Intent for Improving our Environmental Impact in 2016
Touring, performing and meeting people in different communities around the world is our work our joy and our passion. We recognize that our travels have an impact on our natural environment. We want to systematically lessen our general waste and our overall contribution to air pollution. The following is a list of what we vow to do in 2016. We hope that you will join us, in your own way!
- Béla + Abby
No. 1
work with venues to lessen use of plastic and paper goods
We often arrive at venues to food served on disposable trays with all disposable dishes, cups, plastic wear, etc. and plastic wrapped value packs of individual bottles of water. We will ask venues to provide non-disposables, however if they do not we vow to be prepared with a “non-disposables kit” which we will bring into the venue that we will then wash and re-use in every venue where non-disposables are not available. We will also ask that drinking water be available in a refill-able manner so that we may use our own re-usable cups and mugs rather than many disposable plastic bottles.
no. 2
work with venues to source local and organic foods
We will request as much organic and locally-sourced seasonal foods as possible at every venue. If the food is not catered we will research menus of local restaurants to locate the restaurateurs most dedicated to organic and locally-sourced seasonal foods.
No. 3
use non-disposable plate & cup packs on the bus
Often when we get on the rental bus it is filled with disposable cups, plates, bowls and plastic wear. We will move the disposables under the bus and replace with our own re - usable dishes, cups, utensils, etc.
No. 4
purchase carbon off-sets for bus, bus generator And flights
We dedicate the funds saved from our carbon off-sets to a specific organization with proven results bettering air quality. We recognize that carbon offsets are not a way to lessen our contribution to air pollution. Unfortunately, we have not found a way to travel as a family full-time without the stability and safety a bus provides, nor have we figured out how to travel long distances or to other countries without flying on planes. We are not ready to stop touring due to our environmental impact. Rather we are going to quantify our impact with the use of this equation and dedicate the carbon off-sets to an organization based in Los Angeles called Tree People.
Tree People plants and cares for trees, harvests the rain, and renews depleted landscapes through inspiring local communities to take action. Although their work is based in LA they are creating templates for communities around the world to take real action rebuilding the natural environment and using easily-implemented technologies to harness power and water locally.