TAKE ACTION

SUSTAINABILITY

Make environmental sustainability a priority in your business and put in place a public environmental policy and action plan with a net zero target. Nominate someone on your team who is responsible for greening your activity.

ENERGY

Switch to 100% renewable electricity for your office (or generate your own) and encourage your staff, artists, and partners to do the same.

MANUFACTURING

Work with your production department to explore options like switching from plastic to card packaging for CDs, and use recycled or FSC-certified paper and card. For merchandise, look for certified (e.g. Soil Association, Global Organic Textile Standard) organic cotton, fabrics that incorporate recycled post-consumer waste, or clothing made from more sustainable fibers like bamboo or hemp. Work with printers and manufacturers that have environmental policies and premises powered by 100% renewable electricity. Study: Reducing the Emissions of CD Packaging

BANKING

Ask your bank about their ethical lending and investment policy and pressure them to improve it. If you can, switch your business banking to an ethical bank that doesn’t invest in carbon intensive fossil fuels. Consider investing in renewable energy projects. For example, FEAT in Australia is a fund that works with artists to make investments into renewable energy projects – let’s talk about setting up something similar in the US!

SUSTAINABLE INVESTING

Divest your retirement fund from fossil fuels

Look to switch to an ethical retirement fund with a focus on green investment, and/or lobby your retirement fund provider to create a more climate-proof investment plan.

SUPPLIERS

Speak to your partners and suppliers about how they can support your targets and aims, and put in place environmental conditions in contracts, with partners, and your procurement policy

END AIR FREIGHT

Stop air freighting LPs and CDs. Switch to sea freight, which is significantly less carbon intensive

VINYL

Press vinyl at 140 grams instead of 180 grams. The sound quality is identical, but the carbon footprint from manufacturing and shipping is proportionally lower. You can also use reusable poly bags for the record sleeve, and use an "Eco Mix" for the color. Check out https://www.atozmedia.com/.

FOOD AND DRINK

Go meat- and fish-free for your event catering and minimize single-use plastics. Introduce things like Meat Free Mondays in the office

ARTISTS

Speak to your artists about what they can do and how you can support them (See artist section)

FANS

Speak to fans about the climate and ecological emergency and support environmental campaigns and events

GOVERNMENT

Put pressure on policymakers. Write and call your elected officials about the actions they are taking. Communicate your support for more ambitious climate policy.

SUSTAINABILITY

Make environmental sustainability a priority in your business and put in place a public environmental policy and action plan with a net zero target. Nominate someone on your team who is responsible for greening your activity.

ENERGY

Switch to 100% renewable electricity for your office (or generate your own) and encourage your staff, artists, and partners to do the same.

IMPACTS

Measure your environmental impacts and find ways to reduce them. You can use the simple Creative Green Tool carbon calculator for offices: ig-tools.com

SUPPLIERS

Speak to your partners and suppliers about how they can support your targets and aims, and put in place environmental conditions in contracts, with partners, and your procurement policy.

BANKING

Ask your bank about their ethical lending and investment policy and pressure them to improve it. If you can, switch your business banking to an ethical bank that doesn’t invest in carbon intensive fossil fuels. Consider investing in renewable energy projects. For example, FEAT in Australia is a fund that works with artists to make investments into renewable energy projects – let’s talk about setting up something similar in the US!

INVESTMENTS

Divest your investment fund from fossil fuels

Look to switch to an ethical investment fund with a focus on green investment, and/or lobby your investment provider to create a more climate-proof investment plan.

FOOD AND DRINK

Go meat- and fish-free for your event catering and minimize single-use plastics. Introduce things like Meat Free Mondays in the office.

SPEAK TO YOUR COMPOSERS/ARTISTS

Suggest what they can do and how you can support them. See artist section.

WRITE TO GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES

Put pressure on policymakers. Write and call your elected officials about the actions they are taking. Communicate your support for more ambitious climate policy.

SUSTAINABILITY

Make environmental sustainability a priority in your business and put in place a public environmental policy and action plan with a net zero target. Nominate someone on your team who is responsible for greening your activity.

ENERGY

Switch to 100% renewable electricity for your venue or studio (or generate your own) and encourage your staff, artists, and partners to do the same.

IMPACTS

Measure your environmental impacts and put in place targets for reducing them. You can use the simple Creative Green Tool carbon calculator for venues: ig-tools.com

ENERGY MANAGEMENT

Put in place an energy management strategy with a focus on energy efficiency, and introduce measures to increase recycling rates and reduce your waste and water use. If you’re planning any capital development works, make sure they are fit for a net zero emissions future.

AUDIENCES

Encourage audiences to take public transport. Ensure information on how to get to the venue by bus, train, tram, metro, bicycle, or walking is readily available, and put in place incentives where possible.

TICKETING

Work with ticket agents to embed carbon balancing at point of ticket sale.

FOOD AND DRINK

Put the environment on the table: include plenty of vegetarian and vegan options on your menu (or go 100% meat- and fish-free). Focus on local, seasonal and organic produce and minimise the use of single-use plastics in your catering and bar operations.

SPONSORS AND SUPPLIERS

Speak to your partners, sponsors, and suppliers about how they can support your targets and aims, and put in place environmental conditions in contracts, with partners, and your procurement policy.

ARTISTS

Speak to visiting artists about the climate and ecological emergency, what you’re doing, and how they can take action. See artist section.

FANS

Speak to fans about the climate and ecological emergency and support environmental campaigns and events.

ETHICAL INVESTMENTS

Divest your investment fund from fossil fuels. Look to switch to an ethical investment fund with a focus on green investment, and/or lobby your investment provider to create a more climate-proof investment plan.

NATURE

Create space for nature in your space(s), for example through living roofs, bat or swift boxes, and wildflowers for pollinators.

BANKING

Ask your bank about their ethical lending and investment policy and pressure them to improve it. If you can, switch your business banking to an ethical bank that doesn’t invest in carbon intensive fossil fuels. Consider investing in renewable energy projects. For example, FEAT in Australia is a fund that works with artists to make investments into renewable energy projects – let’s talk about setting up something similar in the US!

GOVERNMENT

Put pressure on policymakers. Write and call your elected officials about the actions they are taking. Communicate your support for more ambitious climate policy.

SUSTAINABILITY

Make environmental sustainability a priority in your business and put in place a public environmental policy and action plan with a net zero target. Nominate someone on your team who is responsible for greening your activity.

IMPACTS

Measure your environmental impacts and put in place targets for reducing them. You can use the simple Creative Green Tool carbon calculator for outdoor events: www.ig-tools.com

ENERGY MANAGEMENT

Put in place an energy management strategy with a focus on energy efficiency, better power specification, and introducing renewable energy where feasible. Powerful Thinking offers a free energy management guide, factsheets and plenty of case studies. If you're sourcing biofuels, check out this factsheet for some things to look out for. And if you want to know more about how we can reduce our contribution to air pollution, see this factsheet.

WASTE MANAGEMENT

Ditch the plastic and cut waste: switch to re-usable cups, minimize the use of single-use plastics by catering and traders, and work with your waste contractor(s) to increase recycling rates.

FOOD AND DRINK

Put the environment on the menu. Introduce vegetarian and vegan options on your menu (or go 100% meat- and fish-free). Focus on local, seasonal and organic produce. Read about Shambala's experience of going meat- and fish-free . Work with initiatives like Eighth Plate to make sure surplus food goes to where it's needed instead of landfill.

SPONSORS AND SUPPLIERS

Speak to your partners, sponsors, and suppliers about how they can support your targets and aims, and put in place environmental conditions in contracts, with partners, and your procurement policy.

ARTISTS

Speak to visiting artists about the climate and ecological emergency, what you’re doing, and how they can take action. See artist section.

FANS

Speak to fans about the climate and ecological emergency and support environmental campaigns and events.

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Switch to 100% renewable electricity for your office, and encourage your staff, artists, and partners to do the same.

ETHICAL INVESTMENTS

Divest your investment fund from fossil fuels. Look to switch to an ethical investment fund with a focus on green investment, and/or lobby your investment provider to create a more climate-proof investment plan.

BANKING

Ask your bank about their ethical lending and investment policy and pressure them to improve it. If you can, switch your business banking to an ethical bank that doesn’t invest in carbon intensive fossil fuels.

GOVERNMENT

Put pressure on policymakers. Write and call your elected officials about the actions they are taking. Communicate your support for more ambitious climate policy.

ASSESSMENT

Get a certification or external assessment of how you're doing through the A Greener Festival Awards or Julie's Bicycle Creative Green.

SUSTAINABILITY

Make environmental sustainability a priority in your business and put in place a public environmental policy and action plan with a net zero target. Nominate someone on your team who is responsible for greening your activity.

SPONSORS AND SUPPLIERS

Speak to your partners, sponsors, and suppliers about how they can support your targets and aims, and put in place environmental conditions in contracts, with partners, and your procurement policy.

ARTISTS

Speak to visiting artists about the climate and ecological emergency, what you’re doing, and how they can take action. See artist section.

FANS

Speak to fans about the climate and ecological emergency and support environmental campaigns and events.

DONATE

Build a donation to an environmental cause into your ticket price or guestlist donation.

REDUCE

Work with your host venue and/or production company to put in place measures to reduce energy and water use and waste, and consider the environment as part of your food and drinks offer. See the venue and festivals sections for more information.

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Switch to 100% renewable electricity for your office, and encourage your staff, artists, and partners to do the same.

ETHICAL INVESTMENTS

Divest your investment fund from fossil fuels. Look to switch to an ethical investment fund with a focus on green investment, and/or lobby your investment provider to create a more climate-proof investment plan.

BANKING

Ask your bank about their ethical lending and investment policy and pressure them to improve it. If you can, switch your business banking to an ethical bank that doesn’t invest in carbon intensive fossil fuels. Consider investing in renewable energy projects. For example, FEAT in Australia is a fund that works with artists to make investments into renewable energy projects – let’s talk about setting up something similar in the US!

GOVERNMENT

Write to government representatives about the actions you’re taking and your support for more ambitious climate policy.

SUSTAINABILITY

Make environmental sustainability a priority in your business and put in place an environmental policy and action plan with a net zero target. Nominate someone on your team who is responsible for greening your activity.

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Switch to 100% renewable electricity for your office, and encourage your staff, artists, and partners to do the same.

ARTISTS

Speak with your artists and support them to take action. Work with them to support environmental causes or campaigns they care about. See artist section.

COLLABORATE

Build up relationships with trusted environmental partners, events, and campaigns.

ETHICAL INVESTMENTS

Divest your investment fund from fossil fuels. Look to switch to an ethical investment fund with a focus on green investment, and/or lobby your investment provider to create a more climate-proof investment plan.

BANKING

Ask your bank about their ethical lending and investment policy and pressure them to improve it. If you can, switch your business banking to an ethical bank that doesn’t invest in carbon intensive fossil fuels. Consider investing in renewable energy projects. For example, FEAT in Australia is a fund that works with artists to make investments into renewable energy projects – let’s talk about setting up something similar in the US!

GOVERNMENT

Write to government representatives about the actions you’re taking and your support for more ambitious climate policy.

SPEAK OUT

Break climate silence and speak to all your friends and family about the climate and ecological crisis. Support your favourite artists when they speak out, and let them know you stand with them.

GET ENGAGED POLITICALLY

Make sure you’re registered to vote and write to your congressman to let them know that the climate and environment is something you care deeply about.

CHANGE YOUR DIET

Eat less meat and dairy, and reduce the amount of food you waste. Try initiatives like Veganuary or Meat Free Mondays, or just do it day to day. Go for the vegan or vegetarian option at festivals and pre-gig dinners.

GO RENEWABLE

Switch to 100% renewable electricity in your home - so when you’re listening to your records or streaming music, you know that your favourite sounds are powered by clean energy.

SHARE TRANSPORTATION

Take public transport whenever you can - including to get to shows. If you can’t take public transport or a coach to your next festival, car-share instead.

TRAIN OVER PLANE

Travel by train instead of flying - like when you’re planning that weekend get-away to see your favorite band somewhere else.