Cali Vibes Music Festival is revolutionizing the industry with its innovative sustainability initiatives. From promoting public transportation to reducing waste and embracing clean energy solutions, the festival sets an example for creating an environmentally conscious event without sacrificing the overall experience.

Cali Vibes Music Festival: Revolutionizing Sustainability with a Playful Twist

( Credit to: Billboard )

Cali Vibes Music Festival may seem like your typical music festival at first glance, but upon closer inspection, you'll discover that this event is quietly leading the way in sustainability with its innovative initiatives. Held annually in Long Beach, California, Cali Vibes has become a testing ground for green measures that could potentially revolutionize the live sector. With its witty and humorous writing style, this article explores how Cali Vibes is setting an example for creating an environmentally conscious event without sacrificing the overall experience.

Nic Adler, the Vice President of Festivals at Goldenvoice, which oversees Cali Vibes, acknowledges that the smaller scale of these events allows for more experimentation with sustainability measures. He explains, "It's harder to do something on the scale of 125,000 people a day [like Coachella or Stagecoach] versus 30,000, so the festivals we oversee are testing grounds for our larger events." The ultimate goal is to find a way to make festivals more environmentally friendly while still providing an exceptional experience for attendees.

Reducing Emissions and Embracing Public Transportation

One of the primary challenges in greening concerts is reducing emissions from fan travel. Cali Vibes tackles this issue by actively promoting the use of public transportation. Through partnerships with L.A. Metro and electric scooter company Bird, the festival offers free or discounted rides to attendees. Additionally, the festival encourages the use of electric vehicles within the event grounds. While the festival cannot control how artists arrive or how equipment is delivered, they have implemented a "no idling" rule, requiring cars and gas-powered golf carts to be turned off when not in motion. This sustainability measure is set to be implemented at Coachella in 2024.

Waste Reduction: From Reusable Cups to Upcycled Banners

Cali Vibes has made significant strides in reducing waste. Instead of single-use plastic cups, the festival uses reusable plastic cups from r.Cup, resulting in an impressive 81% return rate. This translates to the elimination of 300,000 single-use plastic cups. Festival signage is made from reusable wood, and plastic banners are upcycled into tote bags and backpacks by Rewilder, a sustainable fashion company. Unsold merchandise is repurposed into staff uniforms. Water is served in aluminum cans, and refill stations are strategically placed throughout the event. To fund these sustainability initiatives, each ticket includes a $5 sustainability charge, which is split between greening festival operations and supporting nonprofits such as Surfrider Foundation and Plastic Pollution Coalition. Since its inception, Cali Vibes has donated $130,000 through this program.

Food Sustainability: Vegan Options and Donations

Food sustainability is also a priority at Cali Vibes. Roughly 20% to 30% of food vendors at Goldenvoice festivals are vegan, and all vendors are required to offer at least one vegetarian option. When headliners Morrissey and Siouxsie Sioux performed at Cruel World in 2022 and 2023, respectively, they requested that no meat be sold, resulting in approximately 80% vegan options. Festival staff collect and compost food waste from vendors, and excess food is donated to local nonprofits and homeless shelters.

Embracing Clean Energy Solutions: Solar Power and Reduced Emissions

Cali Vibes has embraced clean energy solutions to reduce its environmental impact. The festival incorporates solar-powered light towers, solar-powered merch stations and bathroom zones, and battery-powered LED lights in select locations. In 2023, the use of renewable diesel in generators and heavy equipment reduced carbon emissions by 43 tons.

The Future of Sustainable Festivals

As sustainable technologies become more accessible and affordable, more festivals will be motivated to adopt them. Nic Adler believes that the industry is on the cusp of a breakthrough, stating, "The more prices are going to come down, so more festivals will want to use solar batteries or electric vans. The minute [the costs] start affecting the bottom line in a positive way, there's going to be a full push for all of this." He predicts that in the next five to ten years, green energy technology will be established and affordable enough for large-scale stages and other major energy consumption points.

Cali Vibes Music Festival is setting an example for the industry, demonstrating that it is possible to create an environmentally conscious event without sacrificing the overall experience. By providing opportunities for vendors, artists, and fans to participate in sustainable practices, the festival hopes to inspire long-term changes in behavior. With its playful twist and engaging narrative, this article showcases how Cali Vibes is leading the way in sustainability.