Coldplay has cut its carbon footprint by 59% on its latest world tour compared to its previous one, courtesy of leveraging free water stations, power bikes and kinetic dancefloors that allow dancing fans to generate electricity.
The band, which prides itself on its green credentials, announced its 12-point plan to lower emissions while touring in 2021.
This followed two years after lead singer Chris Martin said he would never tour again unless it was done sustainably and with a “positive impact”.
Coldplay published some of the green touring initiatives it had undertaken, including 18 shows in 2023 powered entirely using the ‘tourable battery system’ which is made from recycled BMW batteries. All shows on the tour featured free water refill stations for fans, with 72% of all tour waste diverted from landfill and sent for reuse, recycling and composting.
“We’d like to thank everyone who’s come to a show and helped charge the show batteries on the power bikes and kinetic dancefloors,” the band said.
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“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 seven million trees so far.
“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.”
Coldplay’s shows have also featured kinectic dancefloors, a novel initiative which generates electricity through the audience jumping up and down on customised tiles.
During the Coldplay shows fans are also encouraged to ride electricity-generating power bikes.
In April this year, US singer and long-standing climate campaigner Billie Eilish released her latest album on recycled and eco-vinyl, with all packaging also made from recycled materials.
