The very first time Ziggy remembers taking action on something affecting his local environment was at 13/14 years old. At around 18/19 years old he started contributing regularly through benefit awareness concerts as a musician, and in the years since he’s taken action by creating awareness through public speaking about pressing issues while on stage touring internationally.
Touring with less impact has always been a major pursuit for Ziggy; a lot of what is achieved is dictated by prior preparations, which continent Ziggy is touring, and the co-operation of third parties.
On the 2019 Australia leg of the tour Ziggy and Commonfolk Records achieved:
- 5/5 venues used Bio-Pak products across drink and service ware;
- Most food vendors at shows used bio-degradable service ware;
- All venues implemented a waste management service/system (with Riverstage, Brisbane implementing BioPak’s closed loop waste management service);
- All venues allowed environmental stalls;
- Production catering for 25-30 people followed Commonfolk Records Green Touring Initiative incorporating BioPak;
- We-Refill water stations were available at the Brisbane show for patrons to refill their reusable water bottles.
- Brisbane Riverstage was a 100% single use plastic free event.
It’s not up to the consumer at a concert if the packaging provided is responsible – it’s up to the artist and their team. So when Ziggy had the opportunity to work closely with BioPak on the 2019 Australia Tour, he was over the moon, because the level of positive impact is giant when the consumer has the availability of responsible packaging - particularly when the total attendance on this sold out tour was over 32,000 people!
Right now a lot of artists are pushing for more environmentally responsible event management - and more and more venues and festivals are listening and helping make it possible. But a lot of the music industry still don't want to consider it, due to extra work involved for all parties. When responsible practices become the norm with event organisation, that is when the industry will see one of the biggest changes in impact.
It’s important when artists are starting out to try and be responsible in their consumption whilst touring. Share the trials and errors of that journey on stage. Sharing these ideas plants a wonderful seed in peoples mind and that is one of the biggest gifts you have to offer.
For more established acts, it’s important not to be scared! Ask the questions. Push for the changes they want at your shows. You might even be surprised at the answers you get when you simply ask the question.
Currently touring isn't green, there is only greener touring, but the team at Commonfolk Records aren't phased by how tall this mountain is to climb. What has been achieved so far in minimising waste as a team is outstanding, and there is so many levels left to pursue.