How to Make Your Production Green
Posted on: Nov 12, 2024
Photo Credit: guruXOX // ShutterstockWhen it comes to production, there is so much more we can be doing when it comes to energy conservation, waste reduction, and sustainable practices on set. Here are some of the ways we can contribute to more eco-friendly film sets:
Digitize
Who uses hard copies of distro anymore? Nearly everyone uses their phones, iPads, laptops or other digital devices. Whether it’s to intentionally reduce waste or just for the convenience, it’s a great way to also save money on printer paper and save gas (if necessary) from any production offices. The number of apps, software and digital communication makes it much more convenient and saves so much time and energy—literally and figuratively.
Incentivize
On a few jobs I’ve worked on, some of the crew would have competitions on-set to see who would recycle the most, or drink the most water by reusing their aluminum bottles. One way to keep track of that is by ticking off how many times you fill your water bottle. Another way is to keep your bottles and recycle them all at the end of the day. Then, once you wrap, the person with the most bottles would win a prize. There are other games and fun ways to keep things eco-friendly and prevent waste, but if there’s something in it for everyone involved, it gives us something to look forward to and can break some monotony on-set.
Accountability
On the flip side, I’ve also been on sets where everyone was encouraged by craft services to bring their own refillable bottles, as there wouldn’t be any disposable water bottles on-set, only water dispensers to fill your bottles with. It was a different approach, but it drastically affected the amount of trash and empty bottles on and around set. It was refreshing to see a much cleaner workspace!
Support Local Business
Many sets already do this, but ordering from local businesses for catering, crafty, props and set needs helps save money while putting money into local businesses, and introduces crew members to some of these businesses in town. Depending on your needs, supporting locally also means not having to ship items back and forth, which helps the environment—primarily carbon emissions.
Renting Equipment
There are a wide range of products that diminish the amount of plastic and energy we use, from biodegradable cutlery to solar-powered generators, and rechargeable batteries to LED lights. In addition, items for set decoration, wardrobe, etc. can be rented instead of starting fresh and making new items. Reusing items from previous projects can help with saving money, time and energy. Not only items for set, but reusing kitchen items like dishware (or simply using recyclable dishware) makes a huge difference!
In conclusion, there are many advantages for having a green set. Improving the workspace subsequently improves the morale of your team, and using cost-efficient items helps reduce any recurring expenses. All of these (and more) will help not only the current set you work on, but can cause a chain reaction down the road!
Andrea Tucker is a writer/producer in sports and entertainment.
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