Sustainability in the Film Industry

It is common to blame the oil, transportation, and agriculture industries for environmental degradation, but they are not the only ones causing harm. Solely focusing on the most potent players can stop us from looking at other contributors, for example, the entertainment industry.

According to BAFTA, the British film organization, an hour of television in the U.K.produces 13 metric tons of carbon dioxide. A UCLA study found in 2006 California's film and television industry created 8.4 million metric tons of carbon dioxide and the U.S. film and TV industry created 15 million tons of carbon dioxide. In addition to energy intensive operations, such as air travel, set up operations also have detrimental effects on the environment. For example, props, tech, and people hurt ecologically sensitive areas. Filming 2015’s Mad Max: Fury Road damaged places on the African coast, endangering local reptiles and cacti. 

Despite these statistics being disheartening, they can also inspire change. Here are some steps we can take to remedy the impact: 

-Shoot locally to help the local economy and reduce flying miles
-Feed crew members with sustainable food, which can include organic, plant-based, and meat free meals 
-Replace plastic bottles with reusable bottles 
-Have recycling and composting bins on set
-Turn off lighting and tech when not in use
-Invest in alternative energy for the film set
-Hire a Sustainability Officer 

 We have to implement these changes to create a greener future for the film industry.