Entertainment
The electronic music festival’s recent Bengaluru edition was angled towards a lower carbon footprint, waste reduction and reusable cups
The installation at DGTL Bengaluru by 100 Pipers Travel Gear.
When global festival DGTL returned to India for its fifth edition this October in Bengaluru, it stayed true to its core ethos of forward-thinking sounds and immersive stage design, but with a crucial dimension: a comprehensive environmental strategy that set new benchmarks for the country’s live music scene.
For that key element, the festival’s Bengaluru edition found a perfect partner in 100 Pipers Travel Gear, whose Play for a Cause initiative transformed DGTL Bengaluru into one of the country’s most environmentally conscious editions yet.
The collaboration between DGTL India and 100 Pipers was rooted in a shared mission: to curate memorable, eco-conscious experiences. The long-running Modular stage in Bengaluru became the Modular by 100 Pipers Play for a Cause stage this year at DGTL, marking a powerful symbol of both brands’ commitment to environmental responsibility.
At every turn, 100 Pipers implemented practical solutions that were mindful of the festival’s environmental footprint. At the 100 Pipers zero-waste bar, festival-goers experienced how responsible consumption could be seamlessly integrated into the revelry — reusable beverage cups made from rice husk replaced disposable alternatives, while brand experiences were crafted from recycled materials.
Even the energy powering these brand activations came from human movement, harnessing kinetic force to keep the lights on, so attendees were also participating in one of India’s most ambitious sustainable festival initiatives.
Beyond these flagship initiatives, the collaboration touched every aspect of the festival experience. The food program was entirely plant-based, eliminating meat and dairy to lower carbon emissions. Comprehensive waste sorting and recycling systems ensured materials found second lives rather than landfills. Energy demands dropped significantly by tapping into venue power supplies instead of diesel generators. And the impact extended beyond the festival grounds through organized environmental restoration efforts — planting native trees, clearing coastlines of debris, and mobilizing donation campaigns.
At its core, 100 Pipers Play for a Cause is about transformation — creating an engagement platform that enables consumers to be active participants in doing good rather than passive observers. For 100 Pipers, the collaboration fed into its larger “Be Remembered for Good” philosophy. Yet, it felt stripped of marketing language, encouraging people to reimagine what responsible raving can look like.
Globally, DGTL has been one of the pioneers of the sustainable festival movement, with editions in Amsterdam and Barcelona running on renewable energy and circular design principles. The India chapter’s latest iteration shows how these ideas can be localized, proving that eco-conscious festivals can thrive even in complex event ecosystems like ours.
As India’s festival landscape grows, DGTL’s fifth edition offers a rare, practical blueprint, proving that India’s music community is ready to embrace sustainability without sacrificing the electric energy that makes festivals truly iconic. And with partners like 100 Pipers leading the charge, the future of festival culture looks louder and more importantly, greener.
This story is a paid partnership with 100 Pipers Travel Gear.