Your guide to sustainability in film and TV production - page 10-11

Below is a list of ways you can make a
difference. Before we look at this guide
though, we will start off with providing you
with a few ways in which companies can
address the challenge of creating an eco-
friendly framework.
Introduce Effective Eco Management
Companies that have a good track record
in this area generally have a green policy
that is endorsed from the top down. Senior
managers should agree on objectives and
responsibilities both in the office and at the
outset of production. Crew is more likely
to respond if there is encouragement to do
so and if they see their managers leading
by example. It also helps if you have an
individual responsible for sustainability
so that people know who to turn to (this
is valuable if you have a lot of freelancers
who are unfamiliar with company work
practices).
Adopt A Sustainability Mindset
Most sustainable companies abide by the
3 Rs – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - and they
should be adhered to in that order. In other
words, use less materials; think about how
to adapt what you already have and make
sure what’s left is recycled. Only resort to
throwing things away with regular rubbish
after you’ve considered the above steps.
And remember, many of these measures will
save money as well.
So, without further ado, what are the key
action points a producer can carry out to
enhance their environmental credentials?
Space: Ask yourself if your office is too big.
Is it feasible to reduce the space you use,
thus limiting your energy consumption?
Lighting: Obviously you should turn off
lights when they are not needed. But is it
also possible to configure the office so that
less lighting is used, perhaps by changing
seating arrangements?
Equipment: Computers, TVs, DVD players
and mobile devices are all energy hungry.
So switch them off instead of leaving them
on standby.
Temperature control: Don’t overheat the
office during winter time. Conversely,
consider opening windows in summer
instead of using air-conditioning. If you do
use air-conditioning make sure windows
are closed so it can work efficiently. Not all
companies have control over the heating
but if you do, consider reducing the
temperature.
Stationery: Production can be a paper
hungry business but it doesn’t need to be.
Print on both sides of paper and use draft
mode so less ink is consumed. Where
possible use laptops and projectors in
meetings and only give paper handouts
to people who really need them (also
encourage sharing). Try to avoid endlessly
printing out new versions of scripts. Make
sure you are using recycled paper and that
all paper is put in a recycling bin when it is
finished with.
Tapes, Discs, Printer Cartridges, Batteries
etc: A lot of companies are shifting to a
digital workflow, which is clearly a step in
the direction of sustainability. But in the
meantime reuse tapes and discs where
possible. Printer cartridges and batteries
need to be disposed of correctly, though it
is best to use rechargeable batteries.
Food and Drink: Encourage staff and crew
to avoid using disposable cups and cutlery.
At a strategic level, investigate whether it is
possible to source food and drink locally.
Limit Staff Car Usage: To quote the old
adage - Is your journey really necessary?
Ask your employees and crew to walk,
cycle or use public transport if possible
when they come to the office or set. If they
have to use cars, try and encourage car-
sharing. Consider whether your approach
to meetings can be adapted to be more
environment-friendly. Can meetings be held
via video-conferencing or conference calls?
Optimise Your Use Of Other Vehicles: When
using vehicles in your production prioritise
low emission modes of transport and
encourage fuel-efficient driving techniques.
Try to plan so that you aren’t returning to
sites for one-off activities that might have
been rolled into a single journey.
Trains are more efficient than cars so
try and book early to get the cheapest
tickets. Avoid flying if possible. Where you
When you’re working flat out to hit production deadlines, thinking about the environmental consequences
of your productions can seem like one demand too many. But the reality is that going green doesn’t have to
make you feel blue. There are lots of simple measures you can take to reduce your carbon footprint and have a
positive impact on the environment.
By Kahtryn Nave
Action A: The office
Knowledge guide
Howtomake your
productionmore
sustainable?
can, transport people in groups and plan
journeys to be more efficient. Coaches or
mini-buses could, for example, be used for
cast and crew.
Increase Efficiency Among Logistical
Support: Courier services is an area where
you would do well to ask your service
provider about their green credentials. Do
they use low-emission cars or, better still,
motorcycles? Try and plan so that you aren’t
having to book extra trips to deliver single
items.
Studio Lighting: The biggest energy users in
studios are the lighting and air-conditioning
required to keep the studio cool. Control
lighting energy consumption and that
should have a knock on effect on air-
conditioning. The key people in controlling
lighting efficiency are the lighting director
and the studio facility itself. They will know if
there is a Low Energy Lighting (LEL) solution
that will work for your production. The BBC
has made advances in this area, using LEL
on productions including The One Show
and Holby City.
General Behaviour: As well as studio
lighting, general green-aware behaviour
such as turning off lights/equipment and
shutting doors will help reduce energy
consumption. Once again, the use of
rechargeable batteries is recommended.
Check with studios that there are recycling
facilities on the studio floor and gallery.
Props: Producers should consider buying
props or costumes rather than hiring them
if they think they can be reused (assuming
there is somewhere to store them). When
buying props, the green-friendly solution is
to buy second-hand if possible.
As for props and sets that need to be
built from scratch, consider the source
of the material used. Look for green
indicators such as FSC or Fair Trade logos
on materials. Similarly with paints, ask
suppliers about low and zero VOC (Volatile
Organic Compound) paints that use water
instead of chemicals.
As a general rule, try to make sets using
existing construction materials rather than
buying new stock. Consider how the set
will be disposed of after use. Also store
paint safely or dispose of it correctly by
contacting a waste management company.
Make-up and hair: Are the products used
by your make-up and hair team organic or
Fair trade? Do they have packaging that can
be recycled? Where possible use washable
towels and bio-degradable cleaning
supplies.
Pros and Cons Of Location Work: The good
news is that location work requires few sets
and less lighting than a studio. The bad
news is that it can involve a lot of travel,
particularly now that producers are forced
to chase financial incentives. As a result,
eco-friendly production companies need to
plan carefully to minimise their impact.
Travel Planning: Location choices may be
driven by budgets, but it’s still possible
to find ways to limit impact. Group travel,
for example, may prove cheaper and
more efficient than allowing everyone to
make their own way separately. Choosing
accommodation near to the location can
also reduce negative environmental impact
once filming is underway.
Impact On Wildlife and Nature: Part of a
producer’s environmental responsibility
is to avoid damaging the location where
they work. As part of the location planning
process, advice should be taken from
relevant authorities before any final
decisions are taken.
Use Of Generators: Most
generators are diesel hungry
and should be used sparingly to
avoid spewing out too many CO2
emissions. Have a clear idea of
what you’re using the generator
for. If it’s to keep food refrigerated
overnight then it’s probably
an inefficient process. Look at
alternatives such as generators
running on vegetable oil or solar
power.
Catering: Food and drink on set has
three main impacts: waste, food
miles and the power required to
cook it. Buy food from local catering
firms if possible to reduce food
miles. Tell caterers that you would
like both the food and the way in
which it is delivered, packaged and
prepared to be as sustainable as
possible. If there must be imported
food, attempt to purchase fair
trade goods. Buy in bulk to reduce
packaging but don’t order more
than you need.
If there is waste, separate it into
types so it can be recycled.
Also give your cast and crew reusable
water bottles with their names on and
ask everyone including leading cast and
technical staff to use them.
Waste disposal: Make sure there are
recycling and composting facilities for food
waste, plastic, glass and paper/ cardboard.
Ensure that whoever collects the waste is a
registered waste management company.
Miscellaneous: If the location area is large,
provide bicycles to transport cast and crew.
If you plan to use fire effects or explosions,
ask the specialists on your team to explore
the most environmentally-friendly options.
Finally, follow best practice from the office,
such as printing all call-sheets and other
documents double-sided, use rechargeable
batteries and turn equipment off when
there’s nobody making use of it.
Measurability: The BBC and BAFTA
have carried out some excellent work on
production sustainability. Check out the
Albert website where there is plenty of
detailed advice and a carbon footprint
calculator which will help you identify which
areas of production contribute most to your
production’s carbon footprints. This way
you can take action where necessary.
Action b: transport
Action c: Sets & props
Action D: On location
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Sustainability in film and TV
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1,2-3,4-5,6-7,8-9 12-13,14-15,16
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