A huge thank you to all of our members, project partners and supporters who have enabled onboard.earth to continue to make such positive impacts in 2020 despite what has been a hugely challenging year for so many in the Live Events Industry. Below you can read more about the projects that our members travel carbon balancing donations have supported, how our members have adapted to produce covid-safe events and who is joining onboard.earth for 2021.
TREES+
In May 2020 we launched the Trees+ programme to offer members the option to mitigate the impacts of unavoidable CO2e emissions by investing in three elements of ecosystem preservation with three trusted partners: tree planting in the UK, protecting threatened rainforest and community-led reforestation projects. We’re delighted to share that the programme received substantial support despite covid restrictions this year with donations to Trees+ balancing 4,644 tonnes of CO2. Here’s what those donations have achieved:
- 11,286 acres of threatened rainforest protected with our partner The Rainforest Trust. These donations have gone towards the Rainforest Trust’s Conservation Fund – you can read more about their work in Papua New Guinea HERE.
- 15,641 trees planted in Northern Malawi with Temwa as part of their reforestation programme. Temwa have also been supporting the community to cope with the challenges of covid. Read more about the project HERE.
- 12,390 trees planted in the UK by Forest Carbon – The trees were planted at Lowther Whale in Cumbria in Spring 2020. This new site was certified by the Woodland Carbon Code audit this November. Read the full update HERE.
Find out more about Trees+ HERE.
ENERGY REVOLUTION
Despite the pandemic and thanks to the support of existing and new members this year we’ve received donations to our Energy Revolution programme for travel balancing from events and artists tours that have been able to go ahead. These donations will balance 14.86 tonnes of CO2, the equivalent of over 40,000 travel miles in an average car! We will be announcing our renewable energy project partner early 2021.
HOW OUR MEMBERS HAVE ADAPTED
Although it’s been a fallow year for many event organisers, we’ve been delighted that some of our members have changed their plans to produce covid-safe events and have continued to work with us to balance travel emissions. Follow the links to find out more about Shambala Festival running ‘Carry on Kelmarsh’ camping weekends; theatre company The Handlebards’ tour of outdoor venues, and Love Saves the Day joining forces with Bristol’s celebrated food network to put on pop up outdoor dining experience Breaking Bread.
WELCOMING NEW MEMBERS TO ECOLIBRIUM IN 2021
We are delighted that so many event organisers have used 2020 to embed sustainability initiatives into their plans for next season and have joined the onboard.earth community. In 2021 we welcome brand new festival HorseFest, The National Running Show and National Outdoor Expo, two events held at the NEC Birmingham. Through our continued partnership with The Ticketsellers we are now helping Quirky Campers, Into the Trees and Balter Festival to offer carbon-balancing with our online carbon calculator embedded as part of the ticket check out. You can read about all of our members new and old HERE.
Get in touch at hello@onboard.dev.docandtee.com to be part of our journey next year.