Larger tours are trying to address this concern with ideas such as the Coachella AMTRACK Express train used in Las Angeles to use of PickupPal carpooling by masses of fans.

PickupPal is working with the low-carbon-footprint-minded tour company Portland-based Reverb to extend their services to tour-going fans across the U.S including The Dave Matthews Band who is using them for their full 40-city tour. Barenaked Ladies and the Red Hot Chili Peppers are some of the other acts that have used Reverb’s services, which include reducing waste, getting biodiesel for tour buses and purchasing carbon offsets.

PickupPal is a new very web 2.0 online service that links eco-minded drivers with people who need a lift with the aim of minimizing everyone’s carbon footprint.  On their website they have a CO2 emissions  calculator which reads nearly 375,000 lbs of CO2 avoided.

Here’s a somewhat-cheesy clip showing how this service works:

With the 2008 Summer Music Festival season upon us Grist.org once again reviews the topic.  They start off referring to the unique approach taken by Coachella this year who organized an Amtrack train to bring LA residents out to the Indio, CA grounds.  Over 300 fans chose this “public transportation” route for their journey to the show and their train tickets were free.

Later this summer the Rothbury Festival during the July 4th holiday aims to be a concert with a purpose.  Rothbury features top music talent including Dave Mathews Band, John Mayer,  Thievery Corporation, The Dresden Dolls, Crystal Method, Beth Orton and many, many more.   In their own words, they provide the guidelines they have followed in organizing their event.  Many of these items should be considerations for any live event or tour planning:

ROTHBURY is dedicated to throwing a HUGE party… with a purpose. This July 4th weekend, ROTHBURY emerges as a new American celebration where music and cause join together to stir ideas, to awaken possibilities, and to empower through knowledge. And yeah, to have the time of our lives.

Our theme is Finding Energy Independence. ROTHBURY is guided by a bold environmental sustainability mission. Dedicated to running as close to a zero-waste event as possible, we have implemented the following initiatives, and continue to add to this list:

1. RUN A NEAR-ZERO WASTE IN-HOUSE PRODUCTION

All ROTHBURY offices have been “Greened.” Just a few examples of the many sustainable initiatives we have implemented include: full service recycling is active at all offices; all paper products are 100% recycled, including but not limited to printing paper, copy paper, envelopes, letterhead; office printing is either two sided, or on the back of reused paper; all our offices use only reusables and compostable kitchen-ware, no disposables; all office supplies have been replaced by their eco equivalents: rechargeable batteries, hand soap, cleaning supplies, toilet paper, energy efficient light bulbs, and more; energy audits and monthly tracking have begun; the ROTHBURY team travels only when necessary, and when we do travel, we offset the carbon we create from our hotel stays, flights and/or automobiles.

2. SUPPORT THOSE COMPANIES SUPPORTING THE SOLUTIONS

When purchasing or even renting an item, ROTHBURY asks ourselves three questions:

1. Where is this coming from?
2. How was it made?
3. Where might it end up?

For example, printing (this includes our on-site programs, posters, tickets, survival guides, smaller signage, etc.):

1. Our paper comes from an independent/green-only paper company
2. It is 100% recycled content, no trees cut. It is printed with soy-based inks.
3. We will not print anything unnecessary, so as to reduce waste. Everything we do print can be recycled again, and we will provide recycling containers on site so that it has a better chance of reentering the system.

ROTHBURY is taking advantage of our ability to vote with our dollar. In addition to paper, ROTHBURY purchases compostables instead of disposables, offers organic and sustainable merchandise (t-shirts, hats), uses biodiesel, provides organic, veggie & vegan food vendors throughout the grounds, and more. Heck, we are even swapping out the porta-potty toilet paper to 100% recycled. Got another idea? Let us know!

3. MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO ELIMINATE TRASH

ROTHBURY is committed to eliminating trash. If trash can be replaced with a more sustainable option, such as a reusable, it will be. If an item is going to end up in a landfill, we are going to make best efforts to not use it in the first place.  Additionally, our vendors, sponsors and other on-site associates have enthusiastically (and contractually) agreed to our same high standards, and will not hand out anything that might soon be thrown ‘away’. By the way….where is away?!

4. REPLACE DISPOSABLES WITH COMPOSTABLES

Instead of standard ‘trash items’ like plastic cups, plates and utensils, ROTHBURY uses compostable products made from renewable plant sources. Examples include plates made of sugarcane (called Bagasse), and cups, straws, and trash bags made of corn (called Bioplastic). ROTHBURY strongly encourages our attendees to bring their compostable items to one of the many manned compost stations on the grounds!

5. COMPOST AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE

As much as 30-40% of the ‘trash’ generated at an average festival could have been composted (and most of the rest can be recycled). In an effort to divert as much waste as possible, ROTHBURY offers manned compost stations available on-site. These stations accept all compostable food and food service items, as well as any personal items you would like to bring to us that are biodegradable (like paper). Because ROTHBURY is an ‘overnight’ festival that allows attendees to bring in their own food & food service items into the campgrounds, the possibility for accidental tainting is strong (a few petroleum items can taint it all). For this reason, you will not see compost bins along side every recycling/trash bin on the grounds. However, manned compost stations will be available throughout the event grounds, and will be marked on the event maps, for your convenience.

6. PROVIDE EASY TO USE, FULL SERVICE RECYCLING

For those items that are not compostable, like bottles and cans, ROTHBURY will provide easy to use full-service recycling. At ROTHBURY, you will never see a trashcan without a recycling can along side it (Trash? What trash?!). All recycling can be mixed except paper and cardboard.  That means plastic bottles, glass bottles and aluminum cans may all go in the same bin. Easy! Anywhere you see a trash can at ROTHBURY, you will also see recycle cans. Each will be labeled clearly, so please be sure to pause, read them, and select accordingly. Please recycle whenever possible!

7. PROVIDE AN AROUND-THE-CLOCK ‘GREEN TEAM’

Not sure if an item is compost, recycling, or trash? When in doubt, just ask the Green Team! ROTHBURY’s tremendous volunteer Green Team will be on hand to assist with questions, sorting, and to generally assist in the elimination of tainting. They are well trained and ready to answer any questions you might have. Want to volunteer and get into the event for free? Great, we couldn’t do it without you! Check out details about ROTHBURY’s Work Exchange Program.

8. CHOOSE CLEAN ENERGY

ROTHBURY supports Clean Energy. This includes bio-diesel and solar powered stages, light towers, sponsor power sources, golf carts, etc. Some elements of ROTHBURY have to be ‘on the grid’. For those elements that we power ourselves, we choose to power them with clean energy.

9. CARBON-OFFSET ALL THAT WE ABSOLUTELY CAN’T REDUCE

While we’d love to fly to Michigan on an ethanol plane, the opportunity does not yet exist. For those items we cannot run clean (like an electric powered stage, or an airline flight), ROTHBURY offsets our carbon output. We are currently exploring opportunities to offset our carbon in a way which specifically benefits the local Rothbury community.

10. PROMOTE MASS TRANSIT AND CARPOOLING

ROTHBURY is working with public transportation systems to create easy to use travel opportunities, and incentives for those who reduce their impact by taking public transport. We have only just begun to outline transportation options to ROTHBURY. Stay tuned for more information on airport shuttles, chartered eco-busses, and more.

11. EDUCATE THE PUBLIC THROUGH EXPERIENTIAL ACTIVITIES

ROTHBURY is dedicated to educating through experience. ROTHBURY will feature a Think Tank, an Energy Fair, an on-site eco-art made of reclaimed products, and more.  Keep your eye out in scheduling updates as details are confirmed, and once on-site for plenty of unannounced surprises.

12. GIVE BACK TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY

Sarah Lipman writes about how some of today’s top acts are doing their part including “an increasing number of artists like John Mayer, The Fray, Bon Jovi and Incubus, are working with environmental organizations such as Reverb, Heal the Bay and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) to take new initiatives to revamp and “green” their concerts both on and offstage.”

As touring is an area where there is much room for improvement it is important to know tsome of the not-so-green facts about this critical part of our industry.  Sarah continues, “the music industry contributes 150,000 tons of carbon emissions annually through tour buses alone…  a single stadium show can contribute 500 to 1,000 tons of CO2 emissions… a typical mid-size venue can go through 470,000 plastic cups, 200,000 napkins and 600 light bulbs each year.”

When examining what record labels can do, the focus shifts to CD packaging. “Major labels have invested in greener efforts of their own, including reducing waste, purchasing carbon offsets and, most significantly, replacing CD packaging with more eco-sound materials.”  Alternatively, everyone of us can make the effort to push this industry further along in the adoption of a full digital promotion and sales model so we don’t need to bother with plastic CDs and their packaging.  See the Resources page for ideas.

So what’s the “Eco-Friendly Fan” to do?  The Green Guide suggests that fans push venues to provide recycling facilities, carpool or take public transport to gigs, and buy organic cotton or hemp T-shirts.

We’ll… it certainly is a start.

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