Concerts and architecture have a very unique connection. The stage design has become vital as it connects the audience with the artist. The stages built for different artists vary depending on the concert’s theme, genre of the artist, the color theme of the album, and geographical limitations. However, when an artist goes on a world tour, the question of sustainability arises as show production, freight, and band & crew travel increase carbon emissions. There is also a lot of waste produced during each show, like the one-time usable wristbands and the QR code ticket wristbands. This raises the need for sustainable innovative solutions.
Coldplay
Coldplay is a British Rock band founded in 1997. After their concert tour of 2016-2017, the band announced that they might stop doing more tours as it is awful for the environment. From transportation of equipment to stage set up, it was an unsustainable practice. The band took the initiative on it, collaborated with certain companies, and came up with a plan for their “Music of the Spheres” tour which would reduce their carbon emission by at least 50%. The tour started in 2022, and their CO2e emissions from the first two years of this tour are 59% less than their previous tour of 2016-17, on a show-by-show comparison. These figures have been verified by the MIT Environmental Solutions initiative. Whenever sustainability in urban spaces is discussed, often these temporary events are neglected thinking they do not generate much negative impact on the city. However the band thought of this tour with a macro perspective and attempted to reduce their carbon footprint wherever they perform.
Sustainability Concept
The Coldplay concert introduced a new concept where not only the stage design is important but they also provided something for the audience. They installed cycle stands and installed kinetic floors in locations around the stage so that the fans’ dancing could be converted into energy. The power bikes will generate electricity that actively charges the batteries during their show. Here, with the help of the participatory design method, a connection will be built between the audience and the artist and it will also result in producing electricity required. Instead of just standing during the concert or the dancing energy going to waste, it will be a fun and interesting activity. Next on their list were the LED wristbands. The bands are made from plant-based, compostable material. The wristbands are 100% reusable and recyclable. At the end of the Coldplay concert, the band would request everyone to return the LED wristbands, which will then be taken to the next concert which reduces production costs, and after-use waste, and promotes sustainable solutions.
Better Solution for Freight
For the Coldplay concert tour, The band committed to lowering their emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs). Although it was a lofty objective, the transportation company DHL had the means to achieve it because of its vast knowledge of environmentally friendly logistics and transportation options. For a comprehensive understanding of the tour’s carbon footprint beyond logistics and transportation, it began with a carbon intelligence and monitoring system. This investigation was the basis for determining the optimal locations for operations optimization. It was discovered that more than 80% of the CO2 emissions were from flying the equipment. Our GoGreen Plus solution then became part of the narrative. Through carbon insetting, GoGreen Plus enables users to cut emissions at the source, such as when using Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in airplanes. The band receives emission reductions through an external verification and certification process, and air freight carriers employ the SAF purchased through GoGreen Plus.
Highlights
Some of the highlights mentioned on their websites give the actual data on the progress of their sustainability journey on the Coldplay concert. Along with reduction in CO2e emissions, they also planted 7 million trees i.e. one for each concert-goer. 2 solar-powered (The Ocean Cleanup) River interceptors are deployed. The average return and re-use rate of LED wristbands is 86%. 18 of their shows were powered entirely using the tourable battery system in 2023, made from recycled BMW i3 batteries. The average power generated via in-venue solar installations, kinetic dance floors, and power bikes is 17kWh, enough to power the band’s C-stage performance each night. There are free water refill stations at all of their shows. Along with all this, they recycle, reuse, and compost about 72% of their tour waste. The reduction in freight impacts is 33% and many more such sustainable initiatives. This is their tour emission update on June 3, 2024, on their website.
This idea of the Coldplay concert tour draws a parallel to the concept of Hedonistic sustainability in architecture. According to psychological or motivational hedonism, the desire for greater pleasure and less pain shapes human behavior. According to Danish architect Bjarke Ingels, who coined the phrase “hedonistic sustainability” in 2011, sustainability can and should be pleasurable. The entire sustainability movement gets transformed into something very young, dynamic, and egalitarian by hedonistic sustainability. It proves that design and architecture may have positive effects on the environment in addition to being profitable.
Citations:
- Power: Music of the spheres world tour (no date) Sustainability. Available at: https://sustainability.coldplay.com/section/power/#:~:text=We%20install%20kinetic%20floors%20in,actively%20charge%20our%20show%20batteries .
- Anifer, A. (2024) Music of the spheres Coldplay leads the way in eco-friendly touring, Girl Power Talk. Available at: https://girlpowertalk.com/music-of-the-spheres-coldplay-leads-the-way-in-eco-friendly-touring/#:~:text=Although%20fireworks%20are%20still%20used,compostable%2C%20plant%2Dbased%20materials .
- Tour emissions update 2024 (no date) Coldplay. Available at: https://www.coldplay.com/emissions-update/ .
- author, A. the et al. (no date) Coldplay-x-dhl, DHL Global. Available at: https://www.dhl.com/discover/en-global/logistics-advice/sustainability-and-green-logistics/coldplay-x-dhl .
- Pujara, P. (no date) Bjarke Ingel’s idea of hedonistic sustainability. Available at: https://www.re-thinkingthefuture.com/architectural-community/a8472-bjarke-ingels-idea-of-hedonistic-sustainability/ .
Images:
- Concerts and architecture [Photograph] (https://www.meatlesskingdom.com/2023/05/16/coldplays-sustainable-concert-setting-a-new-standard/ )
- Coldplay band [Photograph] (https://en.aletihad.ae/news/culture/4516334/coldplay-set-to-dazzle-abu-dhabi-with-2025-concert )
- Pujara P. cycle stands [Photograph] (
- Kinetic dance floors [Photograph] (https://energy-floors.com/coldplay/)
- Coldplay sustainable concept of energy generating dance floor [Photograph] (https://www.today.com/popculture/music/coldplay-using-fans-energy-dance-moves-power-shows-rcna32277 )
- Coldplay concert [Photograph] (https://www.travelsdubai.com/09-Jan-2025/live-coldplay-kicks-off-first-concert-in-abu-dhabi )
