Sustainability is a hot item nowadays: after all, collectively we all want to make a difference. Sometimes it is just a matter of slogan-mongering, but sometimes it involves genuinely good initiatives. In the period 2009-2012 Noorderzon wishes to make a real difference. We are doing that by taking steps to make the festival cleaner, fairer and more sustainable. And we shall expand these measures further – hopefully in conjunction with you as a visitor and with our partners – in the coming years. We are very proud that we can already show our commitment, as with the ‘De Speelweide’ area of the Plantsoen which has been laid out in sustainable fashion. For example, children can generate band width by playing guitar, scrap wood is used to make butterflies, there are large windmills and solar panels, and we are experimenting with LED lighting. But we are also doing much more.

Where our (green) standard energy is insufficient, we apply cleaner generators. Our crew clothing and the merchandise consists of Earth Positive material. We serve only Fair Trade coffee and en biological tea. We are reducing our water usage. And we make use of recycled paper or paper with the FSC hallmark. In short, it is all too much to explain in detail and that is why, with our special We Care logo, we indicate where we make use of sustainable applications.

From February to April this year, 85 students of Facility Management at the Hanzehogeschool Groningen (University of Higher Professional Education) were engaged in considering potentially (more) sustainable applications for Noorderzon. In July, the Electrotechnology students presented their findings. We shall continue to work on the basis of these studies, recommendations and ideas in the period 2009-2012.

Of course, we still need your help. On the festival ground itself, we shall make a subtle appeal to you, which will be recognizable by our logo.

Noorderzon cares... together with others!