Reusable cups, greener mobility, the Ecodynamic Label… sustainability has quietly become part of the rhythm of the venue. Behind every spectacular show, there’s also careful, everyday work to make Forest National a frontrunner in sustainable live entertainment.
We met Léopold to talk about his daily routine, his projects, and why sustainability is just as essential to a concert hall as great acoustics or an enthusiastic crowd.
Sustainability in action
“‘Sustainable development’ can sound broad,” Léopold admits. “In practice, it touches on many areas — mobility around the venue, waste management, the logistics of reusable cups, and also energy and water consumption. On top of that, we’re constantly running small awareness projects to engage both our visitors and our staff. It’s about creating a culture of responsibility, step by step.”
Since joining the team, Léopold has been consolidating all sustainability initiatives under one roof. “Everything is now centralized, which helps us develop our actions more efficiently,” he explains.
The big focus at the moment is earning the Ecodynamic Label from Brussels Environment, an important recognition of the venue’s ongoing environmental progress. Other projects include partnerships with STIB, SNCB, and Parking Brussels to make mobility easier and cleaner, and new logistics for managing reusable cups.
Renovation work is also in the pipeline — solar panels, rainwater recovery tanks, and other energy-saving measures. “There’s a lot happening,” he smiles.
Looking ahead
“The modernization of the venue is my biggest goal,” says Léopold. “The idea is to keep Forest National’s soul, but make it more efficient — energy-wise, logistically, and in the way we welcome people.”
“It’s such a historic venue, but there’s enormous potential here. Every few weeks, a new project begins. In three years’ time, the venue will already have evolved — and I love knowing that I’ll have contributed to that journey.”
A message to visitors
“Sort your waste — and take public transport!” Léopold says without hesitation. “Our goal is for more than half of our visitors to come by something other than car, or to combine modes of transport.
And if you do drive, use a park-and-ride and take public transport or a bike for the last stretch. It’s simpler for everyone, and better for the neighborhood.”
Encouraging that shift in behavior, he says, is part of a bigger vision: “For people to leave their cars at home, we need to offer convenient, reliable alternatives. If coming to a concert can inspire them to travel more sustainably in their daily lives, then we’re making real progress.”
