In a groundbreaking partnership with REVERB, Dave Matthews Band has taken significant strides towards eco-friendly touring. Image Credits: Wikimedia Commons.
Dave Matthews Band began addressing those impacts in 2005, when it partnered with environmental organisation REVERB to bring sustainability into its touring operations. 338,000 gallons of recyclables and 138,000 pounds of food waste were collected for composting, according to the programme. It also supported local agriculture through 2,100 family farms, and audiences and volunteers contributed about 24,500 hours of volunteer work.
Because the band toured through various cities; the environmental impact of that travel should be counted as part of the concert tour, the idea behind it was straightforward,. Backstage recycling and composting were also introduced, along with efforts to reduce disposable items. A concert tour leaves behind more than memories, merchandise and a packed venue. It also consumes fuel and electricity, generates food and packaging waste, and involves thousands of journeys by artists, crews and audiences. Over the following years, the initiative grew into a large-scale effort involving the band, its crew, venues, environmental groups and fans. Other changes were less straightforward. Tour buses used biodiesel fuel, while food provided on the tour was locally sourced. The team also calculated greenhouse gas emissions and funded offset projects. The overall waste-management figures were also significant. These figures show how small efforts at each concert can add up across hundreds of shows. A single refill station may have limited impact, but using them at every concert can save thousands of disposable bottles over a tour.
