Our sustainable production principles outline the key considerations that should inform your production. They complement our step-by-step guide to take you through the development, commissioning, production and delivery process to maximise the reduction of carbon emissions at every stage. Taking these actions will help ensure you can deliver the most impact for audiences with the least impact on the planet.
- Ideas and development: consider what emissions the creative proposition bakes in
- Planning: familiarise yourself with our sustainable production principles
- Budgeting: estimate costs and savings at the outset
- Commissioning: prepare to get the most out of the sustainability conversation with your commissioner
- Pre-production: put our sustainable production principles into practice
- Production: ensure you’re collecting data as you go
- Post-production: submit reporting paperwork and share learnings
- Marketing, communications and social media: tell your sustainability story
Our sustainable production principles
1. Make sure you have the right expertise in place
Ensure that sustainability is the dedicated responsibility of team members or a specific team member with appropriate training (/) who can become an expert for your productions going forward. Where possible, consider hiring a sustainability consultant/manager/coordinator. A consultant provides strategic guidance and audits, a manager devises and oversees sustainability implementation across departments and can support with expertise like power planning, and a coordinator manages day-to-day sustainability tasks and reporting in collaboration with heads of department and the production team. See the for more information. For high-carbon productions (as identified during the commissioning process) there will be additional ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ resource available.
2. Plan and promote energy efficiency across all operations
Using energy-efficient equipment (eg LED lighting), sharing power sources where possible, powering down devices when not in use, monitoring on-site energy consumption and encouraging suppliers and partners to adopt energy-saving practices.
3. Create a power plan accurately assessing your remaining needs and prioritising the lowest carbon options.
In descending order of priority these are:
- mains supply electricity, ideally on a renewable tariff (lowest carbon)
- on-site renewables
- battery systems
- hybrid generators
- certified alternative fuels (eg hydrotreated vegetable oil, commonly called HVO)
Diesel fuel (highest carbon) should be a last resort, with prior approval of your commissioner required on UK based shoots.
See more on reducing energy emissions.
4. Use local crew and equipment
Minimising transport emissions, supporting the local economy and drawing on local knowledge. Look for companies with strong environmental policies.
5. Develop a sustainable travel plan for those who do travel
Considering the carbon implications when choosing locations, consolidating filming locations and trips, prioritising low-emission transport options - eg public transport, coaches, electric vehicles, avoiding flights, particularly business class and within the UK mainland and Eurostar destinations (including as prizes), reducing unnecessary travel. Opt for accommodation booked with 100% renewable tariffs or which have a high sustainability rating.
See more on sustainable travel for productions.
6. Choose low-carbon catering
Prioritising seasonal plant-based meals, alternatives to red meat and sustainability credentials (such as fish from MSC certified stocks). Caterers should work with local suppliers to avoid unnecessary travel and devise a plan for minimising and managing food waste responsibly, eg pre-ordering, food donations, composting. Opt for refillable water bottles with filling stations, reusable serve ware and coffee cups and minimal disposable packaging.
7. Think circular: reduce, reuse, repurpose, recycle
Renting or sourcing second-hand materials through reuse networks, designing sets, costumes, and props for longevity or repurposing, storing or donating items and materials for future use. Recycle effectively by ensuring clear bin signage. Avoid single use items and only use landfill or incineration for waste disposal as a last resort. Don’t forget this applies to prizes and merchandise as well - sourcing ethically, reducing packaging and considering digital or experience-based alternatives.
8. Collaborate with all suppliers to reduce supply chain emissions
Engaging early to align sustainability goals, ensuring all on set personnel receive clear messaging to encourage sustainable behaviour, and requesting suppliers monitor and report their environmental impact within their scope of work (eg splitting out different emission categories in their invoices).
9. Engage cast, presenters, crew and contributors in sustainability conversations from the outset
Enhancing ambitions by reaching out beyond your core team and getting everyone working together. Engage departments early, discussing how they can integrate sustainability into their planning. Refer to . Consider using the to facilitate cast conversations.
10. Track carbon emissions against the budget
Using monitoring tools such as tagging, and aligning sustainability efforts with financial planning.
Ideas and development
Don’t forget that creative decisions impact carbon emissions and the potential for emission savings – as well as how audiences understand and view the world. Engage with the creative team on key considerations.
Train your development team
Encourage your development team to take the ScreenSkills online course as an overview and/or attend free for editorial and production teams, so that they can understand the impacts and opportunities of their work.
Consider including climate themes in the editorial, where this is possible to do in a way which is authentic and relevant to audiences
This could include solutions, adaptations, impacts and our relationship with the natural world.
Check out our editorial tips and guidance for inspiration.
‘Spend’ carbon with purpose
Choices around locations, crew, contributors, prizes and format will affect the production’s carbon footprint. Does the editorial concept ‘spend’ carbon as wisely as it spends money, with maximum value for audiences?
Focus on energy and travel
How much and where will you need to travel? Are there nearby facilities and suppliers that consider the environment? What scope is there for local crews? Can you access renewable energy and use alternatives to diesel generators? Avoid flights as prizes.
See further information on reducing emissions from travel and energy.
Think beyond carbon
What impact is your idea going to have on natural landscapes, systems and wildlife? How could you avoid or mitigate against any negative impacts?
Get set for mandatory albert certification and use their tools to help you predict your footprint
Find out more about albert requirements.
Planning
Plan for sustainability from the start by familiarising yourself with our sustainable production principles, rather than trying to retrofit later. It’s easier, more cost efficient, and maximises the carbon savings you can make.
Want to be inspired by how other productions have implemented some of these principles? Check out our ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ production case studies and from across the film and TV sector.
Budgeting
Sustainable production practices can occur costs, but many are cost neutral or even cost saving. Ensure you plan for them from the start.
Create a dedicated sustainability budget line for costs previously associated with offsetting
A recommended starting point is your estimated carbon footprint × £10.50 per tonne of CO₂e. Use the albert carbon calculator or the albert offset calculator for footprint estimates.
Budget proactively
We expect productions to factor sustainability into their budgeting process as standard, eg around low carbon energy. Not all productions will be able to implement all measures – but work out how ambitious you can be by considering the potential costs and savings associated with:
Production management support
- Additional time for production coordinator or similar, to collect and input good quality albert data
- Hiring a sustainability consultant/manager to advise and support the production’s decarbonisation, or a sustainability coordinator to facilitate
Low carbon energy
Diesel is a fuel of last resort and shouldn't be used in generators on UK shoots without prior agreement with the commissioner. Budget for alternatives, including:
- Plugging directly into the grid or on-site renewables
- Portable batteries for lighting set ups
- Battery or hybrid generators as an alternative to diesel generators
- Certified HVO fuel, an alternative to diesel and any additional infrastructure required for it. For example fuel bowsers for storage
- Using telematics on generators, a method of monitoring energy use to better understand and then manage and optimise power usage
Sustainable travel
- Train travel over UK mainland domestic flights and Eurostar destinations, including additional overnight stays
- Hiring electric vehicles (EVs) or using EV taxis/couriers
- Mobile EV chargers for productions in locations with fewer charge points
- Supporting training for local crew to reduce the need for large numbers of people to travel
Food emissions and waste
- Managing the pre-ordering of food with production catering instead of buffets
- Using seasonal, sustainable produce, prioritising plant-based options, alternatives to red meat and local ingredients
- Reusable crockery and cutlery as well as reusable water bottles and water dispensers
- Use of a food waste disposal and/or food repurposing company
Track cost savings
From energy efficiency, reduced travel, and smarter logistics to reinvest in further improvements.
Tag your spending to ensure accurate data collection
Consider introducing a tagging system in your budget software to ensure spend associated with key emission categories (energy, travel and materials) is marked and easy to subsequently identify when completing your albert footprint. Ensure invoices are submitted with key data provided, eg fuel use split from generator hire.
Commissioning
A conversation with the commissioner about sustainability on and off-air is embedded in our commissioning process. Make the most of the opportunity and prepare in advance.
Outline actions
Explain how you plan to minimise your environmental impact, especially emissions from energy and travel, and discuss how locations chosen will impact the production’s carbon emissions.
Share forecast
Present your draft carbon footprint (estimated via albert) at the greenlight or start-up meeting and compare it with similar series or productions.
Aim to improve
Returning series should aim to reduce their carbon footprint compared to previous runs. If not, discuss and agree on the reasons why with your commissioner.
Seek feedback and secure budget
Request feedback on your sustainability plan, flag any concerns, and ensure your budget estimates sustainable actions.
High-tariff projects
If the production exceeds a £5m tariff, a conversation with the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Content Sustainability Team is required before final sign-off occurs. Arrange this through your commissioner.
Pre-production
Refresh your memory of our sustainable production principles and embed sustainability into your production set-up wherever possible.
Production
Put your sustainability planning into action.
Implement and monitor
Ensure all planned sustainability actions are followed throughout production. Use daily briefings or weekly meetings to reinforce priorities and encourage evidence uploads to the shared ‘green evidence folder’.
Update and celebrate
Regularly update the team, cast and crew on sustainability progress, celebrate successes, and reward positive actions.
Collect and organise data
Gather all required data and evidence for the final footprint form and the carbon action plan. Refer to the or ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ guidance for specifics. Store everything in the shared folder. Tagging spend by category in the budget can support this.
Review and adapt
Midway through production, review your sustainability strategy, update the progress report, and adjust actions as needed. Ask for feedback from the team for any opportunities for improvement.
Post-production
Wrap up with impact and accountability.
Finalise reporting
Input and submit the production’s final carbon footprint form to albert.
Complete certification
Upload all required evidence to finalise the carbon action plan and gain certification.
Minimise waste
Ensure each department manages materials responsibly and reduces landfill waste.
Share and learn
Celebrate successes with cast, crew, suppliers and your commissioner, gather feedback to improve and share your learnings within the production company with a senior leader to inform future productions.
Marketing, communications and social media
Share your journey more widely and inspire others.
Spread the word
Share your production’s positive actions and learnings within the industry, look at running internal masterclasses, inform albert of achievements, or talk to your commissioner about how they can help celebrate your standout stories with you.
Engage others
Let your audience and the press know you’ve created impactful content with the lightest footprint possible when you design your marketing and communications campaigns. Could you use social media or your EPK assets to do this? Keep your ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ press contact across your plans.
Talent talks
Encourage on-air talent to speak about sustainability, whether on social media or in interviews, in a way that feels authentic and aligned with the production.
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