DF Concerts & Events celebrates a year of sustainable and inclusive events

DF Concerts & Events is celebrating the success of their sustainability initiatives delivered across their major summer events in 2025.

Article Source: DF Concerts & Events
Last Updated: 11 December 2025 10:10

DF Concerts & Events is celebrating the success of their sustainability initiatives delivered across their major summer events in 2025, reaffirming the company’s commitment to reducing their environmental impact and promoting greener practices within the live music industry.

The company believes great live music and environmental stewardship go hand in hand. From Rockstar Energy presents TRNSMT at Glasgow Green to Summer Sessions at Bellahouston Park and Royal Highland Showgrounds, DF Concerts implemented a wide range of impactful initiatives designed to cut waste, reduce emissions and engage fans in positive climate action.

Scotland’s largest reusable cup trial in an outdoor live music setting, the use of an innovative travel assistant and a GeoPura hydrogen-powered bar - the first of its kind to be used at this scale in Scotland - were standout sustainability innovations at DF Concerts’ summer events.

DF Concert’s reusable cup trial was the largest of its kind in Scotland, reaching over 150,000 fans across both Glasgow and Edinburgh Summer Session shows. Fans engaged well with this, with the trial achieving a 90% return rate. Additionally, DF Concerts surpassed the 2025 Scottish Government target of recycling 70% of waste, with 90% of all waste from these events being recycled or composted, and the remaining 10% going to waste for energy. This also meant that for fourth year in a row, DF Concerts sent zero waste to landfill. At Glasgow Summer Sessions, waste per head was reduced by 23%, and at Edinburgh Summer Sessions this reduction was even higher at 44%.

Edinburgh Summer Sessions made history with Scotland’s first bar powered by a GeoPura Hydrogen Power Unit at an outdoor music concert of this size in Scotland. By investing in hydrogen power units rather than diesel for distribution and refrigeration, emissions were dramatically reduced. The system eliminated the need for more than 2,000 litres of fuel, delivering zero-emission electricity for the drinks service. The only by-product was water which was then reused elsewhere on site such as festival toilets. This marked a significant shift away from diesel reliance and demonstrated potential for hydrogen technology to be used at scale within the live music sector, in Scotland and beyond. DF Concerts intends to further invest in the use of renewable energy at future events.

DF Concerts also partnered with You.Smart.Thing., an innovative travel assistant, to promote sustainable travel choices. Fans were encouraged to use public transport to attend Glasgow and Edinburgh Summer Sessions, encouraging greener practices outside of the events. Thousands of fans used You.Smart.Thing, demonstrating how technology can aid climate-conscious choices for audiences. As a result, public transport use at Glasgow Summer Sessions increased from 23% to 46.5% compared to 2024 and increased from 41% to 59% at Edinburgh Summer Sessions. The number of people cycling to the events also saw a notable increase, with 150 attendees opting for two wheels.

2025 also seen continued effort from DF Concerts to ensure sustainable food options were available across events. Implemented in 2023 and continued in 2025, all food vendors at TRNSMT and Summer Sessions were required to have vegan and vegetarian options on their menus for festival-goers. Through DF Concerts Play Our Part campaign, fans are continuously encouraged to choose these options when eating at events, and red meat was removed from backstage menus for artists to reduce food emissions.

DF Concerts Sustainability Manager, Kevin Mackay said: “Every show is an opportunity to prove that live music can contribute to a sustainable future. From hydrogen-power to reusable cups and promoting low-carbon travel and sustainable food choices, we’re creating the blueprint for a new generation of green events in Scotland.”

DF Concerts also believes that live music should be accessible to everyone and has worked tirelessly throughout 2025, and in previous years, to remove barriers and create an inclusive environment across all events. By actively listening to what fans needed, several key improvements were made including the expansion of the Accessibility and Customer Service team in-house and on-site, the creation of in-depth accessible information guides for pre-event planning and an increase in accessible spaces across event sites.

These efforts led to a 33% rise in TRNSMT Accessible Applications compared to 2023, and an impressive 999.24% increase in accessible attendance at TRNSMT since 2017. In recognition of this work, the DF Concerts Accessibility Team received the National Inclusion Award at Visit Scotland’s Scottish Thistle Awards 2025.
As industry leaders, DF Concerts invited colleagues from the live events industry onsite to share how these initiatives were put into practice. By collaborating openly with others, best practices can be shared throughout the live music industry.

These achievements showcase DF Concerts’ dedication to leading the way in sustainable and inclusive live events, and setting new standards for the industry, as well as contributing to their own Play Our Part campaign. With innovation, collaboration and fan engagement at the heart of their approach, they are proving that eco-friendly and inclusive practices are an integral part of exciting, life-affirming live music experiences.

See the full lineup and ticket options for TRNSMT at trnsmtfest.com, and the announced Edinburgh and Glasgow Summer Session shows and tickets at smmrsession.com

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