British rock band Coldplay performed at the Kaohsiung World Games Main Stadium, attracting over 160,000 attendees over two days. During the concert, Coldplay distributed recyclable LED wristbands, achieving a 93% recycling rate in Taiwan on the first day, ranking fourth globally. Coldplay was also the first band in the world to release a sustainability report. What other carbon reduction initiatives are they undertaking?
The ESG trend has spread across the cultural and music industries, and performances incorporating sustainability and carbon reduction concepts have mushroomed. Coldplay, a band valued at NT$3.2 billion, has long championed environmental sustainability, returning to the stage after a six-year hiatus. Not only did it attract over 50,000 attendees, setting a record for simultaneous attendance of nearly 87,000 both inside and outside the venue, but it also sparked a wave of carbon reduction initiatives.
The "Environmentally Friendly" Tour: Music of the Spheres, which kicked off in March 2022, began in Costa Rica, a sustainable city that uses 99% renewable energy, and ended in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Taiwan's recycling rate for LED wristbands at concerts reaches 93%
For this world tour, Coldplay will continue to distribute plant-based, compostable LED wristbands upon entry, replacing the need for fans to bring their own glow sticks. These wristbands will be collected after the concert and reused at the next show. A screen at the concert also displayed recycling rates for the LED wristbands worldwide. Unexpectedly, on the first day of the concert, Kaohsiung achieved an impressive 93% recycling rate, second only to Tokyo, Japan (97%), Copenhagen, Denmark (96%), and third to Buenos Aires, Argentina (94%).
However, regarding the environmentally friendly nature of the recycled bracelets, some fans dismissed them as "souvenirs" and shouted, "I absolutely won't return them." In fact, the inside of the white bracelets bears no mention of Coldplay except for the words "Please Return for Recycling" and "Made of Plant-Based, Recyclable Materials." Many netizens responded, "I'll forget what they are in two years. What's so good about them?"
Initiative 2: Use green energy: Recycle battery modules to generate electricity, and use sustainable fuel for a fee
Coldplay's world tour concerts use a large amount of renewable energy to provide electricity, and they also cooperated with BMW to introduce giant "power banks" made from recycled battery modules from i3 electric vehicles.
Recycled battery modules from BMW i3 electric vehicles are then repurposed into energy storage systems that absorb renewable energy sources such as sunlight and wind power, replacing traditional diesel generators and powering on-stage equipment with green electricity. Coldplay is the first band to use BMW i3 batteries on tour, and it's estimated that a single used BMW i3 battery can provide over a decade of performance life.
This year, the concert featured an "energy interactive device" in the flat rock area, allowing fans to contribute to the performance's electricity needs by using power-generating bicycles and bouncing floors. Organizers also set up drinking water stations, encouraging the public to bring their own reusable cups (other than stainless steel), which would be available free of charge upon entry.
Renewable fuels are used wherever possible in cargo, logistics and international flights. The orchestra's members will also pay an additional fee to use or be provided with Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) made from waste organic oil, which can reduce greenhouse gas emissions from air travel by 75% to 80%.
Coldplay is worth 3.2 billion and is willing to take a break from the stage for environmental protection
In their 27 years, Coldplay has sold over 100 million albums worldwide, making them one of the best-selling bands of all time. They have also won eight Brit Awards, seven Grammy Awards, and five MTV Video Music Awards, and their fan base spans the globe. Why would such an award-winning, globally popular band, even at the risk of increased costs, create an unprecedented "sustainable concert"?
The story goes back to 2017, when Coldplay completed their year-and-a-half-long world tour, "A Head Full of Dreams," which spanned five continents and 122 concerts, attracting 5.39 million people. The entire tour also put a considerable burden on the environment.
Inspired by this, in November 2019, lead singer Chris Martin made a shocking announcement, announcing that Coldplay would suspend their world tour until they could find a more environmentally friendly solution. Since then, Coldplay and environmental experts have been actively developing carbon-reducing methods, leading to the creation of an "eco-friendly" tour.
In October 2021, Coldplay not only released their latest album, Music of the Spheres, but also announced that they would restart their beloved world tour in 2022 with minimal impact on the environment.
Photo: Coldplay and environmental experts are actively developing carbon reduction methods, giving rise to an "environmentally friendly" tour. Photo taken from Coldplay's Facebook page
Coldplay Releases Sustainability Report
Coldplay has long advocated for and supported environmental action, and released a sustainability report before their "Music of the Spheres" world tour kicked off in 2022, marking a first in the music industry.
Coldplay's sustainability report emphasizes three core concepts: "Reduce," "Reshape," and "Restore." The group pledges to reduce environmental impact, expand the recycling of performance materials, and reduce CO2 emissions from their tours by 50%. Furthermore, the group supports green technology and the development of sustainable, low-carbon tourism methods, offsetting the CO2 emissions from their world tour by funding a series of natural carbon reduction projects.
Coldplay's sustainability report emphasizes alignment of measurements and processes with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) standards, setting a clear goal of reducing CO2 emissions by 50% compared to their previous world tour (2016-2017). Furthermore, the ESG report was evaluated and verified by John E. Fernandez, Director of the MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative. Through clear and concise narratives, Coldplay demonstrates its commitment to carbon reduction to its global fans.
Coldplay will plant a tree for every ticket sold at Tron 5
To fulfill their carbon reduction commitments, Coldplay partnered with software company SAP to develop an app that allows fans to find low-carbon transportation options to the venue. For every concert ticket sold, Coldplay also partnered with reforestation organization One Tree Planted to plant a tree.
10% of revenue, including concert tours, recording fees and copyright royalties, is invested in funding a number of conservation projects, such as forest conservation and ocean cleanup The Ocean Cleanup, environmental law enforcement Client Earth, environmental conservation and wilderness restoration Seafields and My Trees, and carbon capture technology by Climateworks.
Music industry observers say artists are commendable for pioneering more sustainable choices in concert touring. Most say the impact on fans won't be immediate, but consistent climate action can influence a large audience to change their consumption habits and spread environmental awareness.
Although concerts still bring unavoidable pollution to the environment, Coldplay's efforts to reduce its carbon footprint, transform the music industry, and encourage more people to join the ranks of protecting the earth are worthy of recognition.
Source: ESG Insights
