Dave Matthews Band wraps zero-waste fan experience

American rock band Dave Matthews Band have wrapped their first zero-waste fan experience in partnership with Live Nation venues.

The band’s US summer amphitheatre tour, which concluded in early September in Washington, unrolled the group’s On the Road To Zero Waste initiative, announced earlier this year.

Eighteen of the 32 shows on the tour were performed at Live Nation venues, which reported that over 90% of waste from fans was reused, composted, recycled or donated. A select number of those venues reached a waste reduction of 99%.

That breaks down to 100,000 pounds of waste diverted from landfills – which would fill 25 yellow school buses – according to Live Nation.

In addition, a reported 150,000 plastic water bottles were saved from use, while 1,500 aluminium cans recycled by fans at Live Nation venues on the tour were used to create multiple aluminium guitars gifted to Dave Matthews for charity.

Over 90% of waste from fans was reused, composted, recycled or donated

Meanwhile, around 3,200 meals were donated to local community organisations on tour stops.

These numbers mean that Matthews (who was named a UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador in 2019) and Live Nation have reached the target they set in January of diverting at least 90% of fan-generated waste from landfills.

The project by the band and Live Nation is one of many current sustainability efforts in the touring world.

In September, Billie Eilish announced she was collaborating with Google Maps to direct fans to sustainable food and transportation options on her current Hit Me Hard and Soft tour.

Meanwhile, festivals and concerts around the world are increasingly turning to batteries to power stages more sustainably.

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