Environmental Sustainability
At the Sydney Opera House, we believe that creativity can help build a better world. This includes embedding sustainability into all aspects of our delivery of Vivid LIVE, guided by our 10 Principles for Sustainable Event Management. From changing up our day-to-day building operations to reduce the festival’s carbon footprint (Vivid LIVE has been a carbon neutral festival since 2015), to creating an accessible and inclusive site and experiences, we’re sharing how we’re taking action to build the world we want to see as part of our commitment to the UN Global Goals.
Together, let’s inspire change and build a better future. Read more to see how you can get involved.
Waste not, want not
Feeding people is hard work but wasting food is even harder (for the environment). We’re working with OzHarvest to donate any surplus edible food and make sure that these items don’t go to waste.
Waste Warriors - the heroes we didn't know we needed
In 2022, approximately 96% of the waste generated during Vivid LIVE was reused or recycled (up from 70% in 2019!).
Not sure which recycling receptacle your waste should go in? Just ask our friendly Waste Warriors! We’re working hard with our collaborators at Quayclean to beat that record by deploying a dedicated waste management team called Waste Warriors. You'll spot them roaming throughout the festival sorting through waste to ensure everything goes to its rightful place.
Thanks to the Waste Warriors, we're maximising our recycling rate and diverting recyclables from landfill.
Yes to reuse, no to single-use
Sydney Opera House is a proudly single-use plastic free venue.
At all our Vivid LIVE events, we’re using 100% reusable or compostable options to serve food and drinks for you to enjoy.
Make your actions count by bringing your own water bottle. You can stay hydrated with a number of hydration stations located across the Opera House site.
Enjoy the ride
Raring to get to your show? Consider leaving the car at home and taking public transport to reduce your footprint.
Greening with our artists
Artist flights and accommodation is also carbon neutral and more than ever before, we're providing "green" riders too. We're supplying artists with reusable water bottles and setting up water stations in dressing rooms as an alternative to single-use plastic bottled water.
Greening beyond the Sails
We work with carbon offset companies to support various carbon projects including tree-planting in Australia to help us offset 100% of the festival’s emissions.
Find out more about how we are greening the Opera House through our Environmental Action Plan.
Accessible and inclusive experiences
The Opera House is committed to creating a safe and welcoming environment for all artists and audiences at Vivid LIVE in line with our diversity, inclusion and belonging commitment that the Opera House - who we are and everything we do - reflects and respects the diversity of the community.
Some of the many ways we are doing this is by providing all-gender bathrooms and a Changing Places facility for staff and patrons; collaborating with Gig Buddies who provide adults with intellectual disability the social opportunities by pairing them with volunteers to attend gigs; welcoming patrons who are blind or vision impaired to experience the Lighting of the Sails through Audio Description; regularly training our public facing staff in delivering excellent customer service; and more.
For further information about accessibility at the Opera House please visit this link.
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José González: Veneer 20th Anniversary
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03 Jun 2023
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