Ultra Music Festival Receives World Sustainability Award for Environmental Efforts

Ultra Music Festival has received yet another accolade, winning the Sustainability Team Award at the World Sustainability Awards ceremony. 

Anybody who is a part of the electronic music scene knows about Miami’s premier music event Ultra Music Festival.  What people may not know is that Ultra has also been lauded for its efforts in sustainability and environmental responsibility. Specifically, Ultra recently received the prestigious Sustainability Team Award during the World Sustainability Awards in Amsterdam.

Held at The Garden of Amsterdam, the event spotlighted Ultra’s remarkable commitment to environmental stewardship, reaffirming its status as a global frontrunner in sustainability. Amidst stiff competition from 35 different countries, Ultra emerged triumphant among 220 applicants vying for recognition at the World Sustainability Leaders Congress.  Ultimately, a panel of 25 distinguished judges singled out Ultra as one of the 13 standout winners across various categories.

Ultra Music Festival originated in 1999 in Miami, Florida, thanks to the vision of Russell Faibisch and Alex Omes.  Since then, Ultra quickly became one of the leading EDM festivals in the world. Initially a one-day event on Miami Beach, Ultra is now a massive three-day extravaganza that has hosted legends such as Avicii, Daft Punk, and Carl Cox.  Returning for its 2024 installment in March, Ultra has a stacked lineup in the works including Peggy Gou, Fisher x Chris Lake, and Eric Prydz.

Ultra’s “Mission: Home” initiative aims to minimize its ecological footprint through measures such as waste reduction, recycling, and community engagement.  Its team has orchestrated a series of impactful initiatives, from eliminating nearly 90% of single-use plastics on-site to diverting nearly 200,000 pounds of waste from landfills. Ultra’s victory is particularly significant given the caliber of competitors, which included corporate giants like AT&T, HEINEKEN, and HP.

Central to Ultra’s sustainability strategy is its emphasis on accountability and transparency. Through meticulous tracking and reporting mechanisms, Ultra meticulously monitors its environmental footprint and strives for continuous improvement. Furthermore, collaborations with innovative platforms like Replenysh enable Ultra to ensure the traceability and regional recycling of materials.

Reflecting on Ultra’s honor, Director of Sustainability Vivian Belzaguy Hunter emphasizes the power of music to catalyze collective action. Certainly, Ultra’s recognition sets a precedent for the entertainment industry to beef up its efforts to promote eco-consciously raving.  For more information on Ultra Music Festival, head over to the festival’s website.

Ginger Ale

Having grown up just an earshot from Ultra Miami’s venue Bayfront Park, it was next to impossible for me not to fall in love with electronic music. My love for music was evidently strong enough for me to write my college essay on festival culture and continue attending Ultra for 10+ years now. I have always had a knack for writing and the power of words, which I continued cultivating through a Philosophy degree in college. Now, I am finishing up law school and hope to merge my passions by working in the music industry. I am an avid traveler and am certainly not afraid to hop on a plane for a music event. My next bucket list items to attend are Tomorrowland in Belgium and ADE in the Netherlands. Though the list could go on forever, some of my favorite artists include Franky Wah, Kevin de Vries, Eli Brown, and John Summit.

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