Sustainability and music can go in time. This was demonstrated by Elisa, who with the concert on 18 June at San Siro transformed one of the most iconic stages in Italy into a laboratory of good environmental practices. A sold-out event, but also a successful experiment in reducing the ecological impact of large live shows.
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According to data released by the singer, the initiative – carried out in collaboration with the Music Innovation Hub – achieved 84.4% of separate waste collection, an important percentage for an event of this magnitude. In total, 3,850 kg of recyclable waste, 3,130 kg of plastic and metal, and only 600 kg of unsorted waste were collected. One hundred and twenty kg of paper, cardboard and Tetra Pak were sent for recovery, contributing to an estimated saving of 12.2 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent.
From the collected materials, 744 cardboard boxes, 7,728 fleece sweatshirts and 65 bicycles will be created, demonstrating how differentiation can become a creative and circular act. A concrete message: even a big concert can be a factory of new life for the materials used.
In terms of littering – the abandonment of cigarette butts and small waste – San Siro was 9% cleaner than previous events. Only 13% of areas showed signs of littering, compared to an average of 22% recorded in similar events. A figure that also shows a change in behavior on the part of the public, who are more attentive and involved. As Elisa wrote in her post: “You have made a difference! We have made history.”
The commitment also continued on the energy level. The event led to a reduction in the fossil impact directly associated with the event by more than 50%. This result was achieved mainly thanks to the powering of the concert with second generation HVO biofuel, which made it possible to avoid 93,000 kg of CO₂ compared to a traditional event. On average, emissions were reduced by 51.9%, with a further 17% reduction compared to traditional diesel and over 80% reduction in the technical setup. Numbers that confirm the possibility of a new model of musical production, capable of combining entertainment and environmental responsibility.
Elisa defined these data as “irrefutable proof” that sustainable concerts are not a utopia. And in fact the results speak for themselves: less waste, less emissions, less waste. But above all more collective awareness.
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