Everyone should be looking after the planet as best they can. Here are some things to consider that may help you become a more eco-friendly musician.

As a musician, sustainability may not be at the top of your list of priorities. However, as a citizen of planet Earth, sustainability in music (and in general) should be a consideration that becomes second-nature and part of your everyday. We’ve got some tips on how you can operate more sustainably as you pursue your musical career.

With a declared “climate emergency” in worryingly full swing, it’s never been more important to think about our contributions to climate change. It can feel frustrating and demoralizing to recycle your tins of baked beans whilst huge corporations are dumping oil into oceans or burning colossal rafts of trash. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), approximately 70% of global greenhouse gases is generated by 100 companies, highlighting that individuals’ efforts alone are not enough to combat the current issue.

That being said, it’s still crucial to do your bit towards reducing climate change. Sustained collective efforts of individuals could play a pivotal role in encouraging or enforcing corporations to follow suit. So, how can you do your bit within the realms of your music career?

Equipment

Aspiring to a shiny new guitar can seem completely harmless, and of course it’s fine to want to upgrade your gear. But, you may want to consider recycling and reusing musical equipment. There can be so much joy and reward in finding a gem of a second-hand or vintage instrument, plus this has far less of a carbon footprint.

Alongside repairing and reusing old instruments, you can take care to purchase products that use biodegradable and eco-friendly materials. Keep an eye out for trade-in schemes for things like broken guitar strings or even entire instruments. Places like music shops or brands like d’Addario participate in schemes like these.

Travel

If you find yourself having to travel frequently to gigs or the studio, or even going off on tour, switching up your mode of transport to a greener one can help you promote sustainability in music. Instead of driving, why not take the train or bus, or carshare with band members to reduce the number of vehicles used.

Ditching air travel for things like trains or ferries, if you’re not too tightly bound by time constraints, can also help to reduce your carbon footprint. This is not a set-in-stone rule though, and it can be a good idea to look up carbon emissions estimates for your planned journey. Depending on where you’re going, how far it is, and when you plan on travelling, carbon emissions may vary.

Live Performances

Sustainability in music can be promoted through how live performances are organized and executed in a number of ways. Artists wishing to be more sustainable in their practices can do research into the venues they perform at. By only playing at venues that use recyclable cups, or that power themselves on green energy, environmentally friendly practices are recognized and celebrated. These seemingly small choices can filter down to your audience, encouraging more and more people to consider their contributions to sustainability.

Another interesting way that live performances can be more eco-friendly is via ticket sales. It has become more and more popular, not just within the music industry, to offer to plant a tree for every corresponding transaction. This is a form of carbon offsetting that can enable musicians to give back to the environment to better balance out their use of resources during live shows.

Food

As an artist, you can be more sustainable by making greener choices around what you and your crew eats. If you’re lucky enough to be able to request a rider when you play live, try to choose in-season produce, and don’t request more food than is necessary (avoid food waste where possible).

Additionally, you can aim to consume less meat and dairy, and encourage your bandmates or team to do the same. A vegan diet tends to have significantly lower carbon, water and ecological footprints than diets that include meat, fish and dairy. You don’t have to permanently change your eating habits, but if you decide to encourage a plant-based diet on one of your tours, even that can make a difference.

Merch

If you sell merch to promote your music, you can make greener choices around how this is produced and sent to fans. For example, if you want to make band t-shirts, you can opt for companies that use natural fibers or use recycled materials. When it comes to sending merch, using biodegradable and recyclable packaging helps to reduce your environmental impact even further.

Nobody is perfect, so don’t worry too much if you don’t take on board all of these tips. Even just changing a few habits can add up to a better contribution to sustainability in music and in the wider world. Whether you eat less meat on tour, or start recycling broken guitar strings, your greener actions can influence others to do similar. The more people make little, everyday changes to promote a healthier environment, the more pressure there is on big corporations to reflect on their carbon footprint.

You can open up a conversation with your fans and your peers around sustainability in music. Share ideas and advice, discuss concerns or wins, all while creating a like-minded community. Just remember, even small changes add up!