As a Sustainability Coordinator you move your way through the organization and try to listen a lot about what is going on. Based on that input, the sounds you hear from the sector and the innovations you scout, you come up with ideas and projects to make the organization more futureproof.

Over the years, for instance, we made steps to lower our carbon footprint by making changes on our energy use (removing almost all our generators), changes in catering, combining design with modular decoration and fossil free local transport.

Our biggest focus remains on collaboration and connection. We are all in this together, so we keep thinking how we can work together on this topic that is ever changing. Not just technically but also in relation to society. How can we make sure as many people as possible get the support they need and make steps towards a more sustainable music industry.

One of the projects we are proud of is our Green Tour Support, which will run its 5th year next edition. We provide financial support to emerging artists to experience sustainable touring and slow touring. They can try it out during their trip to ESNS, without the extra costs. We now also provide this support for summer tours, when they are booked at Exchange festivals after their ESNS performance.

Sustainability is so much more than green, but often it takes up the most energy. We prefer to use Futureproof and talk about Ecological Futureproof and Social Futureproof. These topics are deeply connected. But Social Futureproof also has its own topics.

As ESNS we work hard to make it a safe(r) space for all: the artists, delegates, visitors and crew. We provide mental health care at the conference, have a contact point to get contact through the app and posters at venues, we provide information on accessibility and train our crew on social awareness. It’s mentioned in our briefings and even dressing rooms have breathing exercises available to help relax or focus.

The number 1 tip is to take a moment and ask yourself this question:

For example: make the journey part of the experience. Try slow traveling and use your travel time to prepare your plans for ESNS or travel together and have your first connections on the way to the event.

I trust you can come up with enough ideas on your own to take a next step towards a more eco-friendly experience, and otherwise I’m happy to think with you.

The ultimate dream is that sustainability is fully integrated in our way of working and my job will become redundant. If everybody takes the topic into account with the decisions that they make and new developments keep finding their way. Not just for ESNS but for the whole music sector. For ESNS I dream we don’t stop, keep working on becoming futureproof, give a stage to this topic to help it stay relevant and make progress every year.