After a magnanimous tour and performance in Abu Dhabi this past week, Coldplay has created yet another magical experience for their fans and concert goers. From kinetic dance floors and stationary bikes to reforestation pledges, here's how the rockers are making their Music of the Spheres concerts as green as possible.

It's hard to make a global music tour environmentally friendly, but Coldplay are putting in the effort. When the band announced their new tour to support their most recent album, Music of the Spheres, they made several environmental pledges and announced sustainability initiatives to reduce their carbon footprint as much as possible.

Have a look at their statement on their website: 

2024 HIGHLIGHTS

• Overall 59% reduction in direct CO2E emissions compared to their previous tour (2016-17), on a show-by-show basis, across 2022 and 2023.

• 7 million trees planted
that will be supported to maturity via One Tree Planted - one for each concert goer. Approximately 10,000 hectares of land restored across 24 countries and 48 planting projects

• 2 solar-powered The Ocean Cleanup River Interceptors deployed

• 86% = average return and re-use rate of LED wristbands 


• 18 shows powered entirely using the tourable battery system in 2023 


• Made from recycled BMW i3 batteries

• 23 partnerships with green travel providers to help fans travel to shows via super-low carbon transport

• 17kWh average power per show

• Generated via in-venue solar installations, kinetic dance floors and power bikes - enough to power the band’s C-stage performance each night

• 100% of shows with free water refill stations for fans

• Over 3,000 tCO2e saved by purchasing Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) for flights


• 72% of all tour waste diverted from landfill and sent for reuse, recycling and composting

• 9,625 meals + 90kg of toiletries donated from tour catering to the unhoused and unsheltered

• Financial support given to environmental organisations including ClientEarth, The Ocean Cleanup, Climeworks, Project Seagrass, Sustainable Food Trust, Cleaner Seas Group, Food Forest Project, Knowledge Pele, Conservation Collective and others

• 33% reduction in freight impacts
  

Impact assessment and CO2E calculations validation

All the data and environmental impact assessments from both the A Head Full Of Dreams Tour (2016/2017) and the first two years of the Music Of The Spheres Tour have been independently collated and undertaken by our long term sustainability partners Hope Solutions.

The assessments and reports are shared with the team and leadership at the MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative for annual audit and verification. They have once again independently validated and quality-assured the data as well as the calculation methodologies, assumptions and rationale for the tour vs tour comparison.

Quote from Prof. John E. Fernandez, MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative

"For some time now, Coldplay has been leading by example in taking seriously and acting on the various interrelated environmental and social challenges facing humanity; climate change, biodiversity loss, air and water pollution, environmental injustice and more.

With each subsequent year of their tour they demonstrate an evolving vision and expanded commitment to move the entire music industry toward true and humane sustainability and planetary resilience. From collecting unprecedented amounts of data to taking specific actions today based on rigorous analysis, Coldplay is modelling a trajectory toward a low carbon, biodiverse and equitable future.

I, Prof. John E. Fernández of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, have reviewed their latest efforts and endorse and congratulate Coldplay in their dedication to positive and meaningful actions and Hope Solutions in their comprehensive and meticulous analysis and recommendations.

This latest analysis of Coldplay’s impact on the environment from touring is again setting a new standard for the entire music industry. The data and the methods of analysis support the conclusion that substantial progress has been made to reduce emissions in touring."

Source: Tour Emissions Update 2024 | Coldplay