Popakademie alumna wins Mannheim Sustainability Award
08. May 2025
The city of Mannheim has awarded Kim Laber, a former student on the Music and Creative Industries Master's program at the Popakademie Baden-Württemberg, the Sustainability Award. She received the award for her pioneering master's thesis, in which she drew up a comprehensive greenhouse gas balance for the first headlining tour of the post-hardcore band Sperling.
With her work, Laber has tackled a pressing issue in the event industry: the recording and reduction of CO₂ emissions in live operations - a field that has hardly had any standardized measurement methods to date. Their analysis provides important insights into how tours can be made more environmentally friendly and shows practical ways to reduce climate-damaging emissions.“The work shows that sustainability in the music sector doesn't just have to be an issue for big names,” says Kim Laber. "Smaller bands can also take responsibility - if there are suitable tools, networks and a common understanding. This is exactly what I want to build on with my research."The award underlines the role of the Popakademie Baden-Württemberg as a pioneer in combining the creative industries and social responsibility. Kim Laber's work is an example of how innovation and sustainability can be combined in the cultural sector.