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The hidden impact of film and TV production.

The magic of film and TV is that it can take you away to another time and place. But while you’re lost in the onscreen world it’s easy to forget that show was made in our own, real world. It’s only when the credits roll that we stop and consider the impact that spectacle might have had.

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We all know that film and TV productions cost a small fortune to make, but the hidden cost to the environment can be just as heavy. Just one single hour of television production in the UK creates <a href="https://www.tvbeurope.com/production-post/albert-average-hour-of-tv-contributes-5-7t-co2e-per-hour" target="_blank" rel="noopener">5.7 tonnes of CO2e</a>, while a big-budget Hollywood movie will produce around <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/sep/02/bfi-study-calls-on-film-industry-to-urgently-reduce-emissions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2,840 tonnes</a> of CO2 during its production. 
Just creating one single soundstage can cause <a href="https://www.cbd.int/article/film-industry-and-sustainability#:~:text=Indirect%20effects%20of%20the%20film,according%20to%20research%20from%20UCLA." target="_blank" rel="noopener">4,000 hectares</a> of deforestation. That’s because the lightweight plywood used is often unsustainably taken from rainforests. Then you consider the emissions that come from flying cast and crew all around the world to scout locations and film scenes (<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/sep/02/bfi-study-calls-on-film-industry-to-urgently-reduce-emissions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">around half</a> of a film’s emissions are related to transport), the energy consumed by the equipment and trailers left running all day (often run on diesel generators), and the food waste that inevitably comes from feeding the whole team all day during long shoots. 
Sometimes films even leave a scar on the natural land itself. The production of Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) was reported to have <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/mar/05/mad-max-fury-road-namibia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">left tire marks</a> all over an area of unblemished and fragile desert landscape in Namibia, while also harming rare cacti and lizard habitats. And the production crew for Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017) were accused of illegally <a href="https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/claims-pirates-of-the-caribbean-production-tipping-toxic-waste-into-gold-coast-creek/news-story/f779bab0fb9429cdcc55bb93e4212e9a" target="_blank" rel="noopener">spilling chemical waste</a> into a Gold Coast creek in Australia.
And all this is before we get into the later stages of a film’s life-cycle. Streaming online video alone produced <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/sep/02/bfi-study-calls-on-film-industry-to-urgently-reduce-emissions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">300m tonnes</a> of CO2 in 2018, which was around the national output of Spain that year.

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The screen industry plays an important role in broadening horizons, changing perspectives and opening up conversations in society. Plus, it brings countless joy into many lives. So the solution isn’t to halt production altogether. But the industry does need to find ways to create great content that people love to watch, in a way that doesn’t damage the real world.  
Things are moving in the right direction. In recent years we have seen a shift to more environmentally-conscious production. Some of Hollywood’s most influential production companies including Netflix, Disney and Sony Pictures, have established the <a href="https://www.greenproductionguide.com/who-we-are/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Green Production Guide</a> to reduce the industry’s carbon footprint and environmental impact.
Many film productions also currently employ eco-consultants to try and make sure things on set are as green as possible, for example by recycling production materials. The €2m <a href="https://projects2014-2020.interregeurope.eu/greenscreen/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">European Green Screen initiative</a> also set out to provide advice on best practice in this space, though has stopped short of measuring the footprint of continental film production.
Here in the UK, since 2011 BAFTA has supported the film and television industry through <a href="https://wearealbert.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">albert</a>, the leading screen industry organisation for environmental sustainability. Albert, which is owned by BAFTA, helps the industry to reduce the environmental impacts of production and create content that shares a vision of a sustainable future.

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albert-certification is a requirement for any production company working for BBC, ITV, Channel 4, UKTV, Sky, TG4 or Netflix. To get certified, the company must use albert’s tools and resources to calculate their footprint, and then take actions to reduce their emissions as far as possible. albert’s new Creative Offsets scheme takes things a step further by helping Film and TV productions offset any remaining emissions they can’t reduce.
We’re delighted to have been chosen as <a href="https://ecologi.com/articles/blog/case-study-bafta-albert" target="_blank" rel="noopener">albert’s official partner</a> to deliver their Creative Offsets scheme for two years, starting from 1 August 2022. To reach <a href="https://ecologi.com/business/zero" target="_blank" rel="noopener">net-zero</a> it’s crucial that the industry reduces as much of their greenhouse gas emissions as possible and then offsets the remainder. So this scheme is a vital part of albert’s overarching mission.
This is a big win for the industry, as albert supports over 12,000 TV and film productions both on and off the screen to be more sustainable. Productions that have already been offset include season six of ITV’s Love Island Aftersun, the Women’s Euros 2022, Changing Rooms, The Chase Celebrity Specials Series 12 and the ITV British Soap Awards 2022. Our partnership is expected to reduce around 100,000 tonnes of unavoidable carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) over two years. 
Interested in reading more about our partnership with albert? Read our case study <a href="https://ecologi.com/articles/blog/case-study-bafta-albert" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
You can find out more about our carbon offsetting service <a href="http://ecologi.com/business/marketplace" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

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Hopescrolling: The good news timeline

It’s not all bad. While there’s a lot of negative news about the climate, let’s not forget the good stuff. Find climate wins, reasons to be hopeful and plenty of positivity in our good news timeline.

The good news timeline

Ready to make a difference for our planet? Get in touch, and let’s chat about how we can help you on your climate journey. 

In Depth

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Just as we make sure all our reforestation projects are designed in a way that is most beneficial to our planet, our other terrestrial restoration projects need to be of the highest quality too. Wildflower, Wetlands and Wildlife projects have the potential to provide vital support to a wide array of species, boosting local, national and international biodiversity, as well as being an important and secure carbon store. But for these benefits to come to fruition the projects must be implemented properly, in line with best practices.
We know you might have some questions about this new type of project, so we’ve put together answers to some FAQs to help you learn more about our Wildflower, Wetlands and Wildlife project.

Your questions answered

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Before and after: See how your climate action is making a difference

Before and after: This is how your Ecologi impact is transforming landscapes and lives.

We love a before and after shot at Ecologi. They&#8217;re an incredible way to show the impact of the projects supported by our community. Whether it’s deforested land turning back to verdant green, or solar projects springing to life, sometimes two simple images are worth a thousand words.
On this blog you’ll find snapshot images that paint pictures of the difference our supported climate projects are making, all around the world. Thank you to our community for making it all possible! 
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📍 Location: Ouarzazate, Morocco
⌛ Dates: 2015 –2020
🌱 Project: Verified Carbon Standard
🌳 Type: Solar energy

Morocco

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From a bare area of desert to a haven of clean energy. The Ouarzazate II solar project is a major milestone in Morocco&#8217;s journey towards a clean energy future. It is one of the largest concentrated solar power plants in the world and is expected to supply around 500 GWh per year to Morocco’s power grid.
The project uses thousands of concave mirrors to concentrate solar energy and generate electricity, which can be stored for up to 7 hours. This allows the project to continue generating electricity even after the sun sets.
The Ouarzazate II solar project supplies electricity to nearly 2 million Moroccans and will prevent emissions equivalent to 300,544 tCO2e per year over its 10 year crediting period. The project has also created around 7,000 local jobs and incorporated co-projects that promote the creation of cooperatives, educational opportunities, and skills training.
Learn more about this<a href="https://ecologi.com/projects/morocco-solar"> project</a>.

📍 Location: Brodoclea, North Ayrshire, Scotland
⌛ Dates: 2018 –2021
🌱 Project: Future Forest Company
🌳 Type: Temperate reforestation

Scotland

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Nestled in North Ayrshire, Brodoclea is a sprawling 174-hectare haven of broadleaf woodland that plays host to woolly pigs, the incredible ecological restoration engineers! 
Under <a href="https://thefutureforestcompany.com/">The Future Forest Company</a>&#8216;s guidance, these pigs awaken the soil seed bank, nourish soil microbiology, create space for sapling growth, reduce competition, and form pondlets for breeding amphibians and invertebrates. This enriches the ecosystem, offering sustenance for birds and materials for nests. 
Since 2018, the Ecologi community has helped make a significant impact on this site, funding the planting of 56,170 trees, with a focus on native broadleaf species including oak and birch, creating important habitat for local invertebrate and bird species.

📍 Location: Belavenika, Madagascar.
⌛ Dates: 2019 –2022
🌱 Project: Eden Reforestation Projects
🌳 Type: Mangrove reforestation

Madagascar

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Madagascar’s mangroves are amazing habitats that, sadly, have been deforested over the years and become degraded. This project is one of three currently being supported by the Ecologi community that are replanting mangroves in Madagascar to bring benefits to local biodiversity and communities.
Creating new sustainable income streams for local people is a key component of the project, as is female empowerment. The project employs an average of 85 people per month, with female employees making up approximately 37.5% of the workforce in 2022.
As a result of their involvement in this project, local people are now able to purchase more nutritious food, leading to improved health, and can afford to send their children to school.
To date, the Ecologi community has funded 7.9 million trees on this site in north-west Madagascar.
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📍 Location: Marotaola, Madagascar.
⌛ Dates: 2019 –2022
🌱 Project: Eden Reforestation Projects
🌳 Type: Mangrove reforestation

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This was the very first project we supported, so it holds a special place in our hearts. Seeing its progress over the last four years has brought us so much joy! 
Native mangrove species are being planted on this site, including Avicennia marina, Rhizophora mucronata, and Ceriops tagal. To date, the Ecologi community has funded the planting of over 10 million trees here, and there’s room for another million. 
This site is particularly fascinating as the mangroves are only separated from the open ocean by a thin strip of sand about 100m wide. Despite being more exposed to the ocean, mangroves that have successfully become established are growing well, creating an important habitat for coastal biodiversity and protecting the coastline from erosion by the waves.
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📍 Location: Vĩnh Hảo, Tuy Phong District, Bình Thuận, Vietnam
⌛ Dates: 2018 –2023
🌱 Project: Verified Carbon Standard
☀️ Type: Solar

Vietnam

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Vietnam&#8217;s demand for energy has been rising sharply since the 1990s, and it’s a demand that the country has struggled to fulfil, with an overreliance on coal and frequent power outages.
This project, in the Vinh Hao commune, Vietnam, is generating electricity using photovoltaic technology, which transforms sunlight into electricity. The project is on around 60ha of salt farm, and will generate 83,750MWh of power annually.
Local people have been involved throughout the design phase and operation of the project. The construction process of the project was carefully managed to minimise the impact on the local environment. During the operation of the project, pollution will also be minimised through a series of measures, including ensuring no littering takes place, and waste materials will be responsibly disposed of off-site.
Over the 10-year crediting period, the project will prevent 704,110tCO2e from being emitted by replacing energy in the grid that would otherwise have come from fossil fuels.
The project has given a real boost to the living standards of local communities through economic support funds: the commune gratitude fund in the Vinh Hao commune, and the learning promotion fund in the Binh Thuan province.
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📍 Location: Mount Elgon, Uganda. 
⌛ Dates: 2021 – 2023
🌱 Project: Trees for the Future
🌳 Type: Reforestation and sustainable agroforestry

Uganda

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Trees for the Future’s innovative Forest Gardens approach is all about engaging farmers in reforestation and sustainable agroforestry. The farmers take part in a 4-year programme, learning the skills they need to better manage their land. This brings multiple benefits, including protected crops, stabilised soils, and habitats for pollinators, as well as increasing household incomes.
Over the past two years, the Ecologi community has funded the planting of 766,663 trees in Forest Gardens through this project. Three hundred farmers (57% of whom are women) are involved, with 3,522 people benefitting from the project so far. 
Pictured is 56-year-old Philister Khana, a farmer enrolled in the programme. In just two years she’s taken the number of trees on her plot from 4 to 2,001!
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The hidden impact of film and TV production.

The impact behind the magic

Working towards cleaner production

Our partnership with albert

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Hopescrolling: The good news timeline

Your questions answered about our Wildflowers, Wetlands and Wildlife project

Before and after: See how your climate action is making a difference

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