August Highlights: Sustainability News and Innovations from AGF
This month’s #InTheNews includes our CEO, Claire O’Neill’s interview at Wallifornia MusicTech, in which the role in advancing sustainability in live events is highlighted; The Royal Mint’s groundbreaking e-waste gold extraction initiative, transforming old electronics into valuable resources; and coverage of AGF’s arena sustainability efforts in IQ Magazine.
Claire O’Neill: The Vital Role of Sustainability in the Live Event Sector
The industrious Claire O'Neill recently participated as a panellist in Wallifornia Music Tech 2024. In an interview afterwards, she discussed AGF’s current projects and the vital role of sustainability in the live event sector:
“What we need to do is keep showing that, actually, this is possible. The things we need to do to stop poisoning our water, depleting our land, and polluting the air are possible and can be much more fun and interesting. Where these options aren't available, we must work with other sectors to make them so.”
Hellfest’s €1m Pledge to Power Reforestation & Sustainability Efforts
(Image from IQ Magazine)
France’s Hellfest has donated €1 million to Savage Lands, a musician-led nonprofit focused on reforestation in Costa Rica and Europe. This donation is part of a five-year partnership that underscores Hellfest’s commitment to environmental activism. Savage Lands, founded by Sylvain Demercastel and Megadeth drummer Dirk Verbeuren, has already protected 60,000 square feet of rainforest using music royalties. This generous contribution further strengthens the metal community’s dedication to sustainability.
The Royal Mint's Innovative E-Waste Gold Extraction Initiative
(Image by: BBC/KEVIN CHURCH)
The Royal Mint has launched a groundbreaking initiative to tackle e-waste by extracting gold from old circuit boards at its new plant in Llantrisant, Wales. This sustainable approach, known as "urban mining," transforms discarded electronics into valuable gold while minimising environmental impact. The process, which uses low-energy, recyclable chemistry, is a significant step towards reducing e-waste and conserving resources.
AGF's Role in Advancing Sustainability in Arenas & Venues
(Image by: Luke Dyson)
In a recent feature that appeared in IQ Magazine, Claire O'Neill discussed the key challenges on the journey to zero-impact arena shows.
“Many buildings are quite old and need development or investment in order to make them less energy hungry. We’ve been doing energy audits with many arenas, and we’ve discovered that much of the investment into energy efficiency can be made back in savings within anything from six months to three years, depending on the level of improvements. When you look at that longer-term picture, you can see that when the economics and ecological unite, it’s a lot easier to make those decisions."
The article also highlights our Greener Arena certification, Arena Sustainability Guidelines, and insights from industry leaders such as Timothy Leiweke (Oak View Group), Lindsay Arell, LEED AP (ASM Global), and more.
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