Since 2022, Le Guess Who? partners with the Nature and Environment Federation Utrecht to offset CO2 emissions from international air travel by artists and visitors. Thanks to collaboration in 2023, a sustainable roof at Utrecht’s Hof van Cartesius, a unique circular workspace for creative entrepreneurs, has now been realized. Hof van Cartesius is one of the locations of U?, the free accessible day program of Le Guess Who?.
CO2 compensation
In 2023, visitors of Le Guess Who? had the option to compensate the CO2 emissions of their trip to Utrecht when buying their ticket for the festival. Additionally, the organization of Le Guess Who? itself annually compensates CO2 emissions from air travel of festival artists.
These combined funds were invested in a local sustainability project together with the Nature and Environment Federation Utrecht (NMU). This NGO is committed to a beautiful, healthy and sustainable province of Utrecht, with a beautiful landscape, rich nature and clean environment.
In 2022, Le Guess Who?’s CO2 compensation was invested in the planting of 3000 trees. In Woudenberg, the NMU planted a deciduous forest and in Rhenen (both in the east of the province of Utrecht) a local food forest was expanded.
Sustainable roof at Hof van Cartesius
In 2023, the partners set a higher goal. Le Guess Who? and the NMU jointly constructed a green, sustainable roof at Hof van Cartesius that has just been finalized. It will be opened on March 12, during the Week of Circular Economy.
Sheep wool is mixed with soil to make a lightweight substrate, and willow mats and hemp serve as drainage. These materials replace the standard plastic drainage systems in the roof. The concrete tiles that are used are B-select and the tile supports are cut from old rubber tiles.
Green roofs
"Green roofs are the highest form of sustainability," jokes Pauline van Norden, project leader of Sustainable Transitions at NMU. The organization helps homeowners, businesses, VVEs, organizations and municipalities make their roofs more sustainable, including with an online Service Point Sustainable Roofs.
Sustainable roofs not only have a positive impact on the cityscape, but also play a crucial role in generating energy, reducing urban heat, efficiently draining rainwater and promoting biodiversity.
Le Guess Who? Sustainability Manifesto
In 2023, Le Guess Who? published its Sustainability Manifesto on its website to provide more insight into the ways in which the organization is committed to making the festival more sustainable.
Main photo: Inez Faber
