A MUSIC FESTIVAL IN BRISTOL, FOR THE FUTURE
SUSTAINABILITY
At FORWARDS,
Our goal is to play a valuable role in implementing the forward thinking changes and initiatives that will support local businesses, the creative industries, and wider society to take action on the climate change emergency already in motion.
We aspire to have a lasting positive impact, harnessing the power of live events to bring people together for incredible music moments and inspire change; by creating a space for community, connection and debate.
We recognise that our event will inevitably have an impact on the environment. However, our ambition is to mitigate these impacts, innovate, and ultimately protect our local environment and festival spaces so that future generations can experience them.
At FORWARDS, it’s all about looking into the past & present to inform our future, this is why our key areas of work are:
1. Future Facing Projects
2. The Future of Food
3. Future-proofing our communities
4. The Future Generations
And of course, the Future of the Music industry - alongside our key partners EarthPercent, Music Declares Emergency and Climate Live.
We will publish our Sustainability Impact report in the spring, keep an eye out!
FORWARDS: A GREENER FUTURE
In 2023, we were assessed by A Greener Future and have been certified as “Commended”. Commended signifies a well-managed, environmentally aware festival going beyond expectation to make positive change.
"For a first-year assessment, it was great to find a festival already with such high regards and efforts for the local environment and communities. There was very good protection of naturally sensitive features, and considerations for the groups of people who live nearby and who use the beautiful park the event takes place in. Beyond the festival, it was evident to see that the team behind FORWARDS are incredibly passionate and enthusiastic about both the social and environmental sustainability of their events and the wider industry, with involvement in a multitude of engagements related to innovation and projects, to educate and support others to live and work more green!"
- AGF
We also receive some exciting nominations at their International AGF Award show in the following categories:
-
Community Action
-
Pied Pier (Communication)
This is a big step for us and are looking forward to improving & grow our sustainability credentials hand in hand with our audiences!
The Future of Food
Bristol is a city bursting with food-lovers, independent restaurants and brilliant producers! By choosing local, fresh, and sustainably sourced food, plus working with our traders and audience to reduce and redistribute waste, we can form a fairer future.
Team Canteen CIC channels support and resources from the local hospitality industry to play its part in reducing food insecurity in Bristol.
Come & say hello at their café in the Information!
Oatly is partnering with Team Canteen, bringing their best oat-based products to the café. We will also work together to assess FORWARDS’s relationship to dairy, from audience to crew.
Food at Forwards is high quality, nutritional, and locally sourced. Our food standards protect farmers' livelihoods and strive for higher animal welfare.
Future-proofing our Local Communities
Forwards wishes to act as a catalyst for meaningful, productive and on-going community within our city. We strive to ensure everyone can experience the joy of festivals, knowing that they can empower and connect people far beyond the event itself.
FORWARDS is committed to making our event as sustainable as humanly and logistically possible. Reducing our impact on the planet, whilst maximising the positive impact within our local community is at our core.
We add value to our local area by employing local crew, contractors, traders and businesses. We offer reduced price tickets for those who are on low incomes, and for NHS staff to make our event more accessible.
FORWARDS is working towards a Silver Attitude is Everything charter. We are continuing to assess our accessible facilities and are striving to make the site and overall experience better for our d/Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent customers
Future Generations
We have a duty of care towards future generations to leave them with a liveable planet while working towards better inclusivity, diversity and equity standards within our industry. We work with Big Team CiC to create meaningful initiatives and support the new generation of creatives. Current Big Team projects include:
Creating opportunities in the festival sector for young people who would usually face social or economic barriers to access, with an aim to address issues of underrepresentation in the festival crew, artists and audiences.
Capture Forwards offers emerging local photographers a paid, hands-on experience in the world of live music and professional festival shooting.
Delivered in collaboration with a number of key industry partners across Bristol, Next Level was set up to help support emerging artists’ creative & professional development.
The Future of Music
Through a programme of incredible music, forward-thinkers, and partnerships for good, FORWARDS aims to empower our network of musicians, crew and audiences toward taking action on climate. #NOMUSICONADEADPLANET
EarthPercent is a charity which helps the music industry to raise awareness and money for organisations tackling climate change. You can support EarthPercent by making a donation when you buy your FORWARDS ticket!
Music Declares Emergency is a group of artists, music industry professionals and organisations that stand together to declare a climate and ecological emergency. Come and join their Fan Club Climate or grab a No Music on a Dead Planet transfer tattoo at The Information.
Climate Live is a youth-led organisation which engages new audiences in the climate movement through music festivals. You can find them at The Information, raising awareness through screen-printing and discussions.
OUR WORK
Future Facing Projects
We believe the UK should be one of the most ambitious countries in tackling the climate crisis and driving social change. We see our festival as a micro-city with the opportunity to explore future-facing materials, initiatives and perspectives, which can then be upscaled and introduced within wider society.
The environmental impact of FORWARDS is being assessed as part of the A Greener Future’s certification scheme, for the first time in 2023.
A Greener Future
Can mushrooms replace plastics in festival builds? We’re bringing the innovative project, 6 Degrees, to FORWARDS. It explores the possibilities of this new mycelium material.
6 Degrees
An area for discussion, debate and understanding on today's current affairs and cultural issues, while challenging the role of music festivals.
The Information
The Future of Food
Bristol is a city bursting with food-lovers, independent restaurants and brilliant producers! By choosing local, nutritious, and ethically sourced food, plus working with our traders and audience to reduce and redistribute waste, we can form a fairer future.
Team Canteen CIC channels support and resources from the local hospitality industry to play its part in reducing food insecurity in Bristol. Come & say hello at their café in The Information.
Team Canteen
Oatly is partnering with Team Canteen, bringing their best oat-based products to the café. We will also work together to assess
FORWARDS’s relationship to dairy, from audience to crew.
Oatly x Team Canteen
Food at FORWARDS is high quality, nutritional, and locally sourced. Our food standards protect farmers' livelihoods
and strive for higher animal welfare.
Our Traders
Future-proofing our local communities
FORWARDS wishes to act as a catalyst for a meaningful, productive and on-going community within our city. We strive to ensure everyone can experience the joy of festivals, knowing that they can empower and connect people far beyond the event itself.
FORWARDS is committed to making our event as sustainable as humanly and logistically possible. We pledge to reduce our impact on the planet, whilst maximising our positive impact within the local community and beyond.
Protecting our environment
We add value to our local area by employing local crew, contractors, traders and businesses. We offer reduced price tickets for those who are on low incomes, and for NHS staff to make our event more accessible.
Local people & businesses
FORWARDS is working towards a Silver Attitude is Everything charter. We are continuing to assess our accessible facilities and are striving to make the site and overall experience better for our d/Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent attendees.
Accessibility
Future Generations
We have a duty of care towards future generations to leave them with a liveable planet while working towards better inclusivity, diversity and equity standards within our industry. We work with Big Team CIC to create meaningful initiatives and support the new generation of creatives.
Current Big Team projects include:
Creating opportunities in the festival sector for young people who would usually face social or economic barriers to access, with an aim to address issues of underrepresentation in festival crew, artists and audiences.
Placements
Capture FORWARDS offers emerging local photographers a paid, hands-on experience in the world of live music and professional festival shooting.
Capture FORWARDS
Delivered in collaboration with a number of key industry partners across Bristol, Next Level was set up to help support emerging artists’ creative & professional development.
Next Level
A MUSIC FESTIVAL IN BRISTOL, FOR THE FUTURE
The Future of Music
Through a programme of incredible music, forward-thinkers, and partnerships for good, FORWARDS aims to empower our network of musicians, crew and audiences toward taking action on climate.
Artists will be transported in the fully-electric BMW iX, thanks to @bmwuk.
#NOMUSICONADEADPLANET
EarthPercent is a charity which helps the music industry to raise awareness and money for organisations tackling climate change. You can support EarthPercent by making a donation when you buy your FORWARDS ticket!
EarthPercent
Music Declares Emergency is a group of artists, music industry professionals and organisations that stand together to declare a climate and ecological emergency. Join their Fan Club For Climate or grab a No Music on a Dead Planet transfer tattoo at The Information.
Music Declares Emergency
Climate Live is a youth-led organisation which engages new audiences in the climate movement through music festivals. You can find them at The Information, raising awareness through block-printing and discussions.