Coldplay have shared an update about the sustainability initiatives they have implemented on their ongoing tour, and been praised as “setting a new standard” when it comes to an eco-conscious approach to live music.
The band – who have always been conscious of the environmental impact of touring – shared an update on the sustainability results they have achieved so far earlier today (June 2).
The ‘Music Of The Spheres’ tour, which began back in March 2022 and has sold over 9million tickets so far, has been revealed to have already produced 59 per cent less CO2e emissions than their previous stadium tour in 2016 and 2017. This already beats the original target that Chris Martin and co. had set to ensure they beat those of previous tours by 50 per cent.
It has also been revealed that 7million trees have been planted globally thanks to the success of the live shows. This comes as a result of the band promising to have one tree planted for every person who attends the tour.
“When we first announced the ‘Music Of The Spheres Tour’ in 2021, we pledged to reduce our direct carbon emissions (from show production, freight, band and crew travel) by at least 50 per cent,” the band wrote in a new statement. “We’re happy to report that direct CO2e emissions from the first two years of this tour are 59 per cent less than our previous stadium tour (2016-17), on a show-by-show comparison. These figures have been verified by the MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative.
“We’d like to say a huge thank you to our incredible touring family and to all the brilliant people who’ve made this possible. Most of all, we’d like to thank everyone who’s come to a show and helped charge the show batteries on the power bikes and kinetic dance floors; everyone who’s arrived by foot, bike, ride share or public transport; everyone who’s come with refillable water bottles or returned their LED wristband for recycling; and everyone who’s bought a ticket, which means you’ve already planted one of 7 million trees so far,” they added.
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“As a band, and as an industry, we’re a long way from where we need to be on this. But we’re grateful for everyone’s help so far, and we salute everyone who’s making efforts to push things in the right direction.”
Other new findings shared in the report include confirmation of an 86 per cent average return rate of the reusable, plant-based LED wristbands used at shows, 72 per cent of all tour waste diverted from landfill and sent for reuse, recycling and composting, and two solar-powered Ocean Cleanup River Interceptors deployed.
Additionally, it has been shown that 18 shows were powered entirely using the tourable battery system in 2023 made from recycled BMW i3 batteries, 23 partnerships were secured with green travel providers to help fans travel to shows via super-low carbon transport, and there was an average of 17kWh 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.
The statistics have also been validated by Professor John E. Fernandez of MIT’s (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) Environmental Solutions Initiative, who praised the band for “again setting a new standard for the entire music industry.”
“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,” Fernandez added.
“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.”
Coldplay’s ‘Music Of The Spheres World Tour’ continues in Athens, Greece next week and will also see the band headline at Glastonbury for the fifth time.
Their set at Worthy Farm this month will see them become the first act to top the Glastonbury bill five times, following headline performances in 2002, 2005, 2011 and 2016.
It’ll also come following them sharing details of a 25th anniversary vinyl edition of ‘Brothers & Sisters’ and making headlines with their headline show at the BBC Radio 1 Big Weekend last month.
As for the future of the group, Martin has previously stated that he has plans to stop writing music as a band by 2025.
“Well I know I can tell you: our last proper record will come out in 2025 and after that I think we will only tour,” Martin said during an interview with Jo Wiley. “Maybe we’ll do some collaborative things but the Coldplay catalogue, as it were, finishes then.”
NME spoke with Coldplay back in 2021 and Martin revealed a similar sentiment to us: “We’re going to make 12 albums. Because it’s a lot to pour everything into making them. I love it and it’s amazing, but it’s very intense too.”
“I feel like because I know that challenge is finite, making this music doesn’t feel difficult, it feels like, ‘This is what we’re supposed to be doing’.”
Back in 2022, the ‘Music Of The Spheres’ tour was given a glowing five-star review by NME, and described as delivering “a fantastical, feel-good bonanza that delivers on a bold promise”.