The BRIT Awards 2024 with Mastercard today outlines their commitment to environmental sustainability, with new and continuing partnerships to support long-term goals for a more environmentally sustainable ceremony, creating a pathway to improve year-on-year.

This long-term vision will see The BRITs constantly review, innovate and adapt to deliver the awards’ sustainability goals, with lessons learned each year and successes built on, to ensure each subsequent ceremony is better than the last.

NEW FOR 2024…

To help The BRITs improve its sustainability, a significant amount of data – covering everything from how audience members get to The O2 arena in London to where the food served on the night is sourced – will be collated across the 2024 ceremony by environmental action organisation Julie’s Bicycle. This work is supported by carbon calculating companies Lowr and Inspired Efficiency, BRITs TV’s use of Albert, BRITs Digital’s use of AdGreen and The O2’s own data on energy and waste; this crucial data which will be utilised to inform the staging of future events. These insights will inspire a new mindset across the BRITs, one that we can already see is putting sustainability at the core of every decision organisers make, big or small.

The commitment goes beyond the event itself with The BRITs announcing a partnership with Music Declares Emergency to launch the first public call to action for their global NO MUSIC ON A DEAD PLANET campaign, making fans a key part of this exciting and important journey by inviting them to join the movement alongside thousands of artists and music industry organisations. NO MUSIC ON A DEAD PLANET will encourage fans to take positive action, get involved in volunteering at iconic music events to spread the word, and be rewarded with the chance to win amazing prizes.

To celebrate the launch, Tony’s Chocolonely, whose mission is to show the world that chocolate can be made differently, have made a limited edition run of NO MUSIC ON A DEAD PLANET bars to be handed out at the event.

Other initiatives adopted this year include: a 5% reduction target for emissions made by production vehicles and front of house catering, while the hundreds of freelancers and companies, big and small, collaborating to create the show, including headline sponsor Mastercard, broadcast partner ITV, and The O2, stand shoulder to shoulder with The BRITs in the commitment to incorporate sustainability into their own planning. This should have a positive impact long-term. 

Dr Jo Twist OBE, BPI Chief Executive said: “The BRITs have given us many iconic moments over their history, but their legacy should also be to drive progress across our industry to be more sustainable.  Music fans, like the artists they love, care hugely about our planet and its future, so the positive actions announced with our partners today show how we can act together to use the transformative power of music for meaningful and lasting change.”

Initiatives new and ongoing for 2024 to support an environmental policy that will help The BRITs and their partners create a sustainable event for years to come include:

  • Commitment to the “LIVE Beyond Zero” Declaration. This is the live music sector’s commitment to deliver measurable and targeted action on climate change, with the ultimate aim of reaching net zero emissions by 2030

  • An environmental impact strategy managed by Creative Zero

  • All production suppliers have a specific environmental plan, policy or targets from the BRITs

  • All production suppliers requested to have Environmental Policies for their companies provided in advance or published on their website

-        Asking The BRITs’ audience to get involved to help reduce CO2e emissions and air pollution by taking public transport to the event, and taking part in a travel survey powered by Lowr on the O2 app distributing the tickets

-        Measuring and working towards reducing the event’s CO2e emissions, working with or using the tools of Julie’s Bicycle, Lowr, Albert, AdGreen and Inspired Efficiency, with efforts overseen by Creative Zero

-        Food served to all guests, will be plant-forward and meat-reduced menus, with locally sourced ingredients.

-        Thanks to the O2 arena’s innovation, reusable cups will be served at this year’s ceremony, minimising single-use plastics further since introducing Notpla

-        Backstage passes and branding boards using recyclable foamcore for the first time

-        Specialist communication training via Heard available to artist teams, production and other suppliers

-        Elements from the show’s iconic stage set donated to The BRIT School so they can be recycled and reused by aspiring, future talents

-        Working with global agency Eco-Age to provide style guidance for artists and talent on combining glamour with responsibility when dressing for the red carpet.

-        Each TV programme (ITV1 and ITV2) will be Albert-certified, with emissions measured using Albert’s Production calculator. Many of the BRITs TV production team are Albert trained producers.

-        The O2 green rider used to inform suppliers - an industry-leading document, created by The O2, intended to drive real change in live events and touring

-        The O2 is renewable energy powered and they have a comprehensive on-site composting and recycling programme

These new and ongoing actions build on the event’s existing environmental commitments, which puts The BRIT Awards on a path to meaningful sustainability.

THE STORY SO FAR…

The BRITs have been working with not-for-profit organisation Julie’s Bicycle since its inception over a decade ago, to apply its environmental expertise to calculate the ceremony’s carbon output and to make decarbonisation and nature restoration recommendations, allowing The BRITs to track its progress in line with the live music industry’s Beyond Zero pledge, committing to decarbonising towards a collective goal of Net Zero by 2030.

Over the same period, the awards have also collaborated extensively with Life Water, helping to lead the ceremony away from single-use plastics. This partnership has seen The BRITs donate over 10,000 cases of clean water to parts of the world where access to drinking water is extremely limited.

Lewis Jamieson, co-founder of Music Declares Emergency said: “Launching NO MUSIC ON A DEAD PLANET to fans at the biggest night in UK music is the perfect way to encourage them to become part of a movement that draws on the positivity of music to help make the world a better place for everyone. We are thrilled to be a part of this year’s awards and are honoured to be a part of the BRITs ongoing journey towards an environmentally sustainable ceremony.”

Roxy Erickson, co-founder of Creative Zero: “The BRIT Awards are laying a strong foundation for their positive environmental and social impact to grow in an exponential, non-linear way. The team is gathering committed stakeholders, from creative sector leaders to artists to crew and fans, as it builds engagement and looks to make meaningful decarbonisation and nature restoration normal parts of everyday strategy.

While The BRITs know there is much more to be done, it is actively working to make production of the show progressively more sustainable, taking environmental concerns into each decision. They understand they have a hand in creating a brighter future for artists and fans if they point their spotlight at great organisations like Music Declares, Julie's Bicycle, Heard and Eco-Age.  A working future filled with gorgeous music is still possible if we all act with bravery.”

Chiara Badiali, Music Lead for Julie’s Bicycle added: "Aligning the countless moving parts that come together for The BRIT Awards towards climate action is a huge creative and operational effort, and one that is vital in the context of a rapidly warming world. We're excited to continue our long-standing journey with the many people making it happen and unlocking new momentum and inspiration that recognises both the urgency and the potential of what can happen when the creative community acts together."

The BRIT Awards 2024 with Mastercard will take place on Saturday 2nd March -  once again in a primetime weekend slot - broadcast live from 8.30pm on ITV1, STV, ITVX and STV Player  - from The O2 arena, hosted by Clara Amfo, Maya Jama and Roman Kemp. Yinka Bokinni and Jack Saunders will be presenting The BRITs’ Red Carpet for ITV2 and The BRITs’ Aftershow for ITVX.

Mastercard returns as headline partner of The BRIT Awards for the 26th year, bringing cardholders closer to their passion for music through a range of BRITs experiences. Mastercard continues to partner with the BRIT School to support and celebrate the next generation of creative talent.