Sustainability | November 26, 2025
Setting the Tone: Martin’s First-Ever Sustainability Summit Sparks Change
A look back at how artists, industry leaders, and changemakers came together to chart a greener future for music and manufacturing.
Earlier this fall, Martin Guitar hosted a landmark event that set a new tone for the future of music and manufacturing. On October 9, 2025, more than one hundred artists, industry leaders, educators, and sustainability advocates gathered at our solar-powered Commerce Lane facility in Tatamy, Pennsylvania, for the first-ever Martin Sustainability Summit.
The theme, “Setting the Tone: Sustainability in Music & Manufacturing,” guided a full day of keynotes, panels, live performances, and hands-on experiences focused on one shared mission: building a greener music industry—together.
Collaboration in Action
From the moment guests arrived, the sense of purpose was palpable. Martin President and CEO Thomas Ripsam opened the day by reminding everyone that sustainability has long been part of who we are. “As Chris Martin often says, our company has one foot planted in the past and one foot planted in the future,” he shared. “That holds true for sustainability.”
He spoke about how Martin phased out ivory in its instruments more than a century ago and became the first guitar manufacturer with a formal environmental policy in the 1990s. Today, that same commitment continues with FSC®-certified tonewoods, plastic-free gig bags made from recycled materials, and solar power fueling our facilities—including the one that hosted this very event.
Voices of Inspiration
The summit brought together leaders from across the music and sustainability spectrum—organizations like REVERB, the Forest Stewardship Council, Sustain Music & Nature, Hearne Hardwoods, Columbia University’s Climate School, and more. Together, they explored topics like responsible tonewood sourcing, carbon-neutral touring, circular economies, and the use of reclaimed materials.
For REVERB co-founder and Guster frontman Adam Gardner, the day was about celebrating progress while recognizing that the work is ongoing. “Sustainability is a process, not a destination,” he said. “Our approach has always been to meet people where they’re at—whether they’re a fan, manufacturer, artist, or venue—and help them move down the path toward sustainability.”
That idea resonated throughout the event. Dylan Siegler, SVP and Head of Sustainability for Universal Music Group, reflected that being at Martin “opened [her] eyes to how musical instruments themselves are a mechanism for change.” She added, “We all form the supply chain of the artist—record labels, manufacturers like Martin, and everyone in between—creating the possibilities that help artists be more sustainable in all of their practices.”
Music at the Heart of the Movement
The day’s performances and demonstrations underscored the summit’s theme in action. Gardner was joined on stage by Young the Giant guitarist Jacob Tilley and Musicians for Sustainability and Reusable Solutions founder Ben Kogan for a live set and discussions that illustrated how artists can use their platforms to drive environmental awareness.
Each musician performed on an FSC®-certified Martin guitar—Gardner on a GPE Inception™ Maple, Tilley on a GPCE Inception™ Maple, and Kogan on the all-new 00DB Jeff Tweedy. After years on the road, Tilley said he’s seen firsthand how small choices can make a big difference. “As a band, we felt it was our duty to look under the microscope at what we can do better—to keep live music available for the next generation,” he said.
Musician, comedian, and actress Kate Micucci brought her signature creativity to the conversation, leading a reclaimed-art and sustainable ukulele demonstration that transformed discarded materials into new forms of expression. She also performed an original song she wrote specifically for the event, playing it on a fully sustainable Martin T1 Tenor Uke. “I started painting on discarded guitar tops that would’ve been thrown away otherwise,” she said, adding that the project reminded her “sustainability is about what we can do daily—and about making something bigger and more impactful together.”
Even those who couldn’t attend in person shared words of encouragement. In a video message, Wilco frontman and Martin signature artist Jeff Tweedy—whose two new FSC®-certified signature models officially launched the same day—offered a simple but powerful takeaway: “Keep making sustainable guitars. It’s great for everybody, and it’s great for business—because what’s better than sustainable?”
Growing What We Started
As the day wrapped up, one theme echoed through every conversation: this summit was just the beginning. Attendees left inspired by what collaboration can achieve when creativity and environmental responsibility work hand in hand. Siegler summed it up beautifully, noting that “any network trying to achieve real change needs a strong root system—just like the trees that inspire us.”
Martin’s Sustainability Summit wasn’t just a conference; it was a call to action. The relationships and ideas formed this October will continue to shape the way we think, build, and play for years to come.
We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who made the inaugural event such a success—from the guest speakers and performing artists to the behind-the-scenes teams who brought the day to life. A special thank-you goes to Events and Partnerships Manager Greg Noll and Senior Brand Marketing Manager Kristi Bronico for their leadership and dedication in making it all happen.
Learn more about Martin’s ongoing sustainability efforts at martinguitar.com/sustainability.html.
Until next time, happy playing!
