Delivering Excellence: DHL Helps Coldplay Save The World As Band’s Official Tour Logistics Partner

Coldplay and DHL forged a pioneering sustainability partnership for the band’s “Music of the Spheres” world tour setting a new standard not only for ticket sales but for eco-friendly live entertainment across the globe.

The “Music of the Spheres” tour began at San José’s Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica on March 18, 2022, and features stadium stops across the world before wrapping on Sept. 8 at Wembley Stadium in London this fall.

Coldplay committed to cutting direct greenhouse gas emissions by more than 50% compared to their 2016–2017 “A Head Full of Dreams Tour.” By mid-2024, they had surpassed the goal, achieving a 59% reduction by taking a comprehensive approach that includes sustainable logistics, renewable energy and carbon offsetting initiatives.

Partnerships were a key part of their success with DHL as the tour’s official logistics partner. The multinational logistics brand implemented key strategies to reduce emissions and used several system metrics to assess and optimize the tour’s carbon footprint, identifying air freight as a major emission source.​

The GoGreen Plus Program employed carbon insetting by using sustainable aviation fuel for air transport, directly reducing emissions at the source. Insetting is a strategy where companies actively reduce their Scope 3 emissions by investing in carbon reduction or removal projects within their own supply chain, rather than purchasing offsets from external sources. The approach led to a reduction of 1,078 metric tons of CO from charter flights.

On the ground, DHL deployed electric vehicles and trucks powered by Bio-LNG (liquefied natural gas from organic waste). The company also shipped eco-friendly merchandise including reusable LED wristbands made from plant-based, compostable materials, transported sustainably between venues. The collaboration has been lauded as a model for sustainable touring, demonstrating how large-scale tours can significantly reduce their environmental impact through innovative practices and brand partnerships.​