Goods transportation

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.

Good to know

In terms of sustainability, it makes sense to reduce the transport of materials as much as possible – without disproportionately restricting artistic freedom. All those involved in production are asked to carefully weigh up the feasibility from different perspectives.

Good practice examples

Binge Culture (NZ) and machina eX (GER) are developing a sustainable model for international collaboration without air travel. “Disaster” (2024 in Wellington) and “You and A.I.” (2025 in Düsseldorf) are created through mutual reinterpretations of existing plays. Two hybrid events make the model usable for other artists.

Goethe-Institut: Your Play is My Play and My Play is Your Play

Accommodation

With the consent of its guests, an event organiser may arrange for hosting by private individuals. This not only reduces travel costs and CO₂ emissions; it also requires fewer resources and less cleaning than hotels.
Some accommodation may be reached on foot, by bike or by public transport. Where no cars are used, no CO₂ is emitted.
Those who book EMAS-certified accommodation comply with high environmental standards and support sustainable travel.

Good to know

Some guests require barrier-free access to the hotel.

Guest mobility

For journeys lasting up to ten hours, taking the train significantly reduces CO₂ emissions.
Especially within Germany and for journeys shorter than 600 km, avoiding flights makes a significant contribution to climate-friendly travel.
If air travel is unavoidable, direct flights can reduce emissions and optimise travel times.
Travelling can be avoided and emissions reduced by means of digital meetings and discussions.
The organiser can make it easier for guests to get around in an environmentally friendly way with rental bikes or cooperation with local bike hire companies.
If travel by taxi is the only option, for example due to accessibility issues, using an e-taxi is more environmentally friendly.
Anyone who wishes to avoid travelling for one-off performances can combine the event with workshops or other residencies.
Limiting car travel to what is strictly necessary reduces emissions and conserves resources.
Information on the best cycle route makes it easier for guests to cycle to the venue in a safe and environmentally friendly manner.
Detailed route descriptions and information on long-distance transport connections make getting there stress-free and sustainable.
Organisers can select hotels based on whether they rent out bicycles. This also facilitates sustainable mobility.
Information on apps from local transport associations helps guests to plan their journeys in an efficient and climate-friendly manner.
Planning tools for guest trips and tours make it easier to arrange sustainable and resource-saving routes.
Shorter journeys are created when several venues offer events concurrently when planning tours and guest performances. To achieve this, the venues need to be located in close proximity.
Travelling can be avoided by pooling multiple meetings in one visit. Digital meetings are an alternative to on-site meetings.
The incorporation of sustainability clauses or addendums into contracts
with guests ensures commitment to environmental standards.

Good to know

Artists with disabilities or chronic illnesses require accessible paths for their journey. In this case, a direct travel connection may be preferable to a more sustainable one.

Optimal protection against attacks motivated by group-based hostility is needed when travelling. For example, travelling without changing trains offers protection. But the choice of venue is also helpful: in some places there is a lower risk of discrimination and harassment.

If guest performances are combined, there is a risk that artists will have fewer performances. It is recommended that careful consideration be given to “green touring” and diversity and international exchange in the artistic programme here.

In the interests of accessibility and inclusion, carbon accounting should not include CO₂ emissions from those accompanying people with disabilities.

Audience mobility

A mention of bicycle stands, for example on tickets, makes it easier for visitors to opt for an environmentally friendly journey.
Communicating the best cycle routes makes travelling by bike safer and more convenient.
Directions and information on long-distance transport connections help visitors plan their journey. This makes travelling to the event environmentally friendly and stress-free.
Encouraging climate-friendly options increases the likelihood that visitors will use sustainable modes of transport. It can be easily included in event advertising.
Asking visitors which mode of transport they are using raises their awareness of sustainable mobility.
Incentives such as reduced entry fees or drinks vouchers as a “reward” for travelling by public transport make climate-friendly travel more attractive.
Event tickets may also be used as public transport tickets in cooperation with transport service providers.
Ideally, the venue or festival will support visitors in organising carpools or a shared journey. Carpooling reduces CO₂ emissions, as well as promoting interaction between visitors.
A limited number of parking spaces makes the use of sustainable transport more attractive.
Visitors can be informed via the apps of the local transport associations so that they can conveniently plan their journey by public transport.
Offering shuttle services and carpooling makes it easier to opt for a more sustainable and flexible journey.
Adapting event times to the timetables of local transport networks is particularly worthwhile in rural regions as it makes it easier for visitors to get to and from the event by public transport.

Good to know

Audience mobility largely depends on the event location: while public transport is a good alternative to the car in cities, often in rural areas, it is not.

The journey for visitors with disabilities must be accessible, for example by means of tactile guidance systems. When carrying out carbon accounting, it is recommended that the CO₂ emissions of those accompanying people with disabilities are not taken into account.

Employee mobility

Flexible home office arrangements reduce commute times, saving time and reducing emissions.
Scheduling meetings outside rush hour ensures a stress-free journey and reduces traffic at peak times.
Employees with a company subscription for public transport benefit from sustainable mobility: it is more cost-effective.
When venues and festivals encourage their teams to use public transport or bicycles, this significantly reduces CO₂ emissions from commuting.
Information on providers of bikes for hire and initiatives to promote bicycle mobility make it easier to decide in favour of an environmentally friendly mobility option.
Employees can quickly repair minor bicycle breakdowns themselves if they have a kit with repair items for bicycles “on board” or if these are offered at the workplace. This keeps them mobile in the long term.
An e-bike charging station, covered bicycle parking spaces or bicycle stands make the switch to bicycles even more attractive and convenient.
Company bicycles for meetings outside the office are a practical and environmentally friendly alternative to the car.
Showers and changing rooms at the workplace establish the conditions for a fresh start to the working day after commuting by bike.
Sustainability workshops can be held to raise awareness of low-carbon mobility among employees. Sustainable alternatives can be demonstrated here.
Offering appropriately priced car parking spaces can encourage the switch to sustainable modes of transport.

Good to know

Accessible travel must be afforded to employees with disabilities.

Personal mobility

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.

Goods transportation

Good to know

Further reading

Good practice examples

Accommodation

Good to know

Further reading

Guest mobility

Good to know

Further reading

Audience mobility

Good to know

Employee mobility

Good to know

Further reading

Personal mobility