Independent Film Sustainability Handbook: Topic-specific guides

Travel and transport

Travel and transport are typically the highest emitter on a production, accounting for more than 50% of emissions. This therefore provides the biggest opportunity area for reducing the impact of your production. You can do it by:

• using video conferencing tech
• minimising unit moves
• hiring local crew
• organising car share or shuttle buses
• booking green taxis
• using public transport
• booking accommodation close to set
• hiring electric vehicles (EVs) and buying certified hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) for transport

Power and fuel

Switching to more sustainable power sources can reduce your production’s fuel emissions by at least 65% compared to average diesel usage. Lower-impact options include:

• mains power
• batteries or hybrid generators
• certified HVO

Selecting fuel should form part of a wider power plan created during prep. In your plan, you should:

• assess energy requirements across all departments
• calculate requirement capacity accurately
• centralise power supply wherever possible to give more scope for battery or hybrid use, and allow load-on-demand use of generators
• track fuel consumption and generators or battery telemetry
• question your energy usage throughout production and explore sustainable options such as solar-powered lighting and facilities

Circularity: materials and waste

Promoting circularity where possible is one of the most effective ways to reduce the impact of materials used in production. Plan early in prep, source responsibly, and think ahead about how materials can be reused or recycled. Use the waste hierarchy:

• reduce: check what costumes and props you already own, consider using digital call sheets
• re-use: buy second-hand or rent clothing and sets
• repurpose: store or donate set, props, and costumes, and make sure sets can be dismantled for repurposing
• repair: if something breaks, fix instead of replacing
• recycle: create a three-bin waste system, use recycled paper, and have a no skips policy
• retail (ethically): support local tailors or buy from ethical brands, use cruelty-free makeup, choose low VOC or water-based paint only

Catering

Emissions from food can be higher than expected, sometimes making up as much as 10 to 20% of a production’s footprint. To reduce impacts, consider the following:

• swap beef for white meat or plant-based alternatives 
• challenge your caterers to prioritise delicious veggie breakfasts
• prioritise seasonal, locally sourced ingredients 
• donate leftover meals to local communities 
• prioritise reusable crockery and cutlery over compostable 
• installing water-efficient fixtures 
• engage supplier to see where plastic waste can be reduced

Biodiversity

Productions can help protect biodiversity. Some key areas where you can create a positive effect on biodiversity:

Lighting

LEDs emit warm whites, oranges, and reds and are better for most wildlife as well as our own circadian rhythms.

Switch off unnecessary lights when not filming and consider the direction of lighting.

Sound

Use batteries to reduce noise, or make sure you’re turning generators off when not in use.

Find out what kind of birds live in the area to figure out what effects drones might have to the environment.

Waste

Adopt zero waste to landfill for your production, and make sure you’re not leaving anything on set.

Utilise greenery that is already there, bringing and leaving greens on location can affect the ecosystem of the area if they’re foreign species.

Do not dump wastewater, which can contaminate natural sources.

Location choice

Work with locations supporting restoration of native greenery to the area.

Check with location owners if they have any biodiversity requirements, and make sure you’re not supporting unsustainable practices.