Sustainable
Filmmaking
Screen Ireland is dedicated to environmental aims and can now provide carbon calculations and Albert certification to projects filming in Ireland.
Social sustainability, economic sustainability, and environmental sustainability are the three pillars of sustainability.
Social in film relates to the health and wellbeing of cast and crew. Heating/lighting and ventilation of workspaces is just as important as professional development, fair work practice and social inclusion.
Economic Sustainability in the film sector would include the continuity of work, the empowering and support of indigenous Film businesses and the circular support of the communities we work within.
For many, Environmental Sustainability is the most pressing. The process of filmmaking can, on one hand, provide an incredible boost to a local economy but on the other it consumes so much ‘energy’ over its life cycle, that it has the potential to have a negative environmental impact.
A single film technician typically generates up to 2.5 tonnes of carbon on an eight-week shoot, or 32 tonnes per year.
Melanie Dicks. 2009 Nurturing the Greenshoots of sustainable filming | Sponsored | Broadcast.
Managing Sustainability
for your
production
Communicate, Measure, and Act are the three phases to managing your production’s sustainability.
Communicate
Encourage your team or crew to make sustainable decisions.
Simple signage at waste collection points around the office/stage/workshop/location site can be effective in encouraging and reminding crew to separate their waste appropriately.
You can download key labels/signs for your production office and sustainable production office infographic:
Measure
Use the Carbon Calculator to take control of your carbon impact. Sign up for Albert and use the tool to anticipate your CO2 emissions during pre-production. Create a production plan and establish goals for yourself; then commit to making the adjustments and putting on your show.
Action
Always keep the five ‘R’s’ in mind:
- Reduce your energy use and your usage of hazardous products.
- Recycle – Recycle, sort, and manage garbage.
- Reuse – wherever possible, reuse.
- Take responsibility for your actions.
- Consider alternate energy/material sources when rethinking. Create items that may be reused or repurposed – Be creative.