10 Years of ADE Green: A Decade of Transforming the Music Industry

The story of ADE Green began in 2013 as a response to the growing need for a sustainability ecosystem within the music industry. Carlijn Lindemulder, who was building a sustainability department at ID&T at the time, found herself navigating uncharted territory, often alone. Back then, sustainability was far from the industry buzzword it is today. There wasn’t a network of organisations championing environmental causes or practical guides on the matter — just a few trailblazers scattered across the globe. Inspired by festivals like Boom in Portugal and Shambala in the UK, Carlijn envisioned a platform where sustainability and social change could take centre stage. “I encountered incredible projects and wanted to bring those stories to the forefront. I wanted to create a space where we could build on each other’s knowledge and support each other,” Carlijn recalls. “ADE provided the perfect platform to bring a global audience together, find common ground, and build a cross-border network of changemakers. We’re always heartened to hear about all the projects and connections that found their beginnings at ADE Green.”

Over the past decade, ADE Green has grown from a modest first edition with 150 attendees into a vital element of ADE Pro. Lyke reflects on this growth: “We’ve facilitated a space for so many frontrunners and like-minded individuals to come together and share their ideas, their stories. The energy during the conference is always contagious. Attendants keep telling us that it’s this energy that they take back to their own organisations, where they take the next step forward – and that’s what makes them want to come back.

In 2022, the conference saw a remarkable milestone: the number of participating organisations from the Green Deal Circular Festival doubled, expanding its influence to 43 festivals from 14 countries working towards circularity and climate neutrality. The growth of this initiative, which was launched at ADE Green in 2019, is a testament to the conference’s role in uniting international efforts.

“A decade ago, discussing sustainability at electronic music events was a rarity—almost unheard of. But with the inception of ADE Green, everything changed. Today, no electronic music festival is complete without a significant focus on environmental responsibility. ADE Green planted this crucial seed. However, its impact extends far beyond environmental concerns. From the beginning, ADE Green has championed social and artistic issues, emphasizing the importance of human connection within communities.”

– Artur Mendes, Boom Festival

Carlijn and Lyke have seen the project grow from a passion-driven initiative into a collective effort supported by a dedicated team and strong partnerships. “Partnerships and collaborations have been crucial to our success and mission,” says Lyke. “Our partners and ambassadors support ADE Green through financial means, networks, and communication – they help spread new ideas in their networks and beyond. And vice versa: we're always proud to showcase their commitment to driving sustainability and social change in the music industry.” Since 2017, ADE Green has been the result of a synergistic collaboration between ADE, Green Events, and Nachtlab Agency, each contributing their strengths as organising partners.

“Over the years, ADE Green has had a significant impact on the events industry. It serves as a unique and valuable platform to highlight challenges and provide tools through topics, speakers, innovations, and case studies. It also offers genuine recognition for organisers who are pioneers in sustainability. In recent years, I have gained a lot of inspiration, motivation, and energy through this conference, and many of my current networks were formed during it. At ID&T, we have always enjoyed a great collaboration as founder, partner, ambassador, or speaker.”

– Maarten van ‘t Veld, ID&T

As ADE Green enters its second decade, the mission is clear: it’s time for bold action. “After ten years of inspiration, workshops, and talks, the industry must be ready for standardization and a shared understanding of what it means to be future-proof and socially just,” says Carlijn. Lyke adds: “With European legislation looming, there’s no more time to hide in ignorance. The knowledge is there, and the urgency is clear. The time to take responsibility is right now.”

The 2024 edition of ADE Green promises to be yet another impactful edition, with a program of the latest developments in water management, climate justice, global CSRD compliance, nature conservation, Dutch sustainability standards, inclusive line-ups, and much more. Not specifically mentioned on the program flyer, yet inherent to ADE Green: the attendees, who are being invited to not only listen in on the conversation, but to also start scheming their next (bold) action.

ADE Green is bringing together event professionals, leaders and visionaries, artists, festival organizers, and attendees to explore and address some of the most pressing issues of our time. The conference takes place at Felix Meritis on Friday October 18th, featuring interactive programs, workshops and panel discussions.