IDEAS FOR GOOD will hold event “Report on DGTL: A trash-free music festival in the Netherlands”

IDEAS FOR GOOD, a web media that collects ideas for making society better, will hold an online event “Report on DGTL: A trash-free music festival in the Netherlands” with Japan Gray Line Co., Ltd. on April 23.

What do you think of when you hear the word “music festival”? A stage with wonderful sound and light effects, and young people dancing enthusiastically in the heat of the moment. Many people may have such an image. “DGTL (Digital)” in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, is a unique music festival that manages to be the most sustainable in the world while maintaining the same great musical experience.

While the event attracts people, mixes valuable information and culture, and generates innovation, it also consumes a lot of resources and energy, creating a huge environmental impact. The large amount of waste left behind after music festivals held in the great outdoors has also become an issue in recent years.

DGTL has tackled these issues head-on by creating a “fully recycling music festival,” an initiative that began in 2013 to minimize environmental impact and waste, and to convert waste into valuable resources for recycling. And the members of Harch Europe, organizers of this event, have been following their evolving efforts while participating in the DGTL every year.

From March 31 to April 1, 2024, Japan Gray Line Co., Ltd. organized a tour to the DGTL site. The members living in the Netherlands who attended the tour will be the first to report on the DGTL site this time.

Image via DGTL

The event will not only introduce the structure and mechanisms of sustainable event management, but also the latest innovations and projects to realize a climate-neutral festival, which we heard directly from DGTL’s Sustainability Manager. We will also discuss DGTL’s collaborations with entrepreneurs to accelerate innovation.

We hope this will be an inspiration for all those who are thinking about planning and organizing sustainable events.

Related article

• Why a Popular Dutch Music Festival is More Sustainable than Sleeping at Home [DGTL Part 1] (in Japanese)
• A Music Festival without Trash Bins. Circular Economy is Changing the Event Industry [DGTL Part 2] (in Japanese)
• The Role of the City of Amsterdam in Supporting Circular “Innovation” [DGTL Part 3] (in Japanese)

What is DGTL?

DGTL is the world’s first fully cyclical music festival in the Netherlands, which is said to be “more sustainable than sleeping at home.” DGTL is highly acclaimed for its art and music experiences and has a large number of fans, but what is most unique about DGTL is its sustainability program.

Involving participants, partner companies, and even the government, DGTL aims to realize a circular economy by minimizing environmental impact and waste. In addition to various music and art stages, there is a sustainability stage where participants can deepen their knowledge of DGTL’s sustainability measures.

Most attendees come for the best musical experience, not for sustainability./Image via DGTL

Specifically……

• Zero waste and zero environmental impact recycling event
• 100% renewable energy use
• Reusable cups and “recycle coins” system instead of disposable plastic cups
• Fun or financial benefits to encourage participants to “do the right thing”
• Circular food court serving only vegetarian meals. All tableware is biodegradable and compostable within 24 hours, with a reusable tableware pilot starting in 2022.
• Measures to ensure that harassment and assault of women and minorities is not tolerated to ensure a safe experience for all.

Many sustainability elements are interspersed throughout the event, including,

There are no trash cans at the DGTL venue. Everything is collected as valuable resources, not trash./Image via DGTL

DGTL’s sustainability efforts have received global attention, including the 2017 DAM Award for the most sustainable company in Amsterdam and the Outstanding Green Event Award at the FestX Awards, a worldwide festival innovator conference held in Las Vegas. Subsequently, in 2019, DGTL received the International Green Festival Award and the Green Transportation Award at the Green Events & Innovation Conference in London, among other awards. As of 2024, DGTL will expand from Amsterdam to more locations, including São Paulo, Brazil; Barcelona and Madrid, Spain; and Tel Aviv, Israel.

Event Time / Date: 7:00 pm- / April 23

[Reference] “Making the Event Industry Recycling-Oriented. Report on ‘DGTL,’ a music festival in the Netherlands with ‘no trash cans'” will be held on 4/23 | IDEAS FOR GOOD (in Japanese)
[Related Site] IDEAS FOR GOOD (in Japanese)