Ultra Music Festival’s ‘Mission: Home’ Sustainability Program Earns Impressive Accolades from Global & Statewide Organizations

Ultra Music Festival’s sustainability initiative, Mission: Home, continues to set a benchmark in environmental responsibility, earning the prestigious SUNsational Award in the Sustainability Program category at the 30th annual Florida Festivals and Events Association (FFEA) Convention & Expo. The event, held at the Renaissance Sea World Resort in Orlando, celebrated innovation across the festival industry. Competing against more than 500 submissions in 20 categories, Mission: Home stood out for its impactful approach to eco-conscious event management, securing its place as a leader in sustainability.

Since its launch in 2019, Mission: Home has implemented comprehensive strategies to reduce Ultra’s environmental footprint. From achieving a 100% acceptance rate for recyclable materials in its inaugural year to growing the program to 50 initiatives by 2024, the program has consistently advanced its goals. This year alone, the initiative achieved a 50% waste diversion rate, rescued 19,400 pounds of food for local outreach centers, and expanded its recycling streams to include soft plastics and cooking oil. These efforts have collectively diverted over 293,000 pounds of waste from landfills—equivalent to the weight of a blue whale.

The festival’s waste management partner, Clean Vibes, played a crucial role in maintaining clean grounds despite challenging weather conditions, ensuring recyclables were properly processed. Partnerships with organizations like Renuable and Lady Green Recycling further strengthened Mission: Home’s impact by introducing innovative programs for composting and soft plastic recycling. The initiative also maintained its collaboration with Replenysh to keep 161,300 pounds of recyclables in the regional domestic supply chain over the past two years, setting a strong example for waste management practices in the festival industry.

Beyond waste diversion, Mission: Home has tackled single-use plastics with remarkable success, eliminating over 2.1 million plastic items since 2019. Initiatives such as expanded water refill stations and Styrofoam bans have driven an 88% reduction in single-use plastics across bar and food services. The program’s commitment to shifting behavior extends to its audience, having reached over 7.4 million people online to inspire eco-conscious practices beyond the festival grounds.

“Each year, we see this message come to life in lights on our stages in front of 55,000 attendees and millions watching online. While its importance is obvious, the fact that it exists at all speaks volumes, as the power of Ultra’s platform sets an example not only for the entire music festival industry, but for our audiences across the globe.” – Vivian Belzaguy Hunter, Sustainability Director, Ultra Music Festival

Climate action remains a cornerstone of Mission: Home’s vision. This year, Ultra partnered with CES Power and ZAP Concepts to assess power usage and reduce reliance on traditional generators. Collaborating with We Are Neutral, the festival also supported Florida-based carbon offset initiatives while continuing to enhance its carbon emissions assessments. These measures reflect Ultra’s long-term strategy to address climate impact and improve its environmental footprint. As Ultra Music Festival approaches its 25th anniversary, Mission: Home is set to return with an even greater focus on sustainability for another phenomenal year. Find tickets to Ultra Music Festival HERE.