In previous posts, I talked about how your band can make more sustainable choices for live shows and merchandise. Those two areas definitely have the biggest visible impact on your fans—but there’s so much more going on behind the scenes for a sustainable indie band.

Just like a live set is only 45 minutes of the story, the rest—writing songs, rehearsing, commuting, setting up gear—happens off-stage. And that’s exactly where your work as a sustainable indie band can continue, even when no one’s watching.

Your Sustainable Bands Practice Space

This is where bands spend most of their time, so it makes sense to look at how your rehearsal space can reduce its environmental impact.

Use sustainable electricity and heating

Switch to a renewable energy provider for electricity and heating (check out Greenpeace’s guide here). If you’re in a shared rehearsal complex and can’t choose your provider, just ask your landlord—some may already use green energy (I did this recently, and it turned out ours did too!).

Upgrade to energy-efficient lighting and gear

Switch to LED bulbs—they last longer and use less energy. You can also rethink your gear setup. Do you really need an ACDC Marshall wall just for practice?

Share your space

Especially in cities there are more bands than rehearsal spaces. We need more spaces for culture – don’t get me wrong here – but pushing for new buildings has a big impact on the environment in terms of land use as well as energy and resource consumption. Sharing your practice space with other bands or musicians can be one solution. It’s better for the planet and your wallet.

Share your gear

Same goes for amps, stands, even pedals. Sharing your stuff with others cuts down on gear production and overconsumption.

Turn it all off when you leave

When you’re done with your session and say goodbye to your room and your band mates make sure everything is turned off. Ideally you could use those sockets with a power switch.

Eco-Friendly Equipment Choices

Gear and equipment are essential for any band, but there are options on how to reduce their environmental impact beyond sharing. Many resources used in products are non renewable (e.g. oil-based plastic) or have to be cultivated with unsustainable practices (e.g. rare metals in electronic devices). Also production has a high energy demand, often coming from non-renewable resources. 

Rethink your consumption habits

We all love new toys (believe me, I know the GAS struggle). BUT we really have to think twice about our consumption behaviour. As much as I’d like to believe it, a new guitar doesn’t make you a better player!

Buy used equipment

Most music gear lasts forever and works just fine second-hand. This can reduce waste, keep our gear out of landfills and give them a new life. Refurbished electronic devices can have up to 83% less CO2 Emissions than new products and 91 % less water use for production. 

Where to shop for used gear:

• Kleinanzeigen / Craigslist / Ebay
• Reverb
• Facebook Groups
• Second hand market places from your local music store
• Flea Markets or Garage Sales

Repair before replacing

When somethings broken, repair it! Many manufacturers offer great customer support and YouTube is full of helpful tutorials. Local repair cafés are also great resources.

Look for sustainable gear 

This is the last step you should take. If you truly need something new, look into ethical and sustainable brands. Some manufacturers prioritize eco-friendly materials and ethical production processes or simply care about their products and the environment. 

• Genelec: Sustainable studio monitors
• Ollo Audio: Studio headphones designed for easy repair
• D’Addario: Guitar string recycling (US-only for now)

The Other Stuff

These steps are more behind-the-scenes, but they matter too.

Switch to ethical banking

Many banks still invest in fossil fuels and defense contractors. Switch to a sustainable bank like Tomorrow Bank for your band’s (and personal) finances.

Sustainable websites & cloud storage 

Every byte online is powered by a server somewhere. Use green web hosts like raidboxes or Greensta, and share your files via eco-friendlier options like WeTransfer, Jottacloud, or even Google Drive.

Communication: Share What You Stand For

Even the behind-the-scenes stuff is worth sharing. It builds trust with fans and helps set an example.

• Add an environmental statement to your bio or EPK
• Post about your sustainable gear or eco-merch
• Join climate campaigns and protests
• Ask your collaborators about their own sustainability policies (like… your recording studio)

Final Thoughts

Being a sustainable indie band doesn’t just mean selling fair trade T-shirts or greening a tour. It’s about making thoughtful, informed choices every step of the way—especially when no one’s looking.

Every action matters. Whether it’s in the studio, at your rehearsal space, on the road, or at your merch table, every decision can help shape a more ethical and climate-friendly music scene.

If you want to dive deeper into how to make your live shows more sustainable too, I’ve put together another guide you might find helpful:

• How to Make Your Concerts More Sustainable

And if you’re looking for a music producer who cares about your sound and the planet, I’d be happy to help you with your next recording, mixing, or mastering project — all done with sustainability in mind.

Learn more about working with me here: https://michaelbuschka.com

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