Production Sustainability
Our planet is heating up: the climate emergency continues to advance at a relentless pace, surpassing all predictions.
An average day filming equates to more than one person’s annual carbon footprint and a film production with a budget of ~US$70m generates the equivalent of the amount of CO2 absorbed by 3,700 acres of forest in a year.
Energy consumption could power Times Square for 5 days
Fuel consumption could fill the average car tank 11,478 times
Air miles equates to 11 one way trips from the Earth to the moon
- Waste generation equates to the weight of 313.5 blue whales
Plywood use amounts to the volume of 2.5 cargo planes
Plastic bottle usage equates to yearly average use of 168 people
In productions the two biggest emitters of CO2 are transport and electricity / gas. Material waste contributes too and is produced in every area of production, from studio buildings to props.
There is a common agreement across the industry that film and tv production can be wasteful and resource-intensive, and more measures are needed to reduce carbon emissions to reach targets.
Luckily, there are ever more options available to us as an industry to help reduce our emissions. So, what can you do to help? We have listed some of these below to help you navigate this ever-changing landscape.
So that’s just the CO2 associated with travel. Use our free CO2 Calculator to model the impacts of all aspects of your production in real time – you can look at carbon-reducing strategies before you commit to a course of action. It will automatically compare – for example – carbon saved by taking a train rather than a flight, or having ‘meat free’ days on your production.
Production CO2e Calculator Free to useCalculate impacts before you commitUses DEFRA / SECR figuresGives help, tips and guidance throughout
General Approaches to Sustainability
Sustainability in Film and TV production encompasses a wide range of practices: minimising waste, reducing energy consumption, and promoting sustainable travel and transportation are the main contributors but this extends to set design, material sourcing, and catering.
Allocate a budget to green goals and plans. Heads of production could create budgets and schedule sufficient time in the programme to enable all departments to plan for net zero carbon and zero waste from the beginning, till the end of striking the set.
In your call sheet, include a ‘green memo’, and update people on what that means in real terms. Use our carbon calculator to work out emissions saved and communicate these savings at regular intervals:
We are going to save this many carbon emissions, which is the equivalent of…..
Or,
We have moved the filming site to a slightly different part of the field today to preserve the…
All new crew members should be given a ‘green induction’, and reminded what information they need to feedback to production so production can monitor whether they are on target to meet their green goals.
Try small scale campaigns to get initial buy-in. Ideas include:
- Start a most sustainable department competition. The winner gets a reward.
- An energy reduction ‘switch off’ campaign in the office.
- Meat free days in catering.
A Green Steward is an entry level colleague that is responsible for sourcing sustainability solutions and checking their implementation to help keep the production in line with its green goals throughout the production life cycle.
In the UK, social enterprise Green Screen (green.screen.org.uk) may train a Green Steward free of charge. Training is delivered online or in person and covers what needs to be done in general to make a set and shoot greener. It’s possible that someone more senior needs to reiterate those green goals from time to time, so everyone takes it on board.
Procurement
It’s possible to source sustainable suppliers on everything from lighting to locations by using green directories.
To be completely sustainable, selected suppliers should conform with national regulations and have policies in place for human rights, working conditions, health, safety and the environment.
Within the television and film industry, transport is the highest emitter of CO2 by far. This is particularly important for those productions with high distances travelled. To reduce levels, you may consider:
- Hiring local crew where you can.
- Encourage car shares where possible.
- Enforcing a strict no idling policy in or near the studio space.
- Using public transport or bikes.
- Take a look at our suppliers list for EV hire companies.
There are companies that will offset your carbon emissions. For example, they will plant trees on your behalf. Use our Carbon Calculator to predict likely offsets required.
To reduce on-screen travel there are companies that provide high quality 360° driving background production services and stock driving footage from around the globe.
Power
According to industry figures, in 2023 energy consumption on location, in production offices and in studio facilities followed travel as the second-highest emission producers in production.
Currently, biodiesel, hydrogen generators, electric battery operated or e-generators and solar generators are the main competitors to diesel generators. Apart from biodiesel they are all very quiet, no fumes, portable and more environmentally friendly than diesel generators. Each of them have hybrid solutions in place too and software that can monitor energy consumption.
They are the same as diesel generators but they use hydrotreated vegetable oil which is cleaner because it is based on vegetable oil, not petrochemicals. However the same toxic fumes as diesel are emitted, it also still as noisy and vibrates, just like diesel generators.
Strictly speaking, hydrogen is an energy carrier, not an energy source. This is because like a battery, hydrogen stores energy produced elsewhere and can release it later through combustion or in a fuel cell, but it is not found in nature in its pure form in significant quantities.
So, to use hydrogen for energy, it must be produced using energy, for example, via electrolysis of water (using electricity) or steam methane reforming (using natural gas). This means hydrogen carries the carbon footprint of the source used to produce it.
Hydrogen generators do have issues like leaking and they are not cheap. There are other safety concerns too because hydogen is explosive and water is a by product as well.
These are increasingly popular because they can be mobile and come in a variety of sizes. A small 5kwH unit can take 2 hours to charge, but produce up to 10 hours of continuous power at 500 watts or 5,000 watts for one energetic hour. There are a range of companies out there that offer second hand batteries too.
Solar technology is developing rapidly and this is the most environmentally friendly option. You can still buy systems with solar panels on the top, but you can now buy solar generators that are very portable and have a battery storage unit.
Battery packs are plugged into solar panels to charge, and then the packs store the energy produced by those panels and make it available for use as and when needed.
The units consist of an inverter responsible for converting the DC power captured by solar panels into usable AC form of power. There is a loss in efficiency and power when you convert. The battery ends up being around 10-30% less efficient and around a 20% power loss.
Safety considerations for electric and solar include:
- Batteries are lithium ion, or lithium-ion phosphate with inherent fire risk. Sodium is being used as an alternative because it is more readily available, but sodium doesn’t have the energy density of lithium, so you need a larger battery to get the same output. Sodium is also more expensive than lithium.
- Make sure the batteries are not left unattended when charging them.
- Do not leave batteries to charge overnight.
- Make sure batteries are being charged close to a fire detection system.
- Make sure you are equipped with fire extinguishing equipment for lithium batteries.
- Inspect batteries regularly and if they’re broken label them as such.
- As with any power, if you don’t need it, switch it off!
Lighting
20% of the worlds energy use is believed to be consumed by lighting. It can also be a significant part of a production’s carbon budget.
According to the International Energy Agency many countries have phased out using fluorescent lighting and new more energy efficient possibilities have arrived.
- LED lights, unlike fluorescent, convert 95% of their energy into light and only 5% is wasted as heat. Many can be plugged into a renewable generator or a plug socket.
- LED also have a longer life span (~50x) and are low maintenance. Transitioning to LED lighting could reduce global lighting electricity consumption by more than 50% by 2030. Furthermore, LED can use local power instead of a generator because they do not require as much power to function.
Many lighting companies are having to diversify and are now providing lighting that can be taken apart, repaired, and recycled. Fluorescent lighting is now being remanufactured (disassembling, repairing and then reassembling) as LED lighting.
Remanufacturing is growing in popularity; it is the process of returning a used product to the original performance specifications or better from a customer perspective, and giving the resultant product a warranty at least equal to that of a newly manufactured equivalent. Companies are embracing the change and provide skips for different lighting parts, pick the skips up on request and then recycle the parts or send them to be remanufactured.
Many lighting companies are having to diversify and are now providing lighting that can be taken apart, repaired, and recycled. Fluorescent lighting is now being remanufactured (disassembling, repairing and then reassembling) as LED lighting.
Remanufacturing is growing in popularity; it is the process of returning a used product to the original performance specifications or better from a customer perspective, and giving the resultant product a warranty at least equal to that of a newly manufactured equivalent. Companies are embracing the change and provide skips for different lighting parts, pick the skips up on request and then recycle the parts or send them to be remanufactured.
CFLs are another source of sustainable lighting. They replace inefficient incandescent lights, and can save up to 8% on energy while lasting up to ten times as long. Large-source CFL bulbs are good for ambient lighting because they provide an even spread of light over board regions.
CFL luminaires come in various shapes and sizes because they are designed to fulfil the lamp’s requirements and are appropriate for a wide range of lighting applications. But, if they break the film crew will be exposed to mercury; as a result they also need to be properly disposed of.
Safety considerations include:
- Make sure the stands are stable and weighted
- Matt, tape or fly any cables
Remove, Reduce, Recycle
There are now many more ways to avoid, reuse, recycle and upcycle elements in the production process than ever before. Some very inventive suppliers are coming up with novels ways to make this easy for you.
- Design sets for deconstruction
- Make it easy to rebuild
- Lock up and upcycle
- Rent or borrow sets
- Online Sharing
Create a Cloud-Based IT Environment
Cloud-based systems have been in use since the early 2010s but their sustainability credentials have been let down by the amount of energy they consume. However, the efficiency of computer hardware has grown at a fast rate, especially when it comes to server equipment. A cloud-based system will enable you to spread workflow across multiple locations.
Email Call Sheets
If anyone has any questions or wants to discuss anything about the production you could set up an online call.
Try an App
Invest in production management and script software to create and share documents.
- Script software can allow crew to annotate or add notes/drawings to their script, break down scripts, transfer notes to updated versions, and create sides.
- Production management software can help with linked scheduling, budgeting and sustainability monitoring.
Try Not to Waste Food
1.3 billion tons of food is wasted in the world every year. 28% of the worlds land is wasted when this happens.
In the UK we waste enough food for 11 billion meals each year, which is enough to give the whole of the country 3 meals a day, for 11 weeks. When food is wasted it goes into landfill, then does not have access to oxygen, so methane is released as it breaks down. Methane is at least 20 times better at capturing greenhouse gases than CO2. It accounts for 30% of global warming at present.
Its not just food that is wasted but the production, transport, chemicals, preparation, and storing of the food is too.
Introduce Recycle / Compost Bins
There is a wide range of bins, bags and containers on offer for recycling small items and food, so you can put the food back on the land. Check whether your licensed waste disposal company offers food composting.
Donate
Donate any left over food to a local homeless charity or a food bank where safe and legal to do so. There are companies that can help you source these companies.
Source Locally
Source food locally and get in season food. Use a caterer that is local to your shoot if you can, and check whether they will use local suppliers.
No Single Use Plastics
Ban plastic water bottles. Ask crew to bring their own water bottle / Thermos, and encourage all staff to bring their own containers. You could include it as a ‘green note’ on the call sheet.
External Resources
Production Sustainability | International Advice
Specialist: Amy Holtby
247
Article last updated on Jun 3rd, 2025
Related Topics
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Fire is a significant risk in TV and film production: hot lighting fixtures, electrical equipment, pyros, practical flames, flammable set materials, and some SFX can all pose fire hazards.
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