Published
Thu, Aug 19, 2021, 09:00
- Artists travelling by air to and from DGTL events will be able to offset their flights with Sustainable Aviation Fuel.
DGTL, the Dutch festival brand, has announced a partnership with Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) company SkyNRG.
The partnership is based on a system called Book & Claim. This means that SAF is not necessarily used on the aircraft the artist flies on, but provides sustainable fuel to the fuel system of an airport close to the SAF production facility. The corresponding carbon emission reductions are then allocated to DGTL and the festival's artists.
The partnership intends to set an example for people in the music industry and music fans alike—many of whom will regularly use air travel, particularly in festival season—and demonstrate how to reduce individual carbon footprints by offsetting with SAF. DGTL and SkyNRG will work with climate tech platform CHOOOSE to launch a carbon emissions calculator that will allow the industry and the general public to evaluate and reduce their own carbon footprint.
According to a press release from SkyNRG, a partnership of this kind with a festival is a world first. The festival already operates with a focus on sustainability by using entirely renewable energy, offering a 100 percent plant-based menu, and reducing residual waste per person down from 2.3kg to 0kg.
Festival booker Jelle Lobbes commented on how artists have responded to the SAF initiative: "When we reached out to the artists about this project, we found out most of them were already engaged in more sustainable travel. Agencies already implemented offset programs for their roster and really thought about their journeys. This showed we're all on the same page and motivated us to join forces and take the next step forward."
Read our feature about what else dance music can do about the climate crisis here.