France Turns Up the Volume on Festival Emissions Measurement

France has just officially mapped the carbon footprint of its cultural sector, and the results are finally providing some clarity. Among the many sub-sectors listed, festivals, as expected, carry a really significant load ; now we’ve finally got the numbers to back up the claim.

Dish return stations in action @ We Love Green in Paris — making reusables the new norm 💚

Who’s on the Line-Up?

The Ministry of Culture’s carbon footprint report grouped the sector into 6 acts:

• Festivals

• Live music venues

• Orchestras, operas, and lyric theatres

• Choreographic centres and schools

• Contemporary art venues

• Theatre and street arts orgs

And guess who's headlining the emissions mainstage? None other than festivals - hands down.

The cultural sector clocks in at 8.5 Million tonnes of CO₂e total (about 1.3% of France’s total carbon footprint) with festivals making the loudest impact overall (So yeas, first, O-M-G, but also... finally, it's M-A-P-P-E-D).

Why This Study Hits A Lil' Different

France is the first country to release a nationwide, data-backed carbon footprint study of its entire artistic creation sector, and cultural commentators from across Europe and beyond are calling it a game-changer.

While U.K.’s Julie’s Bicycle as well as NGOs like The Shift Project have sounded the alarm for years, this is the FIRST TIME a government has dropped such an official mic' on the issue, and it's already getting international encores.

Behind the Noise: The Numbers

So let's break this report down here:

🎪 Festivals = sadly the headline act of all cultural sector's emissions — but kudos to finally having data insight to take meaningful action

🎭 Live venues and art institutions trail slightly behind but are still major contributors

🚐 Audience transport + on-site infrastructure are massive emissions drivers

🧠 Training, audits, and carbon planning have already been rolled out across 15 cultural networks in France

📈 The goal? With emissions finally mapped, collective action plans are within reach. And Bye Bye Plastic is here to support you in taking action.

What’s Next in the Sector

As BBP'ers know, the music and nightlife scene can move real fast. But without accountable & transparent carbon measurement, it’s like trying to mix a neat set while standing in pitch dark. (Unless you've already nailed that one… in which case, R-E-S-P-E-C-T.)

But on a serious note, France’s move shows that it’s not just about the vibes and the high-level statements anymore. What this shows we need:

• Measured & monitored impact

• Cross-industry standards

• Collective cultural momentum, not just climate talk

Our Take on This 👀

This data doesn't just highlight impact — it offers a long-overdue starting point for real action. It validates what we and the sustainable live music experts community identified for years ; now the numbers are on record. And that’s a massive win for climate-focused culture movers like us.

Walking the Talk @We Love Green

While the report shines a spotlight on festivals' carbon impact, some are already ahead of the curve.

At We Love Green, one of France’s most sustainability-forward festivals with a reported 2023 footprint at merely 1,033 tonnes CO2e (wowzie, this is slim!), we notably rolled out our #RamèneTaGourde campaign: celebrating hydration through reusables, spotlighting eco-heroes, and keeping thousands of plastic bottles out of landfills.

From Happy Squads hyping up bottle-bringers to refill stations turning heads, this is what climate action looks like on the ground (and in the crowd). Because yes, the numbers may still be heavy for many, but the movement? It’s making waves.

You're a venue operator, event promoter or club and you want to see your industry move: take our Plastic Quick Scan or directly get in touch and let us help you on your circular transition: change@byebyeplastic.life