After announcing a collaboration with Finnish oil company Neste last week in an effort to reduce touring emissions during their Music of the Spheres World Tour, Coldplay has come under fire. Following the announcement, Carlos Calvo Ambel, senior director of the Transport & Environment advocacy organization, referred to the British band as useful fools. He used this term for greenwashing referring to Neste’s history of deforestation.
According to Ambel, the British Band is being used by Neste to whitewash its image. This is a corporation that has been tied to deforestation, which can ruin the image of Chris Martin in front of his supporters. “It’s not too late, they should drop their partnership with Neste now and focus on truly clean solutions instead,” said Carlos Calvo Ambel.
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Coldplay Responds To The Criticism
Coldplay’s effort to reduce emissions is praised by Ambel. He believes it is without a doubt well-intentioned. However, Ambel believes that partnering with a deforestation-related firm makes them fools for greenwashing. In response, the band published a statement saying they’re trying their best.
The band members further share that when they announced the tour, they said that they would try their best to make it as sustainable and low carbon impact as possible. But it now seems like it is a work in progress. And yes it is the brutal truth. The band members further shared that they don’t claim to have got it all right yet. But they will make things right soon.
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The Band Did Their Brand-Check First Before Collaborating With Neste
Members of the band had acquired a commitment from Neste that they would not use any virgin resources in the creation of these biofuel goods before they hired them and most importantly not using palm oil. Their view is that they solely employ renewable waste materials. Products such as cooking oil and waste from the pulping of wood are only under usage.
The band announced plans to reduce its traveling footprint in an interview with BBC in October. Meanwhile, a Neste spokeswoman stated that the company will not tolerate any sustainability infractions in its own activities. Conventional palm oil is not in usage as a raw ingredient for Neste’s partnership with Coldplay. Neste also intends to eliminate conventional palm oil’s contribution to its worldwide renewable raw material imports to zero percent by the end of 2023.
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