Can inventive occasions ever be sustainable?
B.Before the coronavirus brought the world to a standstill, the creative industry relied on an ever-expanding schedule for events, festivals, and networking get-togethers. While these gatherings are expensive on the stage, they are viewed as a vital relief in an increasingly digital world and are vital to the economic survival of many industries from music to art to fashion.
There was a problem lurking in the background that contradicted the sustainable ideas and practices that many in the creative industry want to represent. While these events are comfortable for the participants, they are carbon-heavy and plastic-dependent. This time for reflection has also provided an opportunity to examine how they can be more sustainable in the future and be good for both the planet and business.
We strive to raise awareness of sustainable developments through music, conferences and our think tank
In the music industry, We Love Green in Paris has long been a leader in this field. The festival, which started in 2011, welcomes world-famous musicians to its location in the heart of the Bois de Vincennes park in the east of the city. These include FKA-Zweige, Björk, Tyler, The Creator and James Blake-up in recent years. The festival takes new initiatives with each edition, publishes regular reports on its carbon footprint in the interests of full accountability, and is committed to achieving a fully circular model by 2025. Currently, no fossil fuels or single-use plastics are used, local caterers hand out unsold meals to charities and are diligent about recycling, composting and water reduction. We Love Green also has a charter for those involved in the festival, including a request that artists behind the scenes do not have single-use plastics and deal with carbon offsetting and recycling.
"We call ourselves a laboratory in which we develop a new methodology, and we strive to raise awareness of sustainable developments through music, conferences and our think tank," explains Najma Souroque, director of the festival for sustainability and content.
Above and above: The Paris music festival We Love Green, where sets and installations are built from recycled materials