Green Nation”, the global sustainability coalition group part of Live Nation, is leading the initiative of banning plastics. In a post expanding on their commitment, Michael Rapino, President and CEO of Live Nation Entertainment said:
“Hosting over 35,000 concerts and festivals each year, Live Nation has the opportunity and responsibility to provide our artists and fans with a live music experience that protects our planet…the adverse effects of climate change are undeniable, and we want to use our place on the world stage to be part of the solution. Together our concerts, venues, festivals, and offices around the world are setting new sustainability standards for live events.”
Green Nation’s Fight Against Plastics
Targeting all of their live performance venues, this coalition has some big goals in mind. Live Nation’s banning of plastics isn’t their only ambition. They are hoping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030. Additionally, they will be ending the sale of single-use plastics at all owned and operated venues and festivals by 2021. Some specifics from their goals include:
- Deliver a 50% reduction in scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
- End sale of single-use plastics at all owned and operated venues and events by 2021.
- Work to reduce or eliminate the use of fossil fuels where possible and pursue a low-carbon economy by sourcing renewable energy.
- Aim for our offices, venues and events to be zero waste to landfill and achieve a 50% (or higher) material recovery rate by 2030.
- Work with partners and sponsors toward shared sustainability goals.
- Transparently track, measure, and share adherence to our charter.
In the long run, these changes could have a major impact on the environment. In fact, it could set the standard for the way other festivals operate. As a result of negative environmental impacts from festivals, we’ve seen natural habitats effected of endangered species. Will this change set a new standard? Maybe music festivals will help save the world, and the environment, after all.
