Strawberry Fields Festival, set to take place from November 15 to 17, 2024, in Tocumwal, NSW, has unveiled a new initiative aimed at offsetting travel emissions generated by the artists participating in this year’s event.
Recognising that attendee travel often accounts for approximately 40-80% of a festival’s carbon footprint, Strawberry Fields has prioritised sustainability for over a decade. The festival has partnered with Treecreds to actively measure and offset travel emissions for attendees, implementing strategies such as the SF Bus program, purchasing carbon offset credits, and promoting ride-sharing or public transport options.
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In 2024, Strawberry Fields is expanding its sustainability efforts to include the carbon emissions associated with artist travel, which can contribute nearly 10% of the overall festival emissions. Festival representatives are eager to collaborate with the music community to promote sustainable travel practices among artists. This initiative is seen as a pioneering step forward for the festival and the broader music industry.
Artists Kee’ahn and Kia have been appointed as ambassadors for the initiative. Kia stated, “Remaining conscious of our ecological footprint as touring artists is both precarious and important. It’s great to see festivals like Strawberry Fields setting an example for our scene: that it is possible for major actors within the music industry to find creative and functional ways to co-exist with sustainability goals and a greener planet.”
As part of the initiative, Strawberry Fields will collect detailed travel data from all participating international and domestic artists, covering both air and road transport. This data will establish a baseline for estimating total travel emissions for artists moving forward. In its inaugural year, the festival is committed to purchasing a mix of premium forestry carbon offsets from Treecreds to compensate for 100% of the estimated travel emissions generated by the artists.
Vicky Keeler, General Manager of Strawberry Fields, emphasised the importance of this initiative, saying, “Our long-term vision includes raising awareness around this initiative to inspire lower-impact travel choices among patrons and artists, with a view to influencing perceptions of sustainability in the music industry, and creating potential for large-scale change across other sectors too.”
Festival Director Tara Benney expressed her enthusiasm for the project, stating, “We are thrilled to be at the forefront of this important initiative. By partnering with our talented artists and Treecreds, we aim to set a new standard in the festival scene that prioritises both entertainment and environmental responsibility.”
Strawberry Fields Festival 2024 is sold out. Official resale is now live via Humanitix
