Reusing materials such as fabrics or props instead of buying new ones protects the environment. For example, materials that are screwed, rather than glued, together can be used again and again.

Buying second-hand material and material that carries an environmental label reduces the environmental footprint of a production.

When purchasing new materials, considering options for disposal, rental, or passing on increases their reusability and extends their life cycle.

The use of environmentally friendly, reusable and durable materials promotes more sustainable production. As a result, disposable products are no longer necessary.

If hazardous substances such as paints, varnishes, solvents and cleaning agents have to be used for stage sets or to clean rooms, more environmentally friendly alternatives can be considered.

New purchases can be channelled through public supply chains or shops. This strengthens local economies and produces fewer emissions than online purchases.

Repairing materials and costumes – instead of disposing of and replacing them – conserves resources and produces less waste.

Hazardous materials can be disposed of sustainably at waste disposal centres instead of with residual waste.

Lending or passing on materials to colleagues for reuse contributes to a climate-conscious approach. Shared storage areas also create networking opportunities.

A digital inventory list provides an overview of materials that can be lent or passed on. It closes the material cycle and helps when communicating with guests on the available materials.

Checking whether stage equipment such as LED spotlights or loudspeakers can be reused can prevent the premature purchase of new equipment.

Modular components can be reused for both in-house and external productions.

If new purchases are made via public supply chains or shops rather than online, this reduces transport distances and emissions.

The use of low-wattage equipment – such as energy-efficient LED lamps – reduces electricity consumption during performances and contributes to a reduction in energy consumption.

Performances that require less lighting equipment reduce energy consumption. This makes an event more sustainable.

Purchasing new equipment that can be repaired is conducive to the long-term utilisation of resources and the avoidance of electronic waste.

Certain items of technical equipment and stage elements are not in use continually. Loaning them out or passing them on supports the circular economy and reduces the need for new productions.

A digital inventory list for stage equipment that is suitable for lending makes it easier to pass on materials to colleagues. It is also helpful for the efficient use of materials.

If planning is carried out early on and with sufficient lead time – also in financial terms – everyone involved can work sustainably throughout the production process. This reduces the stress-related waste of resources and time pressure.

It is worth setting joint sustainability goals and planning measures already at the beginning of a collaboration. Examples include a digital programme booklet instead of a printed one, the use of recycled materials or the reuse of previous stage sets.

Venues with established sustainability strategies have a better chance of supporting artists and collectives in running their rehearsals and performances in an environmentally friendly way. They can ask whether existing materials can be used, for example.

An evaluation of the results of the measure(s) after the end of the project by artists or the production team and venue can be helpful for the next collaboration. This evaluation can also be used for progress or accountability reports.

Workshops and seminars are valuable for team members, allowing them to deepen their knowledge and get motivated to produce more sustainably. It is helpful if the whole team takes part and the training courses take place on a regular basis.

Sharing knowledge within the team promotes joint learning. This ultimately makes implementing sustainability measures easier.

Communicating sustainability goals and measures to the public, sponsors and cooperation partners helps make the commitment visible. The venue thus creates awareness of sustainability issues and serves as a role model.

Dealing with sustainability issues in artistic work brings fresh insights and can stimulate social discourse.

Discussion events, lectures or information formats raise the public’s awareness of sustainability and encourage reflection.

Information on climate-friendly travel options, for example on tickets or flyers, as well as a “green travel plan” support audiences and artists in choosing sustainable transport options.

Less merchandise, no (promotional) gifts: this way, fewer resources are consumed. Some event organisers want to do merchandising and improve their environmental balance sheet. It is helpful for them to pay attention to sustainability standards. These include fair production, recycled materials, durability and environmentally friendly packaging.

Fewer online orders lead to fewer emissions that would otherwise be generated during the transport of goods. A guideline such as “Do not buy from large online retailers like Amazon” supports local economies.

Demand-orientated order planning is helpful in the attempt to conserve resources and avoid waste. It also helps avoid returns.

Comparing offers from regional and environmentally friendly suppliers is helpful in reducing CO2 emissions and supports the local economy.

Less (plastic) packaging leads to less waste and promotes the sustainable use of resources.

Energy-efficient digital technologies – such as search engines, hardware and software, internet services, AI, video conferencing, web hosting and data transfer – reduce energy consumption. The environmental footprint of digital processes can be minimised by seeking out and choosing sustainable providers.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) consumes a lot of energy. Targeted, efficient use with clear added value conserves resources.

Digital meetings eliminate travel, thus reducing CO2 emissions.

Outdated or no longer required data may be deleted from servers on a regular basis. This avoids data waste and ensures that storage space is utilised more efficiently.

Lean digital communication encompasses emails that are limited to the essentials. A call or exchange via a messaging service is often even more sustainable.

Paper, glass, plastics, metals, organic waste, textiles, wood, batteries, electronics: At some point, all of this becomes waste. If carefully separated, this increases the recycling rate and the efficiency of resource utilisation.

Avoiding (plastic) waste reduces the amount of waste produced and less plastic ends up in the environment.

Clearly labelling the waste bins helps ensure proper waste sorting and disposal. Pictograms are particularly good: As universally understandable signs, they enable waste to be correctly allocated to the bins.

A clearly visible explanation of the waste separation system also makes it easier for people who are not familiar with it to dispose of waste correctly.

Individual stakeholders and members of collectives can use public transport or bicycles to travel to rehearsals and performances. This directly reduces CO₂ emissions in the cultural sector.

By asking venues or festivals about environmentally friendly transport options or bicycles for their journeys, individual artists and collectives can also raise awareness among the teams at venues or festivals.

A folding bike makes it easy to cover longer distances between public transport stops.

Express shipping is often not necessary when ordering goods. Switching to regular shipping means lower CO₂ emissions.

Express delivery is often associated with high CO₂ emissions.

Purchasing or borrowing from local suppliers instead of ordering from distant sources avoids transport costs and conserves resources.

Many returns can be avoided with careful planning. This also reduces emissions, simply because there is no need for transportation.

The use of (e-)cargo bikes or transport bikes enables more environmentally friendly and efficient transport.

Shipping by bicycle courier significantly reduces the CO₂ emissions caused by transport.

Limiting transport by car to what is necessary is helpful in the endeavour to reduce emissions and conserve resources.

Choosing haulage services with low-emission fleets improves the carbon footprint of transport.

Using ground-based transport for shipments within Europe compared to air freight minimises the environmental impact of transport.

Organising intercontinental tours as sea freight instead of air freight significantly reduces CO₂ emissions.

Scenographers and technicians might consider replicating stage sets on site. The emissions associated with transporting stage sets can be eliminated by using replicas.

Logistics companies with fuel-efficient vehicles enable sustainable and efficient transport.