A recent sustainability study led by BFI and BAFTA albert found that a typical tentpole film production (a film with a budget of over US$70m) generates 2,840 tonnes of carbon emissions. An average filming day equates to more than one person's annual carbon footprint!
The biggest challenge is that no single stakeholder is responsible or capable of driving change alone - it will require cooperation across the entire industry. Because sustainability decisions are spread across departments, meaningful progress depends on practical choices made at every stage of production, from early planning through to wrap.
In this guide, we showcase how film productions can implement more sustainable practices, plus highlight inspiring examples of sustainable film industry innovations.
To understand where those choices have the greatest impact, it helps to start with a clear definition of what sustainable film production actually means in practice.
Sustainable film production refers to planning and executing a film shoot in a way that minimises environmental impact while maintaining creative quality. This includes reducing energy and water use, managing waste responsibly, sourcing materials ethically, and optimising logistics.
Beyond environmental responsibility, sustainable production practices also deliver tangible benefits for film crews, budgets, and long-term viability.
When applied consistently, these principles reduce a production’s environmental footprint without compromising creative intent.
The main areas where sustainability decisions matter include:
While all of these areas contribute to a production’s footprint, many of the most influential decisions are made before cameras start rolling.
Pre-production is where sustainability is either embedded or unintentionally designed out, making early decisions especially critical.
Large quantities of new or custom-made materials are purchased for set construction, while reusing existing materials is often overlooked due to perceptions of increased cost and time requirements.
Unfortunately, non-recyclable materials like polystyrene are popular for constructing film sets because they are cheap and can be quickly moulded into pretty much anything. 3D printing could achieve the same results with less waste but is seen as expensive and hasn’t been adopted by many art departments.
The goal for sustainable film productions is to source virgin materials, such as timber and metals, from transparent supply chains that have clear environmental and labor policies in place.
ECOR has gone a step further and built eco panels as an alternative to wood materials that are often the result of deforestation. They have collaborated with Twentieth Century Studios to build a 100% sustainable ECOR panel set for a popular TV series.
To enable the reuse of green film sets, productions should design them with deconstruction in mind from the outset. This can be achieved by using standard-sized modular components, durable non-toxic materials, and mechanical connections, ensuring the materials remain in a reusable state.
New Zealand company X-Frame have designed a zero-waste framing solution for building interior retail fit-out and meeting rooms which could also be adapted for set construction. The frames can be used as a floor, wall, or ceiling and have mechanical junctions which means goodbye adhesive and single-use fixings.
Establishing networks that connect existing materials with the film industry's needs could increase the scale of material reuse. Sharing platforms, such as the examples below, can enable separate film productions to collaborate and exchange materials.
Set Exchange is a UK initiative to share resources across productions. You can donate set resources you no longer need using the message board as well as hire props on the props database.
Materials for the Arts is a creative reuse centre in New York where donated sets and items are available, free of charge, to public schools and non-profits.
Once production is underway, sustainability efforts shift from planning to execution, with energy use and logistics becoming the primary drivers of impact.
Sustainability in pre-production also extends beyond physical materials to the systems that support cast and crew day to day.
In the UK, studios allow film productions to provide individual catering. The downside is there tends to be a lack of shared cafés or canteens offering fresh food and beverages throughout the day.
Catering facilities provided by green film production teams offer several benefits for the crew, including convenient and healthy meal options, reduced food waste, and decreased use of single-use plastics.
Studio facilities equipped with convenient amenities, such as online shopping lockers, laundry services, and childcare, grant crew members greater flexibility by minimising the need for extra trips during the workday. Additionally, providing showers and changing areas encourages cast and crew to commute actively via running, walking, or cycling.
The WonderWorks at Warner Bros Studios Leavesden is a great example, they provide childcare for families in the film industry and offer flexible childcare solutions.
Filming locations introduce additional challenges where power, transport, and facilities must be deployed temporarily and efficiently.
Filming equipment can have high energy demands that challenge the use of solar or battery-powered alternatives. So filmmakers often rely on diesel generators as a flexible and convenient power source.
Fortunately, innovation in battery technology is making them an increasingly viable alternative to diesel generators. Green Voltage, for example, has designed emission-free, silent battery-powered generators, specifically for film productions including recent blockbusters Saltburn and Wonka.
Portable facilities are another must-have when filming on location. There are now plenty of sustainable options, and green film productions can hire trailers and facilities with solar roofing and bio-diesel or battery-powered generators.
When hiring mobile toilets there are several waterless options available. Loowatt, for example, uses a closed loop waterless flushing system and the pods can be used on any type of location as they do not require a water hook-up or to be accessed by a vacuum truck.
Locations and logistics are one of the biggest contributors to a production’s carbon footprint. To reduce impact:
Identifying location requirements during the recce stage allows teams to make trade-offs between creative ambition and sustainability.
Many of these impacts are driven not by individual choices, but by how productions structure movement and access across the shoot.
Film productions also can also encourage staff to utilise sustainable transportation options, such as carpooling or public transport, whenever feasible. Currently, most production staff commute individually by car and make additional trips to pick up and drop off materials.
Digital platforms have shared transportation and ride-hailing easier by efficiently matching supply and demand. Liftango's digital service could help green productions offer shuttle rides or encourage staff to share rides with the carpool platform.
Despite growing awareness, energy inefficiencies remain persistent challenges across film set.
Many studios operate on flat-rate hire models, which provide limited transparency into actual resource use and reduce incentives to optimise consumption. While visible measures such as reducing bottled water are common, they often distract from larger systemic issues like power generation, lighting efficiency, and on-site infrastructure.
Relatively few studios operate on renewable energy tariffs and only a handful generate energy with solar panels. Studios are also often nervous about implementing solutions like natural lighting and heat recovery systems because they don’t want to jeopardise the suitability for filming.
But it is possible to find green film studios around the UK.
3 Mills Studios in east London uses a 100% renewable energy supplier and is a zero landfill studio that provides recycling services for its productions. LED lighting is used across the site (which has a longer lifespan than traditional bulbs) and the studio provides plenty of power so productions don't need to rely on generators. There are also a good number of covered bike stands on site to encourage cycling to the studio.
Improving sustainability outcomes requires more than good intentions — it depends on visibility, coordination, and the ability to measure decisions over time.
Requiring the entire crew to be physically present for planning and set design can lead to excessive and unnecessary travel, especially for low-budget productions. To address this, these films often opt to share information digitally via email and separate documents, which are then frequently printed out.
However, this approach has drawbacks - schedule and script revisions must be continually redistributed to everyone, and it inhibits the production's ability to respond nimbly to changing circumstances.
Digital tools go a long way in solving these issues and making the pre-production process more flexible and dynamic. Digital tools allow better planning and design before construction begins.
StudioBinder, for example, is a web-based workflow and planning tool which brings together all parts of production for a more manageable and seamless process. Features include creating and sending personalised call sheets, tagging props and wardrobe to parts of a script, and sharing shooting schedules, contacts, tasks, calendars and files. StudioBinder can also help directors and producers visualise scenes and plan and change them over time without having to be in the same place or build it first.
Virtual reality empowers filmmakers to thoroughly test their creative concepts, storyboards, sets, and scenes before production, enabling them to optimise logistics, reduce unnecessary construction, and ultimately save time and money. Additionally, it allows the crew to virtually experiment with camera angles and lighting, further refining the production process prior to shooting.
Being able to collaborate remotely on virtual scenes in a shared digital environment can improve the industry’s resilience to disruptions such as that experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Third Floor creates digital visuals for every creative stage from storyboards to post-production. They will build the 3D digital virtual world your story lives in which allows production to explore every angle and test how the story looks with animation.
Even well-intentioned productions can undermine their sustainability goals through avoidable planning oversights.
Is sustainable film production mandatory in the UK?
No, it’s not legally mandatory for all productions. However, sustainability is increasingly expected by local authorities, councils, and some funding bodies.
How can small or independent productions be more sustainable?
Focus on planning, reducing unnecessary travel, reusing materials, and efficient energy use. Even small actions (like digital call sheets or local catering) can have a significant impact.
What has the biggest environmental impact on a film set?
Locations, transport, energy consumption, and waste production are usually the largest contributors. Strategic planning in these areas yields the biggest benefits.
Does sustainable production cost more?
Not necessarily. Many sustainable choices like efficient scheduling, reusable materials, and energy-efficient lighting, can save money while reducing environmental impact.
Where should sustainability planning start?
Pre-production is the best stage. Decisions around script, locations, transport, and materials set the tone for the entire production and make sustainable practices easier to implement on set.
A growing number of green productions are taking proactive steps to reduce their carbon footprint and adopt more eco-friendly practices. This may involve utilising renewable energy sources, minimising waste, and implementing recycling programs on set.
As public awareness and demand for sustainability increases, the film industry has a unique opportunity to lead by example and demonstrate how creativity and ecological responsibility can go hand-in-hand. By embracing green production methods, the industry can not only reduce its environmental impact, but also inspire audiences and spur broader societal change towards a more sustainable future.
