NEW YORK, NY. (Top40 Charts/ Virgin
Mobile USA) - The second annual Virgin Festival By Virgin
Mobile will be more than just a two-day extravaganza of music and excitement. The event is also aiming high in its quest to minimize harm to the environment - while educating Virgin Festival-goers on the simple but important steps both public events and individuals can take to be more eco-friendly.
This year, Virgin Mobile USA, Virgin USA and concert producer I.M.P. will encourage and enable Virgin Festival attendees to "green it like they mean it," as they enjoy the weekend's packed slate of A-list musical talent including The Police and the Smashing Pumpkins, engaging exhibitions, deejays and more at the historic Pimlico Race Course on August 4-5, 2007 in Baltimore, MD.
To reach the goal of 'Near Zero Waste,' Virgin Festival partners are working with actress/activist Daryl Hannah and her Green Event specialists, the Spitfire Agency, to ensure that the event is as green as possible. "It is so wonderful to see Virgin Mobile taking its impact on the environment seriously," reports Hannah. "By supporting the many solutions available, Virgin Festival By Virgin Mobile is taking care of nature while also serving as a model for other event producers. Living Green isn't nearly as hard as it might seem, and it's actually a lot of fun once you get going! My hope is that attendees at the Festival will be empowered by what they see and adopt some of these practices into their daily lives."
"Being conscious of our impact on the environment is a crucial mission of the company and its employees, and that applies to every step of our festival planning process as well," said Dan Schulman, chief executive officer of Virgin Mobile USA. "The Festival is providing us with a rich opportunity to experiment with and learn from various practices, and we're committed to making Virgin Festival By Virgin Mobile both experientially and environmentally friendly."
In addition to the efforts here, I.M.P. has been at the forefront of blending environmental awareness with large scale events. Recently recognized for deploying solar energy to power another popular East Coast concert venue, I.M.P. shares the commitment to create an incredible entertainment experience while protecting the Earth for tomorrow.
A team of 150 "Green Angels" will be onsite throughout the Festival to monitor waste diversion efforts and provide consumer information, courtesy of the Spitfire Agency and its partner CleanVibes. Some of the many Green initiatives planned at Virgin Festival By Virgin Mobile include:
- Best efforts to eliminate trash: Items that usually become trash at concerts are being replaced with compostable products made from renewable sources. Examples include plates made of sugarcane (called Bagasse), cups made of corn (called Bioplastic), trash bags made from corn, utensils made of wheat and potato, and straws made from plants instead of petroleum.
- Food and food service items composted locally: The Virgin Festival team is partnering with local experts and a nearby facility for the handling and transport of compost.
- Waste Reclamation Stations: Fifty such stations will be located throughout the event grounds. All food and food service waste will have a second life, and all recycling will be collected "single stream" (that is, one waste can takes all). Every station will be staffed by a Green Angel volunteer.
- Recycled paper: Nearly all paper items are being replaced with 100% recycled paper products including posters, toilet paper and more.
- Clean energy: Where possible, clean energy such as biodiesel and solar power is being used. All on-site power, generators and light towers will run on B99 biodiesel [B99 is 99% biodiesel, 1% diesel; the 1% diesel eliminates a tax on the fuel].
- Green power for plug-ins: Recharging stations for mobile phones and other devices will be powered by biodiesel energy.
- Carbon-offsetting: Where clean energy cannot be supported (production flights, etc), Virgin Festival will seek to offset its carbon footprint by donating clean energy (solar, wind power, etc.) to the local Baltimore community.
- Eco-friendly materials: Virgin Festival props and buildings will be constructed from sustainable materials wherever possible, including bamboo, FSC-certified lumber, organic cotton, and recycled materials. Nearly all materials will be reused, recycled, or donated to the local community.
- Traveling green: Virgin Festival is highlighting on its website the benefits of using public transportation - like saving on parking fees, for example - and carpooling.
- Education: Virgin Festival By Virgin Mobile will also host a number of unique art installations offering interactive eco-educational experiences for all attendees.
Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon said, "The environmentally safe efforts being made for Virgin Festival By Virgin Mobile are phenomenal. Certainly, the City of Baltimore will look at this tremendous Green operation as a goal-setting model for its own festival and event productions. It goes to show that you can present a first-class event while still being responsible to the natural surroundings. Kudos to Mr. Branson, Virgin Mobile and the entire Virgin Festival team."
Virgin Festival By Virgin Mobile partners are grateful to the following organizations for their support and cooperation:
- Chesterfield Farms Organic
- Eco Products
- Natural Value
- Sustainable Options
- Taylor Oil Company
- United Biofuels
- Waste Management
Tickets for Virgin Festival by Virgin Mobile are on sale through Ticketmaster (https://www.ticketmaster.com or 1-800-551-SEAT). More information on the Festival and the many other Green initiatives being implemented can be found at https://www.virginfestival.com.
