Sustainability
A green sound
Muziekgebouw Eindhoven is taking concrete steps in the field of corporate social responsibility. Sustainability, accessibility and social impact go hand in hand in this regard. As a signatory to the GreenStages2020 covenant, we have made significant progress in recent years and worked to make the organisation more sustainable. This involvement has strongly motivated us and has now become a conviction that we put into practice every day: in how we use energy, how we source supplies, how we collaborate with the city and how we open our doors to everyone. By continuing to invest in concrete improvements, Muziekgebouw Eindhoven aims not only to reduce its own carbon footprint, but also to inspire visitors, partners and suppliers to work together towards a more sustainable future.
Vegetarian meals by default
We serve around 2,700 meals ‘backstage’ each year to touring stage technicians and artists. Annually! This means we can make a significant impact by making these meals vegetarian by default. So that’s exactly what we’ve done. From the start of this season, our meals are served as vegetarian as standard, and anyone who still prefers meat can request it in advance.
Sustainability as an integral part
The results achieved underline that sustainability is not a side issue for us, but an integral part of the organisation. Visible improvements have been achieved in virtually all areas – from energy and waste to procurement and mobility – in recent years. A concrete example is the research into our visitors’ travel behaviour, carried out in collaboration with Brainport Bereikbaar. Based on these insights, measures have included improving access to cycle parking facilities in the immediate vicinity of the building and strengthening communication about sustainable travel to Muziekgebouw Eindhoven.
Sustainability is a shared responsibility: we actively encourage visitors to travel sustainably. Thanks to its central location, MgE is easily accessible by public transport. The station is within walking distance; trains continue to run after evening concerts, and visitors can make use of a free cycle park. By travelling by public transport or by bike, visitors can reduce the environmental impact of their journey to Muziekgebouw Eindhoven.
Accessible to everyone
A sustainable MgE is also an accessible MgE. For visitors with disabilities, attending a concert is not always a given. Muziekgebouw Eindhoven is therefore actively committed to removing barriers and making the concert experience possible for everyone. Visitors who rely on a wheelchair can count on good facilities
Sustainable gift
Case
For many years, giving flowers at the end of a concert has been a long-standing tradition—a beautiful gesture of respect and appreciation for the performing artists. However, the cut flower industry doesn’t align with our sustainability goals. Additionally, touring musicians often don’t have the opportunity to take the flowers home, as they’re traveling and staying in tour buses or hotels.
That’s why Muziekgebouw Eindhoven, in collaboration with students from TU Eindhoven, set out to find a sustainable alternative to the traditional bouquet. Since the 2023/24 season, cut flowers have been replaced with a reusable felt bouquet.
