Many people think that musicians are so self-absorbed that they have little respect for the people and environment around them.

That’s why it’s great to know that there are actually famous people out there who are taking part in the green movement and sharing their eco-lifestyle with their fans.

Hazards of the Music Industry

Did you realize that most musicians leave a huge carbon footprint? Try to think about everything that goes into creating an album, selling it and touring. The hazards to the environment are endless.

Here are just a few we came up with:

• Massive CO2 emissions from huge tour buses and air travel
• Plastic packaging on CDs
• Tons of paper used for fliers and CD jackets
• Energy used to power recording equipment and large studios
• Manufacturing t-shirts, hats, buttons, stickers, etc.
• Bottles and cans not recycled during concerts

These are just a few of the most obvious non-friendly contributors to global warming, and while most musicians don’t take notice of them, there are some that are taking action.

Following Their Own Tune

We did some research and discovered some popular musicians who are joining the fight against global warming.

See if your favorite is listed:

• Jack Johnson ‘ Co-founded the Kokua Hawaii Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports environmental education in Hawaii schools. He also uses biodiesel fuel buses to tour, and his recording studio is stocked with solar panels for light and shredded old jeans for insulation.
• KT Tunstall ‘ Has worked with The CarbonNeutral Company to plant over 5,000 trees to offset carbon emissions.
• Moby ‘ He supports PETA and the Humane Society, and he opened Teany Café in New York, which is a vegetarian tea café.
• Dave Matthews Band ‘ Buys renewable energy credits to offset the CO2 emissions from their concerts, automobiles and hotel stays.
• Pearl Jam ‘ Created the Carbon Portfolio Strategy, which will donate $100,000 to nine different organizations doing work for climate change, renewable energy and the environment.
• Thom Yorke ‘ Supports the Big Ask Campaign sponsored by Friends of the Earth, which seeks to find ways to get the government involved the battle against global warming.
• The Roots ‘ Worked with PETA on the Stop the Violence Campaign, which aims to stop violence against animals in farms and slaughterhouses.
• Ditty Bops ‘ In 2004 they decided against using fuel and biked over 4,700 miles across the U.S. to promote their album.
• Bonnie Rait ‘ Co-founded Musicians United for Safe Energy, which is opposed to using nuclear energy.
• Barenaked Ladies ‘ They buy carbon offsets, recycle and run their vehicles on biofuel.

You can read about other green musicians on Spinner and Grist.

It’s great to see that some musicians are making strides to reduce their carbon footprint, since they realize that they are significant contributors to global warming.

If they can spread this message to their fans, then that’s a few more million people that might just join the fight.

So if you’re a fan of music, support your favorite green musician by joining their sponsored organization or following in their eco-friendly footsteps.