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Coldplay in Hong Kong: Making music tours more sustainable

25 November 2024 4 Mins Read

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Coldplay’s ambitious sustainability goal

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 2016-17 tour. With a global reach like no other band today, Coldplay knows a thing or two about the logistics of massive world tours and playing to millions of people. The band understood that minimizing emissions from freight and transportation would make a big impact – especially air transport, which is unavoidable on world tours like these and accounts for a large share of the GHG emissions.

Two years into the world tour, the band has cut overall GHG emissions by a remarkable 59% compared to 2016-17. How did they do it? Read on to find out.

But first, turn up the volume and catch the latest DHL x Coldplay TV commercial that’s sure to get you humming along to their newest song! 

Working together for a more sustainable world tour

To minimize GHG emissions from logistics, Coldplay teamed up with DHL, making us the tour’s Official Logistics Partner. The band wanted to collaborate with a leader in sustainable transport and logistics solutions who shared their vision and had the tools to help make it a reality.

We started with a carbon intelligence and monitoring system for a holistic view of the tour's CO2 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. 

Next, we deployed our GoGreen Plus solution, which proved pivotal for Coldplay. GoGreen Plus uses carbon insetting, which allows our 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.

Connecting millions of fans sustainably with a (wrist)band

Connecting millions of fans more sustainably with a (wrist)band

Every detail counts when helping make a global event like Coldplay’s World Tour more sustainable, even the logistics of wristbands.

The iconic LED wristbands, one of the highlights of every Coldplay show, pulse with light making every fan part of a spectacular stadium ‘full of stars’. Made from plant-based, compostable material, these wristbands are 100% reusable and recyclable. Fans actively help make the tour more sustainable by returning the wristbands after the show.

On average, over 86% of them are returned. Which DHL then collects and delivers on in the most sustainable way possible. This includes utilizing Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SF) in the air and renewable fuel vehicles on the ground.

Coldplay released a statement in June 2024 reporting that direct GHG emissions from the first two years of the tour are 59% less than their previous stadium tour (2016-17), adding that DHL has been instrumental in minimizing emissions from freight and transportation. Coldplay utilizes DHL’s GoGreen Plus Low Emission Transportation Services for air transportation with a Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) share of 100%, which 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.

An alternative to traditional jet fuel, SAF is made from sustainable sources such as used cooking oil, animal fats, and agricultural waste. SAF biofuels are the only current viable solution for reducing emissions on long-distance flights.

We have facilitated six charter flights to transport gear and equipment for Coldplay's “Music of the Spheres” World Tour so far in 2024, with more to come.

Coldplay delivered by DHL

A perfect duet for higher power, lower emissions

DHL and Coldplay’s partnership proves that the music industry can significantly reduce the environmental impact of live music events. We understand that there is a long way to go, but we also know that by working together, the world’s leading band and the world’s leading logistics company can help set the stage for a greener future.

Coldplay delivered by DHL

Coldplay delivered by DHL

A partnership like no other

Working together, minimising emissions by recycling reusable wriatbands and using renewable fuels to deliver a more sustainalbe World Tour.

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