How green are our entertainment options and can we go greener?

This article contains promotional content.

The entertainment industry is one of the biggest and most successful in the world, and it is also the industry most in touch with humanity. Whether we’re movie fans, big readers, enjoy music, or like to head out to the theater, casino, or theme park, entertainment options are everywhere and bring a little excitement and leisure to our everyday lives.

However, as one of the biggest industries in the world, estimated to reach a total revenue of $3.5 trillion by 2029, the entertainment industry has a significant impact on the natural world, and not for the better. Everything from reading paperback books to attending a movie theater can have a significant negative effect on the natural world.

Now, this isn’t an article wanting to stop everyone from seeking entertainment and leisure, but rather, to raise awareness of the greener options that are available to us all and the things we can do to reduce the negative impact we ourselves have on the environment. The climate crisis has become difficult to ignore, but when we all do small things for the better, we can make a big change.

Making use of at-home options

There is one effect the entertainment industry has on the planet that is often overlooked, and that is the greenhouse gas emissions that are released into the air when we travel by car to whatever location the entertainment is taking place. Sometimes it simply isn’t possible to walk or take public transport, and cars do make our lives significantly easier, but they come with considerable consequences for the natural world.

Rather than travelling to seek your entertainment, you could look into at-home alternatives. Of course, these might not be as immersive as visiting brick-and-mortar sites, but they can still be highly engaging and act as a great stand-in to reduce the number of times you spend travelling by car. 

Online casinos and sweepstakes

There might be nothing quite like the glitz and glamour of visiting a traditional casino, but online alternatives and sweepstakes come pretty close. These sites make the whole world of casino gaming infinitely more accessible, without compromising on game libraries, bonuses, or rewards.

Sweepstakes casinos tend to be a safer alternative to traditional gambling and are often legal in states that have placed a ban on regular casino gaming. There are clear requirements for sweepstakes casinos that do not involve requiring gamers to make real money wagers, while still providing them with the ability to earn digital coins that can be traded in for prizes with real-world value.

Online streaming

Online streaming platforms for TV and media are huge right now, and for good reason, too. These subscription services eradicate the need to purchase DVDs, visit the movie theater, or wait for certain episodes to be aired on television.

Having access to such a massive amount of content from your home also reduces the need to drive to find entertainment options, which in turn can take a little of the strain off the environment.

Additionally, if you are looking to access more content on streaming platforms such as Netflix, why not download a VPN and use it to bypass geographical restrictions? This will give you access to content only released in other countries, and allows you to do so while remaining in line with the law.

Being mindful when at entertainment events

Sometimes the entertainment we want simply can’t be accessed at home. Alongside trying to walk or take public transport instead of driving, there are several other things you can do when attending a concert, theme park, or any other event that ensure we all maintain a greener space.

Reusable cups and containers

Most places at entertainment venues will be happy to fill your own containers for you, with drinks or snacks, should you have them available. By doing this, you’ll be reducing the amount of single-use plastics used at the event and inspiring others to do the same. It might seem simple, but it really is the little things that make all the difference when trying to be eco-friendly.

Join a clean up team

Many big events, like concerts and festivals, have a dedicated team of paid workers or volunteers dedicated to cleaning up the space after the event has ended. In an ideal world, there would be no trash left behind, as everyone should always dispose of their litter correctly or take it home with them, but this isn’t yet the reality. By joining the clean-up team, however, you can make a real difference and ensure that the event you enjoyed has minimal negative impact on the wider environment.

Support greener events

In the modern age, a lot of entertainment venues and events are going above and beyond to ensure they provide eco-friendly entertainment to the public. This can be everything from providing only reusable water bottles, sourcing locally, and reducing their energy transmission. By supporting and attending these events, you’ll be demonstrating that there is a public demand for greener entertainment, which will, in turn, make them more popular until, hopefully, these kinds of events become mainstream.

Go digital

This is another simple yet highly effective way to be kinder to the environment without sacrificing attendance at entertainment events. When booking tickets for an event, whether it be a ticket for the event itself, the transport you take to get there, or a hotel room you’ve booked for the night, you should always look for and choose digital ticket options.

Not only does this reduce paper usage, which is significantly better for the environment, but it also makes life easier for you by enabling you to have all the needed tickets stored in one place. Most smartphones will let you move these tickets to their in-built digital wallets, like the ‘Apple Wallet’, which can easily be accessed through the lockscreen of your phone.

Additionally, you should try to go digital in all aspects of your life, not just entertainment. Taking digital receipts from retailers or asking for bills to come in a digital format can all have a massive positive effect on the environment if a lot of us start doing it. Plus, going digital is infinitely more convenient.

Little things that have a big impact

There are several things you can do, either while engaging with entertainment services and products at home or out and about, that reduce the strain placed on the environment. These ideas were hand-picked for their simplicity, and yet still have major positive effects on the natural world.

Download content for offline use

We mentioned TV and movie streaming services earlier, but you can access a lot of your entertainment, including music and literature, on digital devices. Most of the platforms that offer these services are well known, but what is less often realised is that you can download this content over WIFI or data to then consume offline later.

Not only is this highly convenient if you're planning to visit somewhere with no internet connection, but it is also kinder to the environment, as the energy required to download the content onto your device is significantly lower than what is needed to stream it over an internet connection.

Turn down your screen brightness

Again, this is something that can be done in a matter of seconds and has no significant drawbacks. Dimming your screen will not only be kinder to your eyes but will also ensure your device is using less power to function.

Unplug charged devices

A lot of us reach for our charges out of habit without even checking if our devices need a power boost, and, even worse, many of us are guilty of leaving devices on charge past when they have reached their maximum charge. 

Just the simple act of unplugging devices once they have reached the desired level of charge is a highly effective way to reduce standby power consumption and conserve energy.

This is a promotional post whose views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of illuminem.