Since 2020, Ceres Park & Arena in Aarhus, Denmark, has been working on a sustainability strategy called Responsible Arena with the aim to reduce resource consumption, optimize energy consumption, and explore circular possibilities for recycling materials.
With the launch of their new sustainability program Ceres Park & Arena now increase the focus on sustainability and on reducing the environmental footprint from concerts. The goal is to be able to offer one of Denmark’s most sustainable concert venues. Among other things, the program focuses on the UN’s 17 sustainable development goals – in particular goals number 2, 7, 12, 13 and 17.
Of the initiatives introduced, Ceres Arena is powered by 100 percent power from renewable energy sources, while in 2021, all lamps and spots have been replaced with LEDs, which save 100,000 kWh annually.
Ceres Arena has also developed a new waste management system so that concert guests can separate the waste into up to four types of materials – including plastic cups, so that the plastic can be recycled optimally. Employees then sort the waste into ten different types to be recycled.
To minimize waste and reduce the consumption of disposable packaging, no disposable cups are used in Ceres Café, plastic straws have been phased out, and paper and napkins in the Ceres Arena are FSC-certified.
“We know that many artists are engaged in the fight against climate change. But we also realize that it can be difficult to live up to those ambitions, when you go on tour and are part of a large production – so we want to help both artists and promoters to go greener. We wish to offer a venue that makes it easier to tour and organize large shows in a way that impacts the climate less,” said Hanne Bisbo Stadsgaard, manager at Ceres Park & Arena.
Internationally, we have seen Coldplay stop touring in 2019, out of concern for the climate, and only now returning to the highways through a partnership with BMW, implementing electric cars and technology to ensure that the band’s tours are run on power from renewable energy. Also Massive Attack have taken the lead by commissioning a report from the Tyndall Centre of research that serves as a guide to touring with a smaller climate footprint.
“It comes as a natural result of the sustainability vision that we launched last year for AGF A/S – the football club that runs Ceres Park & Arena,” says director of branding and sustainability at AGF Aarhus, Anne Jensen.
With the changes that have been implemented in Ceres Arena so far, promoters and bands are already offered one of Denmark’s most environmentally friendly arenas, and with “Responsible Arena”, Ceres Park & Arena wants to do even better.
At United Stage, the live music agency behind a sold-out concert with the Danish band TV2 in October and a concert with JUNG in November, they support the ambition in Aarhus.
“This is an issue that is on many of our artists’ mind, and they know that a big tour is not exactly good for the climate in the way that it has been done for years – so they are looking for better and more sustainable solutions. That is why we are pleased when others in the industry support the green agenda. As an organizer, you are dependent on the facilities that are present at the various venues. So we wholeheartedly support the ambition that Ceres Park & Arena is now putting forward – only together we can change something, and this is a really good step,” said Jacob Ødegaard, Operational Director and booking agent at United Stage.
