LOS ANGELES (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — The Vans Warped Tour 2007 kicked off with a sold-out show of 20,000 at the Pomona Fairplex in Southern California on June 29, continuing a 13-year tradition of delivering great music to rock fans. This year, more than ever, the Warped Tour is doing it in a way that significantly reduces the common impacts of a large touring concert festival, following in the same vein as other environmentally-conscious festivals this year, such as Live Earth.
2007’s Warped Eco Initiatives (WEI) include the use of Biodiesel B20, Clean Catering, Recycled Paper and Soy Inks, the Hot Topic Kevin Says Solar Powered Stage, the Solar Powered WEI Recycling, Education and Outreach tent, a tour wide Eco Incentives Contest and a Warped Tour Volunteer Day Beach Cleanup.
This year, in addition to the tour’s 16 semi trucks and 16 tour buses, the Monster Energy Drink and Fuse TV sponsor busses and the Big D and the Kids Table (artist) bus are running biodiesel. That’s 35 diesel machines running the next 20,000 miles on B20. By tour’s end, a CO2 reduction of an estimated 400,000 pounds will have been achieved, and a near 20% reduction in the use of petrol diesel.
TaDa Catering is again utilizing reusable dishware and when disposable dishware is a must, Spudware (biodegradable plates made from potatoes) will be used. The tour will again avoid the use of an estimated 80,000 disposable plastic or paper plates and bowls. In addition, each band and crew member receives a branded mug for coffee, juice and water, which will further reduce the need for disposable cups. TaDa Catering’s commitment to do it right, will reduce landfill waste and support products and procedures that are renewable sustainable, biodegradable and compostable.
The Hot Topic/Kevin Says Solar Powered Stage will deliver some 40,000 solar watts of great new music to Warped Tour Fans. The stage will not use an estimated 400 gallons of diesel and will avoid pumping 8000 pounds of global warming carbon into the air.
The Solar Powered WEI tent is the base of operations for the tour’s recycling and education operations. Last year, 400 plus volunteers collected an estimated 16,000 lbs of plastic bottles, cans and cardboard. This year, 800 volunteers have signed up and with added incentives, the tour expects a significant increase in an already significant benchmark. At numerous stops, the tent will feature water and energy education by local Bay and River Keeper groups and participants in the Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon 2007.
The Vans Warped Tour Volunteer Beach Cleanup will take place in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary later this summer. Tour members will spend a fun filled summer day taking care of the beach, followed by a BBQ.
The tour’s Eco contest will involve bands, fans and sponsors. Each will have the opportunity throughout the summer to make an eco change and take an eco action. At the end of the tour, winners will be selected to spend an eco weekend at the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. A couple of fans, a band, and sponsor…and a little sea life. Just the ticket at the end of a Warped summer. –by CelebrityAccess Staff Writers
