As a musician, I’m lucky to be able to share my music with so many of you. But with that comes the responsibility of thinking about the impact we’re leaving on this beautiful planet we all call home. For me, sustainability isn't just a buzzword—it’s a practice I try to live by every day. My green touring initiative isn’t just about making my own tours more sustainable, but also encourage environmental practices across the live performance industry.

I believe music is one of the most effective ways to communicate a message with love. I’m constantly inspired to write about my concerns, whether they’re environmental or otherwise. This is how I raise awareness and contribute to solutions. 

The first time I took action was as a teenager, and as my platform grew, so did my impact. I started regularly participating in benefit awareness concerts as a musician. In the years since, I’ve found that one of the most consistent ways I’ve contributed is by speaking about pressing issues during international tours. So touring with less environmental impact is something I’ve pursued from the beginning. It’s not always easy, and it depends on the region, planning, and collaboration with venues. 

My advice to newer artists: be mindful of your consumption while touring and share your journey with your audience. For more established acts: don’t be afraid to ask questions and push for the changes you want at your shows. You might be surprised by how willing people are to help.

1. Travel Smarter – Reducing Emissions 

One of the biggest challenges of touring is travel. I know how easy it is to just book a flight and get on with it, but the truth is air travel contributes massively to a tour’s carbon footprint. Focusing on train travel and bus transport where possible (especially overseas), can have a much smaller environmental impact. 

Pro tip: While flying is often necessary, it’s about being strategic. If you can take the bus or train, do it. When flying can’t be avoided, offset your carbon emissions through carbon credits or support projects that plant trees or reduce emissions in other ways. 

2. No Single-Use Plastics – Bring Your Own Reusable Bottles 

Plastic is a huge problem in the music industry. You see it everywhere—bottles, straws, plastic wrapping around everything. That’s why I made a pledge to reduce single-use plastics on my tours. I encouraged my team and fans to bring their own reusable bottles, and we work with venues that are committed to eliminating plastic waste. 

Ultimately, we look to be 100% plastic free at events.  And we encourage everyone, including fans to get involved. If you’re a musician or part of a touring crew, start by saying no to single-use plastics. Invest in reusable water bottles, and make sure venues have refill stations. You’ll be amazed at how much waste you can cut out. 

3. Eco-Friendly Merch – Sustainable Products with a Purpose 

Merch can be a massive part of touring, but it’s also an area where we can make a huge difference. I wanted to ensure that the products I was offering to fans weren’t contributing to waste or using harmful materials. So, I partner with brands that create eco-friendly merchandise—at a minimum looking at things like organic cotton T-shirts and recycled fabric bags, but also going further and finding companies like Organic Sound in Spain that recycle old merch and re-yarn the fabric to be used in new collections.   Not only does it feel better knowing the products are sustainable, but it’s also important to me that my fans are supporting a greener way of doing business. 

4. Energy Use – Supporting Green Venues 

It takes a lot of power to put on a show—lights, sound systems, and the stage setup all require a lot of energy. I made sure that the venues I work with during my tours are focused on reducing their environmental impact. For example, many of the venues we play on tour use LED lights and energy-efficient equipment, and some even source their energy from renewable sources like solar power. 

5. Catering – Local and Low-Waste 

Touring involves a lot of food, and unfortunately, that often leads to a lot of waste. I aim to work with local caterers on my tours for my crew and fans at venues that offer locally and seasonally produced options that keep waste to a minimum and where possible compost food scraps. Supporting local businesses also reduces our collective environmental impact.  We work with companies like Bio-Pak for drink and food services and ensure food vendors use biodegradable service ware. We work with venues that have a closed loop waste management system and request that marketing posters are printed on recycled paper and even request plastic free hospitality riders from venues. We also encourage venues to allow stall holders to attend our shows where they can promote local environmental causes and local community initiatives. 

These aren’t huge changes, but every single one of them makes a difference. When I started working on my green touring initiative, I wasn’t sure how much impact one person could have, but seeing the support from fans and venues has been incredible. It shows that we all have the power to make a positive difference, whether we’re on the road or at home. Sustainability doesn’t need to be overwhelming or perfect—it just needs to start with conscious choices. 

I believe that if we all make small changes in the way we tour, we can lead by example and set new standards for future generations of musicians and fans. Sustainability is a collective effort, and I’m grateful to have you all with me on this journey. 

Photo Credit: Janneke Storm