As sustainability wants become needs, a truly holistic approach has formed for more powerful and ethical results. Francoise Cardoso explains how L-Acoustics is staying ahead of the curve.
In many corners of the market and daily life, perceptions have shifted, changing the focus on sustainability from a ‘want’ to a ‘need.’ Clients increasingly demand products that fit their own corporate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) requirements. For some music venues, an energy-efficient, ethically made product can be the difference between a major sale and a hard pass. For L-Acoustics, this isn’t a challenge that needs to be addressed, but an opportunity that is fully embraced.
Francoise Cardoso, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility at L-Acoustics, explains: “Sustainability has fundamentally transformed from a nice-to-have into a business imperative for our industry. We're seeing this most clearly in how our clients now integrate their partners’ sustainability practices and scores into their own ESG reporting. Government regulations in many regions now require this integration, which is driving the surge in sustainability questions within RFPs and tenders. Therefore, we’re working with the Music Sustainability Alliance to help establish meaningful sustainability standards specifically for touring operations, because we believe in being part of the solution rather than waiting for others to create it.
“But what's particularly interesting is that buyers are evaluating us holistically. Beyond environmental impact, they're asking: ‘Are our operations ethical? Do we provide equal opportunities? How do we treat our team members?’ These governance and social factors have become just as important as environmental metrics in partner selection decisions.
“By being an active participant in the development of these standards, L-Acoustics is providing guidance and thorough explanations to help industry professionals separate buzzwords from steps that deliver results.” Cardoso continues: “We're building a practical guide for music industry professionals: managers, business managers, tour teams, and artists. This guide provides a framework to understand, measure, and report on environmental impacts, covering key concepts, standards, measurement methods, and strategies for implementing sustainability initiatives within tours and events. At L-Acoustics, we've made sustainability a strategic business driver, not just a compliance exercise. Our approach is fundamentally data-driven. We've completed a comprehensive carbon footprint assessment, including Scope 3 emissions, which measures the impact of our products throughout their entire lifecycle, from purchase by end-users to their eventual end of life. This allows us to move beyond general sustainability commitments and create targeted, measurable interventions.”
For L-Acoustics, repairing and extending a product’s lifecycle is an absolute imperative for not just good product design, but for truly ethical and holistic business practice. “We're pioneering practical sustainability solutions, most notably through our leadership in repairability," says Cardoso. "L-Acoustics is a founding member of an alliance of professional audiovisual companies. Together, we're working to adopt and extend a 'repairability index' throughout Europe, which was initially designed in France for consumer electronics manufacturers. By creating comprehensive repair documentation, strategic component standardization, and product designs optimized for field maintenance using commonly available tools, we’ve achieved an average index score of six out of ten across our installation loudspeaker range. We demonstrate our commitment to extended product lifecycles in two ways: through legacy systems like our V-DOSC line arrays, which were launched in 1994 and still perform on major tours, and through our substantial support infrastructure. We distributed over 24,000 repair kits in 2023 alone and provide comprehensive educational outreach to our global network of certified partners, empowering them with the technical knowledge and preventative maintenance expertise needed to maximize system longevity. This approach benefits both customers and the environment while building long-term relationships based on lifecycle value rather than transaction volume.”
L-Acoustics takes this one step further by offering systems that are built for decades of use, boasting a Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) program not just to extend product lifecycles, but to demonstrate L-Acoustics’ commitment to the circular economy. “L-Acoustics professional sound systems are built to last for decades. It's not uncommon to see products we introduced in the 90s still being used on major tours and festivals.
“In partnership with GearSupply, our CPO program ensures professional-grade refurbishment and extended warranties, giving L-Acoustics systems multiple lifespans in the market. While initially focused on K1 systems, the program establishes quality standards for secondary market transactions. It does this through rigorous testing, refurbishment processes, and by offering extended warranties, mandatory training, and specific packaging standards to preserve the iconic K1's reputation for excellence.
“We expect this partnership to extend the life of our products by five to ten years. It achieves this through two key mechanisms: creating a robust secondary market for used equipment and offering comprehensive refurbishment services with warranties for pre-owned systems. This program transforms equipment that still meets demanding touring requirements into valuable assets for smaller rental companies or venues, helping them acquire their first L-Acoustics systems. For clients, this means access to premium L-Acoustics quality at different price points while contributing to sustainability goals. It’s a win-win: established companies can responsibly transition their inventory while newer companies can access professional-grade systems with the confidence of our quality standards and warranties.”
Sustainability is not standing still in our industry, and L-Acoustics is taking massive strides to stay at the forefront of changing requirements, and greater rates of reuse and recycling through a sustainability roadmap built on continuous innovation and industry leadership. “As one of the very few manufacturers in our industry to have completed comprehensive Scope 3 emissions reporting, we’re providing valuable data to Project M.A.T.R.I.C.E., a French government-supported initiative aimed at fostering green alternatives in the music and entertainment industry.
“Our detailed life cycle assessment of our products is informing our approach, helping us understand the complete environmental impact of our professional audio equipment. The M.A.T.R.I.C.E. initiative will use this data to assess the environmental impact of different touring models, establish eco-design guidelines, and test their feasibility through real-world experimentation.
“We’re also expanding our sustainable product initiatives. Our L Series, for example, demonstrates our design philosophy in action, it uses 30% less wood and 60% less steel. It takes up 30% less space than comparable systems, proving that we can maintain superior sound quality while reducing material usage. Additionally, our latest amplified controllers, like the LA1.16i, feature advanced power management technologies that automatically enter standby mode when no audio signal is present, cutting power usage by over 80% during idle periods.”
For L-Acoustics, the future is bright and will see a strengthened focus on extending the lifecycles of systems, working with international partners to drive engagement and education on sustainability initiatives on a global scale. Cardoso closes: “Looking ahead, we're committed to increasing our use of recycled materials and developing customer-installable upgrades that extend product lifecycles. We are also deepening our educational partnerships, including with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), to demonstrate our commitment to workforce development and community engagement in sustainability.
“Most importantly, we are treating sustainability as a driver for innovation and transformation, not a compliance burden. This approach helps us grow, innovate more effectively, and improve our business practices. The companies that embrace this mindset will lead the market, and we intend to be at the forefront of that change.”