Responsibility

Beginner Steps

• Choose a location that is easily accessible by public transport or by bike.

Advanced Move

• Indoors, prioritize environmentally responsible practices.
• For outdoor events, avoid disturbing nature: protect the soil, water bodies, vegetation, and wildlife, for example, by fencing off sensitive areas.

Leaps Forward

• Choose a certified or sustainability-focused event venue.
• Collaborate with other events and share infrastructure to reduce emissions from construction.

Smooth and sustainable arrival is a key part of a responsible event. When it is easy to reach the event on foot, by bike or by public transport, traffic emissions and congestion are reduced – and the overall visitor experience improves.

Beginner steps

• Choose an event location that is easily accessible on foot, by bike and by public transport.
• Clearly communicate in advance how to reach the event without using a private car.
• Provide sufficient bicycle parking.

Advanced actions

• Highlight walking, cycling and public transport in arrival information before car use
• Use clear and encouraging wording in communications, such as smooth arrival, on foot, by bike, by bus or by train.
• Ensure that routes and entrances are safe, accessible and clearly signposted.
• Allocate enough space near public transport stops and entrances to allow smooth arrivals and departures.

Big moves

• Cooperate with public transport providers and explore opportunities for combined tickets or additional services.
• Offer extra services or incentives for visitors arriving by bike.
• Highlight the event’s good practices related to smooth and sustainable arrival.

Tip: Smooth arrival should be considered already during the planning phase. The earlier mobility solutions are included, the more effectively they support the event’s smooth operation, safety and sustainability.

Beginner Steps

• Communicate sustainable travel options to the audience and artists.
• Use emission calculators for travel.

Advanced Moves

• Recommend trains instead of flights for artists
• Prefer biofuels or low-emission transport vehicles.

Leaps Forward

• Organise a festival bus, train or carpooling for production and performer logistics in order to reduce emissions.

Beginner Steps

• Choose renewable or low-emission electricity.
• Use energy-efficient, A-rated equipment.
• Reduce unnecessary consumption: adjust lighting, heating, and air conditioning according to actual needs.

Advanced Moves

• Monitor and measure electricity consumption – and use the data to improve efficiency.
• Use generators only when necessary and ensure they are properly sized.

Leaps Forward

• Propose improvements to the local power grid to better support event infrastructure.

Beginner Steps

• Prioritize plant-based, locally produced, and responsibly sourced food and beverages.
• Use reusable or biodegradable tableware; avoid single-use plastics.
• Make sorting of food and drink waste as easy as possible.

Advanced Moves

• Implement a deposit system for dishes and cups
• Offer foods that can be eaten without utensils.
• If serving meat or fish, ensure ethical and sustainable sourcing and favor local producers.

Leaps Forward

• Encourage vendors offering vegan food with discounts.
• Minimize food waste and make sure leftover food is shared or donated.

Beginner Steps

• Provide enough waste bins, place them strategically, and give clear sorting instructions.
• Thoroughly clean the event area and its surroundings.
• Follow legally mandated smoking bans, clearly mark smoking areas, and provide enough ashtrays.

Advanced Moves

• Monitor bin fill levels and empty them on time.
• Require food vendors to have their own waste management plans.

Leaps Forward

• Station staff at sorting points to guide attendees
• Design a campaign that rewards proper waste sorting!

Beginner Steps

• Use sustainability criteria when making purchases.
• Favor durable and reusable materials.
• Avoid unnecessary giveaways.
• Don’t buy plastic trinkets.

Advanced Moves

• Check for environmental labels on products and assess company responsibility.
• If printed materials are absolutely necessary, leave out the year to allow reuse.
• Rent or borrow instead of buying new.

Leaps Forward

• Reuse, repurpose, and incorporate recycled materials.
• Use domestic plants in decorations – they are a carbon-neutral choice.

Beginner Steps

• Provide a water station and encourage the use of personal bottles.
• Prevent wastewater and chemicals from entering nature.
• Don’t let water run unnecessarily.

Advanced Moves

• Use water-saving cleaning methods and cleaning products.
• Make sure faucets are not leaking.

Leaps Forward

• Communicate the importance of water conservation to visitors and staff.
• Install water-saving taps.
• Avoid recreational water use, such as saunas, hot tubs, or fountains.

Beginner Steps

• Inform local residents in advance about potential noise.
• Provide earplugs for the audience and hearing protection for staff.
• Avoid fireworks – they can cause stress to animals and pets.

Advanced Moves

• Position sound equipment to minimize disturbance to nearby neighborhoods and prevent sound from traveling across water to residential areas.
• Remember that noise can also disturb wildlife.

Leaps Forward

• Adjust volume levels according to different performers and situations – sometimes less volume is enough.

Beginner Steps

• Share information about the event’s sustainability efforts on your website and social media.
• Engage team members and partners in sustainability through internal and stakeholder communication.
• Use durable signage and guidance materials that can be reused year after year.

Advanced Moves

• Replace printed materials with an app.
• Favor digital tickets and contactless identification methods.
• Ensure signage is clear, visible, and functional, even in large crowds.

Leaps Forward

• Consider sustainability when purchasing digital devices.
• Highlight individuals, partners, or organizations that demonstrate exemplary sustainability practices.
• Ask the audience for feedback on sustainability and suggestions for improvement.

An event’s carbon footprint refers to the climate emissions it causes, such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. The main sources of emissions are energy, transportation, waste, procurement, and food and drink.

Reducing emissions is possible when the sources are known and measured — for example, using ready-made calculators or Excel templates. It’s a good idea to prepare for data collection in advance, such as by asking the audience about their travel methods.

Explore the different carbon calculators available. You can also outsource the calculation to professionals.

Environmental certifications add credibility for funders, partners, and the public — and can even influence ticket sales. Successes should be communicated visibly and proudly.

Applying for a certification helps structure operations, create guidelines, and clarify communication.

The Finnish Ekokompassi (EcoCompass) is a practical system for events. The international ISO 20121 standard is suited for broader implementations.

For sustainable accommodation and dining, look for places certified with the Green Key label.

When making purchases, prefer providers with an official eco-label — a list is available on the Consumer Union of Finland’s website.

Elma is a new tool designed to help the live music sector build sustainability programs aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.