Coldplay reduces its tour emissions by 59%

When the band first announced the Music Of The Spheres Tour in 2021, they pledged to reduce direct carbon emissions (from show production, freight, band and crew travel) by at least 50%.

The band travelled by train, provided concert-goers with recyclable LED wristbands, and installed dance floors that used attendees' moves to generate electricity. Fans could also use electric bikes during shows to power sections of the stage and charging points for the band and crew.

Eighteen of the tour's shows so far had been powered by a system made of recycled BMW batteries. The band also planted seven million trees for each ticket sold, and 72% of tour waste had been sent for reuse, recycling, and composting.

This initiative followed after Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin stated he would not tour again unless it could be done sustainably, and two years after the band pledged to lower its tour emissions by at least 50%. In a mid-tour report last July, the band announced it had lowered emissions by 47%.

The band said the figures had been verified by a team at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

In a statement on their website, the band stated: “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.”

“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.”