And it was all yellow… When one of the biggest bands in the world embarked on a global tour and committed to reduce their carbon footprint along the way, there was only one logistics partner who could help them deliver. And the clue was there in their lyrics all along…
A sky full of stars – and sustainable aviation
When Coldplay first announced the “Music of the Spheres” world tour in 2021, they pledged to reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by more than 50% compared to their previous tour. It was an ambitious goal – but with extensive expertise in sustainable logistics and transport solutions, DHL had the tools to make it happen.
We started with a carbon intelligence and monitoring system for a holistic view of the tour's carbon footprint, going beyond transportation and logistics. This analysis was the foundation for identifying where best to optimize operations. We saw that transporting the equipment by air accounted for over 80% of the CO2 emissions. With that, our GoGreen Plus solution entered the story.
GoGreen Plus uses carbon insetting which allows customers to directly reduce emissions at the source – for example, by using Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in air transport. Air freight carriers use the SAF purchased via GoGreen Plus, and the band receives emission reductions through an external verification and certification process.
What is Sustainable Aviation Fuel?
SAF is a biofuel produced from renewable sources such as vegetable oils, animal fats, waste products, and agricultural crops. SAF is specifically designed to be used as a substitute for traditional jet fuel and can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% compared to fossil fuels.
DHL Express has two of the largest ever SAF deals with BP and Neste, amounting to more than 800 million liters. This contributes to DHL’s target of using 30% SAF for all air transport by 2030.
A new model for sustainable touring
It wouldn’t be a true tour roundup without mentioning the iconic LED wristbands. A highlight of many Coldplay tours gone by, they pulse with light in sync with the music, lighting up stadiums across the world. Made from plant-based, compostable material, the wristbands are 100% reusable and recyclable.
During the tour, we transported the wristbands between venues in trucks powered by sustainable fuels – helping these magical tour mementos become another part of the band’s sustainability story.
DHL x the Coldplay world tour: results that count
In June 2024, Coldplay announced direct GHG emissions from the first two years of the Music of the Spheres tour are 59% less than their previous stadium tour (2016-17), adding that DHL has been instrumental in minimizing emissions from freight and transportation. A big part of this was utilizing SAF to cut GHG emissions from charter flights for freight by 1,078 metric tons. That’s a fuel life-cycle reduction of 85% per flight, resulting in a 31% decrease in the total CO2 footprint of transportation in 2023 and making a significant contribution to lowering the band’s overall air travel emissions.
As the tour rolls into 2025, DHL will continue to help the band deliver music and magic across the world in the most environmentally friendly way possible.
“We've been highly impressed by DHL’s commitment to sustainability.”
Coldplay’s co-manager, Phil Harvey
How to make your business more sustainable with DHL
You don’t have to be a world-famous, multi-million selling rock band to benefit from DHL’s sustainable shipping solutions. Many SMEs already benefit from GoGreen Plus' low-emissions logistics services.
Ocean and air freight emissions are reduced using advanced biofuels. For land transportation, DHL calls upon an extensive fleet of electric vehicles and trucks fueled with Bio-LNG (liquified natural gas made from organic waste). The remaining part of the supply chain is made climate neutral by full lifecycle emission compensation – drawing down and offsetting any residual carbon emissions. DHL can ensure the lower CO2 emissions of their services are transparently passed on to its customers.
The benefits of GoGreen Plus
- 51% of consumers say understanding the carbon footprint of their delivery is now “very important” to them1. With GoGreen Plus, your business has a unique opportunity to tailor its CO2e reduction and the amount of SAF it uses.
- GoGreen Plus is “insetting”. This means businesses can take actions to reduce their Scope 3 emissions, the indirect greenhouse gas emissions that occur in their value chain. This method is a more direct and meaningful way to measure progress in reducing emissions. It can be used for DHL customers’ own voluntary emission reporting and follows the Science Based Target Initiative (SBTi) philosophy.
- The GoGreen Plus service can be selected for individual shipments, making it a flexible option for SMEs and e-commerce businesses with smaller cargo loads.
Sustainability and your SME: next steps
Whether your business is just getting started with eco-friendly logistics, or already on its journey, take our quick quiz to discover how you’re doing, and receive insights and best practices to help you go further.
Happy customers, happy business, happy planet…let’s begin!
To explore the full benefits of DHL’s GoGreen Plus, talk to your account manager or open a DHL Express Business Account.
