Since kicking off in 2019, Ultras’s ‘Mission: Home’ project ran through Ultra Music Festival, Miami’s 22nd edition earlier this year from March 25-27th at Miami’s Bayfront Park.
The 30 initiatives the sustainability program executed this year focussed on five objectives – Waste Reduction, Pollution Prevention, Nature Preservation, Community Engagement and Climate Action.
The vision for Ultra’s Mission: Home is “to expand the environmental consciousness of everyone our programs reach, positively shifting behavior both on and off festival grounds.”
And the results highlighted several impressive achievements including 128,000 pounds of waste diverted from landfill since the program’s inception and a new food and supply rescue program that resulted in over 22,000 pounds of resources being reutilized. This detailed tracking and reporting of the program’s impact led to Ultra being recognized this year, both within the events industry and by local and global environmental organizations, as a leader in sustainability among U.S. electronic music festivals and beyond.
The Florida Festivals and Events Association(FFEA) is a leading state-wide resource for festivals and events whose mission is to promote and strengthen the industry in Florida.
Amongst over 500 submissions in 20 categories and awarded based on applicants’ innovation, individuality and creative collaboration; Ultra’s ‘Mission: Home’ received 1st place in Volunteer Program, 2nd Place in Education Program, and tied for 2nd Place in Sustainability Program, surpassed only by events that were fully-focused on sustainability.
In addition, Debris Free Oceans which is a non-profit organization based in Florida with the aim to reduce marine debris through US-wide cleanup efforts, has recognized Ultra’s Mission: Home as the most extensive sustainability program among U.S. electronic music festivals.
Beyond local and state recognition, ‘Mission: Home’ was also acknowledged by Oceanic Global, an international NGO that works with organizations around the world to empower industry-specific solutions that protect our planet. Through their multi-tiered assessment, Ultra earned ‘2-Star Blue Verification’ which required the elimination of 6 single-use plastic types and implementation of 3 ‘Blue Actions’, regarded as best practices for comprehensive sustainable operations.
Cassia Patel, Director of Programs, Oceanic Global, shared, “Oceanic Global is honored to recognize Ultra Music Festival as a Blue Verified business through our Blue Standard.
Ultra is the first music festival of its scale in the U.S. to earn Blue recognition! Ultra has gone above and beyond reducing single-use plastics to take comprehensive sustainability measures. They accomplished so much with a full team of staff and volunteers to bring their 30 ‘Mission: Home’ sustainability initiatives to life.”
Vivian Belzaguy Hunter, Director of Sustainability, Ultra Music Festival said, “It is a true honor to be recognized by these respected leaders. Our hope is to continue to impress them as we grow in our mission on this global stage and to watch as our community grows with us.”
H/T – We Rave You
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