The Environmental Impact of Taylor Swift's Eras Tour

The Eras Tour has been nothing short of a global sensation.

Launched in 2023, Taylor Swift’s ambitious tour has broken records, redefined fan experiences and reignited the post-pandemic live music scene in a way nobody thought possible.

Spanning five continents, the tour has played to millions of fans in some of the world's largest stadiums.

From the US to Argentina, from Japan to the UK, the Eras Tour has been a live event like no other.

As you might expect, it's also broken all kinds of records when it comes to money.

Upon finishing on 8 December, it was announced that the Eras tour had generated more than US$2bn, making it by far the most lucrative tour in music history.

The frenzy for tickets was equally unprecedented. Demand for seats crashed websites, led to ticket lotteries in some countries and saw resale prices soar into thousands of dollars.

Beyond the financial figures, the cultural impact has been immense.

Each performance was not just a concert but a near-religious experience for dedicated Swifties, blending nostalgia, meticulous artistry and unparalleled production values.

Yet, amid the confetti and standing ovations, one big question has been simmering away for some time — just how sustainable is this massive endeavour?

The environmental cost of a global tour

The Eras Tour’s vast scale means significant environmental impact.

International travel for Taylor, her crew and equipment has resulted in substantial carbon dioxide emissions.

According to estimates, private jet travel for the 2024 leg alone emitted over 511,000kg of CO₂, equivalent to the annual emissions of 122 gas-powered cars.

This figure excludes additional emissions from freight transport and fans’ travel to shows, with many attendees crossing continents for a chance to experience the event.

"Swift's carbon emissions are extreme and are polluting the atmosphere," says Leah Thomas, author of The Intersectional Environmentalist, who studies the intersection between environmentalism and privilege.

"Carbon emissions are one of the leading causes of the climate crisis, as carbon in the atmosphere warms the planet, which contributes to extreme weather events."

The American pop star has reportedly made efforts to offset some of the environmental impact of the tour, with her team purchasing carbon credits equivalent to twice the emissions of her private jet, though critics are still applying pressure.

"Carbon offsets can counteract otherwise hard-to-eliminate emissions," explains Scott Keyes, Air Travel Expert and Founder of Going, a discount flight site.

"Many carbon offset projects are highly valuable — money to plant new forests or grow carbon-capturing algae — while others are practically worthless."

Concert venues also contribute heavily to the environmental footprint, with high energy usage for lighting, sound systems and air conditioning.

Additionally, waste generation from single-use plastics, merchandise packaging and LED wristbands exacerbates the ecological burden.

Although some venues encourage recycling, many still lack robust systems, leaving waste management a significant challenge.

How sustainable is merchandise?

Merchandise sales are a cornerstone of any major tour and the Eras Tour is no exception, having generated an estimated US$500m in revenue.

While recent efforts to switch from polyester to cotton in tour merchandise mark progress, questions remain about the sustainability of production practices, including the sourcing of textiles, dyes and manufacturing ethics.

The fan-driven trend of exchanging plastic bead friendship bracelets has also seen a surge, with bead sales rising by 300% at craft stores in cities hosting the tour.

Despite its popularity, this trend highlights the long-term environmental impact of non-biodegradable plastics.

Encouraging recycled materials or inter-show exchanges could help mitigate this footprint.

What are other artists doing to shrink their carbon footprints?

Taylor Swift’s sustainability efforts are mixed compared to industry peers.

Coldplay, for instance, has integrated innovative initiatives like fan-powered bicycles and green energy solutions into their Music of the Spheres Tour, aiming to halve their environmental footprint.

Similarly, Billie Eilish has embraced sustainable merchandise practices using deadstock materials and non-toxic dyes.

Taylor’s team claims to have purchased more than double the carbon credits needed to offset tour emissions.

However, the efficacy of carbon offsets is often debated, with experts questioning their real-world impact.

Greater transparency about such efforts, alongside adopting industry-wide best practices, would enhance her environmental credibility.

Taylor's social work

Despite the critiques from environmentalists, Taylor has consistently done good for the communities she's visited on the Eras tour.

In many of the cities she’s played, the 34-year-old singer has donated to local food banks, providing critical support to communities facing economic hardship.

When her travelling show came to the UK in the summer of 2024, Taylor donated significant amounts of money to 1,400 food banks across the country which helped to feed thousands of people.

Taylor has also been determined to use her platform to talk about social issues on the Eras tour.

During performances, she’s often highlighted causes like LGBTQ+ rights, women’s empowerment and voter registration drives, leveraging her influence to inspire action among her, often young, fans.

She has also worked with local vendors to source sustainable materials for merchandise and reduced plastic usage at venues, which represents an important acknowledgement of green practices.

While criticism is a given when you are a star of Taylor's size, it's likely that some of the backlash she has received regarding sustainability will have registered with her and her extensive team in spite of all the tour's successes.

However, it's also important to remember that she is doing far more than most when it comes to activism too.

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