Blue Rider
The music rider for plastic-free shows


introduction
The Blue Rider
Every show leaves a mark on the crowd, on the culture, on the planet. This rider is how I make sure mine leaves the right one.
Over 11 million metric tonnes of plastic enter the Ocean every year. My music will not contribute to that.

Please implement the following actions.
Reach out to [email protected] if your venue team needs support.
VENUE ACTIONS — For the venue team
Eliminate Single-Use Plastic Backstage

Please remove all items listed from backstage areas, green rooms, the stage, and DJ booths, and replace with the alternatives shown.
WHERE POSSIBLE: extend to front-of-house bars, concessions, audience areas.
Not all venues can remove every item immediately — start where you can, every swap counts. Questions or need help sourcing alternatives? [email protected]
Catering & Green Room
Bags, Packaging & Event Essentials
TOUR-WIDE ACTIONS — For the artist and tour team
Adopt Low Impact Travel
This section is for you and your touring team, not venues. These choices sit with whoever books your travel and production. Venues are not expected to action anything on this page.

Not all travel is within your control — but wherever choices can be made, please prioritize the following:
Electric or hybrid
For all ground transfers
EV or shared shuttle
Where private vehicles are needed
Rail over flights
Wherever feasible
Shared vehicles
Rather than individual private cars
Carbon Offsets
Where flights are unavoidable, please carbon offset all air and ground travel. We recommend choosing Blue Carbon solutions — projects that sequester carbon via Ocean and coastal ecosystems, directly protecting the environments most threatened by climate change.
Recommended providers: SeaTrees, The Ocean Foundation
EXTENDED ACTIONS — Venue + tour + audience
Extend Impact Across the Full Event
Unlike the rider above, these actions span multiple stakeholders. Each item below is labeled with who owns it, so your team and your venue both know what's theirs.

Where possible, please implement the following actions across your venue, production, and fan experience.
Oceanic Global can support with guidance and sourcing — [email protected]
For Venues
  • Front-of-house: serve drinks in reusable or compostable cups; eliminate plastic packaging at bars and concessions.
  • Provide clearly labeled waste sorting (landfill, recycling, compost where available)
  • Install refillable water stations backstage
  • Provide accessible water refill points for audiences
For Artists & Tour Teams
  • Use plastic-free or minimal packaging for all tour merchandise
  • Eliminate polybags wherever possible
  • Eliminate disposable stage materials (confetti, balloons, single-use props)
  • Promote sustainable travel options to the event through your own channels


VERIFICATION — For tour managers + sustainability leads
Take it further: Get Verified

Blue is Oceanic Global’s third-party verification for sustainable events — recognizing leaders who eliminate single-use plastics and implement responsible practices across their shows.
For venues
Blue Verify your operations across every show you host.
Assessment covers single-use plastics across front-of-house and back-of-house areas, waste management, and broader sustainability actions.
For artists & tours
Blue Verify your tour across the venues you play.
Assessment covers tour-wide sustainability actions and rider implementation at each stop.

Learn more or apply: bluestandard.com/get-verified
Blue Verified Partners Receive:
Clear framework & resources to eliminate single-use plastics
Verified sustainability leadership through third-party verification
On-site signage & digital marketing assets to bring sustainability to life and engage fans
Alignment with leading venues, festivals, and partners demonstrating industry leadership



Bring This Into Your Shows
Start with the Blue Rider. Build toward Blue Verification.

Adopt This Blue Rider

For Questions or Support:
To Start Your Verification:

www.oceanic.global