Undercurrent: Music. Art. Action
Circularity and Sustainability. My role at Undercurrent was managing sustainability and partnerships. Here is more information about our values and acheivements with the event. Undercurrent was an art exhibition that collaborated with musical artists such as Grimes, Bon Iver, and Khruangbin to create meaningful installations to spread awareness about climate issues, benefiting our non-profit partners such as Kiss the Ground.
Circularity is a key value at Undercurrent. We believe all resources are valuable and the concept of waste is a harmful illusion. What we take from the environment must be regenerated for a sustainable future.
In an effort to embed circularity into our decision making, production, and event we have taken the following actions.
Food and Bar Waste Management: all of our cocktails are served in reusable cups, all of our organic waste will become compost, our water, non-alcoholic beverages, and beer will be served in aluminum which is infinitely recyclable.
Food and beverage ingredients: a majority of our produce used for food and beverage has been sourced by Imperfect Foods, salvaging fruits and vegetables that due to minor cosmetic imperfections or surplus would have gone to waste. We also are growing our herbs in our lounge farm stands for our cocktails.
Circular economy: all of our aluminum cans will be given to and cashed in at recycling facilities by local canners, some of our most valuable residents, embodying the circular economy. We will also incentivize guests to ensure our reusable cups are used by donating proceeds for each cup that is diverted from the waste stream.
Lumber: any new lumber used is FSC certified, where for any tree taken one is planted.
Reusing Production materials: many of the walls we have constructed were in use already and when we are done they will be palletized and used again.
Paint: any paint used in construction is no-VOC
Merchandise materials: our t-shirts are made from 100% recycled cotton and our tote bags are also made of recycled material.
Plant sourcing and donations: all of the plants we are using for our space are sourced from local nurseries and farms. We predominantly have native plant species in our space, which is important for ecosystem balance. All of the plants at Undercurrent will be donated to local community gardens and housing projects, increasing the green space and pollinator habitat in Brooklyn.
Furniture: all of our furniture is all rented to be continually reused or purchased with the intention of being used for all of Undercurrent event’s.
Signage: all of our wooden sign holders are made from reclaimed wood from barn barrels
Art: our waste walls are made from waste that was collected from local neighborhoods and businesses as well as the single use packaging waste we could not avoid during purchasing. We also commissioned artisans to produce sustainable production elements by utilizing materials such as reclaimed wood and trees downed by severe weather that would otherwise have gone to landfill.
Cleaning supplies: internationally sourced paper products and cleaning supplies that are EPA certified.
Energy Consumption: We calculated our supply chain, production, fabrication, web hosting related emissions and venue energy consumption for our carbon offset. We are offsetting over 150% of our emission projects by investing in carbon capturing efforts through Carbon Fund and the Native American Hardwoods Conservation and Sequestration projects.
This investment improves forest management on more than 175,000acres of mixed native hardwood forest in northern Minnesota. The project involves implementation of Smart Forestry practices that results in longer rotations and increases carbon storage above levels that would be achieved by more aggressive management practices that are typical in the region. The project area provides critical habitat for rare species such as the northern long-eared bat and the golden winged warbler.
We have intentionally selected sponsors and partners with strong sustainability missions, values, and initiatives.
Rosaluna: our mezcal partner
Mezcal Rosaluna is gluten-free, non-GMO, vegan, zero-card, and entirely plant based. They are also a carbon neutral company.
Imperfect Foods: our cafe partner
In 2020 Imperfect Foods has diverted 50,000,000+ pounds of food from going to waste by redistributing excess food, imperfect shaped or colored produce, and even broken pretzels!
Lettuce Grow: farm stands and fresh herbs for our cocktails
Providing families access to clean, unprocessed food, decreasing transportation emissions, drastically reducing water usage, and recycling ocean-bound plastics from places that lack recycling initiatives.
Rockaway: non-alcoholic plant powered soda partner
Derived from adaptogenic herbs, real fruit, and roots. Whether you with daily immunity boost and anti-inflammatory defense qualities.
Part of 1% for the planet where 1% of their proceeds go to the Surfrider foundation that fights for plastic pollution, ocean protection, beach access, coastal preservation and clean water
Two Robbers: our hard seltzer partner
hard seltzers are made with clean and natural ingredients
Juneshine: our hard kombucha partner
No artificial coloring, GMOs, pesticides, or processed corn or rice syrup. This makes JuneShine less toxic for both your body and the environment.
Part of 1% for the planet.
Open Water
Open Water uses an average of 73% post-consumer aluminum in every bottle and can.
Empty aluminum beverage containers are recycled more than twice as often as their plastic, glass, and carton counterparts.
Part of 1% for the planet.
Davines
They have used renewable electric energy from natural sources (such as sun, water, wind, and soil) to supply our plants and offices since 2006.
Supporting sustainable ingredients by nurturing and highlighting those at risk of extinction.
formulas, where they offer a range of benefits for hair.
Biodegradable ingredients
There are over 2.4 billion pairs of shoes sold in the US every year & 97% end up in landfill – over 300 million end up there within a year.
TF turn your old shoes back into new shoes! The rubber and rPET are reintroduced into their supply chain and turned back into new Thousand Fell. Food waste component parts are industrially composted and our biopolyol foam is donated and incorporated into construction projects.
Hudson Hemp: Provided us with soil and plants
Hudson Hemp uses regenerative farming techniques for the betterment of our planet, people, and society. Innovation is learning to work with the intelligence of nature, not against it. When we do this, we wholly benefit.
Reverb: Our Music Climate Revolution Partner
Reverb create and execute comprehensive programs to reduce concert and tour footprints from eliminating single-use water bottles to coordinating local farm food to fueling sustainable biodiesel in tour buses to composting and donating food waste and much more.
Sure We Can: our recycling partner
Enforces the circular economy through their recycling center that benefits the communities most vulnerable residents the canners.
Everywhere: our t-shirt manufacturer
They use GRS-Certified recycled polyester treated to be more attractive to oceanic microbes, helping reduce microplastics accumulation by breaking down at a rate similar to wool
Their GRS-Certified recycled cotton saves water, reduces emissions, and avoids toxic dyes, making it far more sustainable than organic or conventional cotton.
Baggu
Purslane:
Zero waste food caterer
