A prominent figure in the British entertainment industry, Jake Seal is recognised as an accomplished film producer, technologist and entrepreneur. Having been involved in technology his whole life, he aims to ensure his productions are as sustainable as possible – increasing use of a range of low-tech and high-tech sustainability initiatives (e.g. local sourcing of all catering, coffee, wines; deployment of solar, electric vehicles and advanced recycling; utilisation of paperless onboarding, contracting, archiving etc.), both at the studio as permanent fixtures and on individual productions.
This article will provide an overview of actions filmmakers can take to create a sustainable future for the entertainment industry – from reuse (sets, props, costumes, cups, bottles) to recycle (environmentally sustainable set construction, prop construction and even costumes) and of course to reduce (less fossil fuels, less paper, no single use, etc.).
Staged in Glasgow, Scotland, the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) was a pivotal summit that brought together 200 different nations to discuss the Paris Climate Agreement, with a focus on creating new and more ambitious sustainability goals. In order to meet the original Paris Climate Agreement, world leaders agreed that carbon emissions would need to be reduced by at least 45% by 2030 to stay within the +1.5 degree Celsius temperature rise goal. The conference culminated in the creation of the Glasgow Climate Pact, an international treaty setting out changes that must occur to avoid a climate disaster. To date, many countries have created their own sustainability goals, enshrining them in law with the overall mission of ensuring a smooth transition from fossil fuels to sustainable energy sources.
Film and television production generates a significant amount of carbon emissions. As the entertainment industry strives to live up to the expectations of increasingly discerning consumers, smart technology and real-time insights are poised to play an active role in driving down carbon emission and reducing the carbon footprint of the industry overall.
Blockbuster movies with multimillion dollar budgets create an average of 2,840 tonnes of CO2 each. Filmed across multiple countries, transport-related emissions account for circa 51% of CO2 emissions created by big budget films. On average, blockbuster moves create a total emission footprint that would require 3,700 acres of forestland to absorb in one year.
From throwaway plastic to paper scripts, production sets generate vast amounts of waste. Costumes and props are often discarded after use. In addition, power generators and vast convoys of vehicles all inflate the production’s carbon footprint. Post-production emissions must also be factored in, with streaming apps compressing and storing high-definition movie files in data centres running 24/7. From the moment the consumer turns on their viewing device, triggering the transferral of files along optical fibres, carbon emissions are released into the atmosphere. According to one study, watching an hour-long series at 4K resolution via a fixed network generates 30 gCO2e per hour. Data centres themselves account for more than 2% of total global carbon emissions, all before the metaverse has even taken off.
Accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual production technologies and techniques are reducing the need for international travel for film and television productions, in some instances eliminating it completely. Powered by virtual reality and augmented reality technology, virtual production studio and sound stages incorporating green screens and LED walls can replace a variety of different physical props to help reduce material waste.
With large film studios having a disproportionately larger impact on the environment, they are coming under increasing pressure to adopt more sustainable practices. Large studios are increasingly investing in sustainability coordinators and eco-managers to help them implement more sustainable practices. While big budget movies can have a huge ecological impact, independent movies tend to be more sustainable largely due to their modest production size, with the lack of budget and resources forcing studios to minimise waste and maximise the impact of every dollar spent.
One of the most prominent organisations addressing sustainability in movie-making in the United States is the Green Production Guide, an organisation established by the Sustainable Production Alliance and the Producers Guild of America Foundation. Partnering with major studios such as Netflix, Amazon and Disney, the Green Production Guide essentially provides a toolkit to help production companies reduce their carbon impact, focusing on Sustainable Development Goals centring around climate action and responsible production and consumption.
