Hollywood's environmental impact is "like a movie"
The entertainment industry has a significant environmental impact. Although consumer pressure to improve environmental practices is almost non-existent, studios and production companies strive to be sustainable.
In his 2016 Oscar acceptance speech for Best Actor for “ The Revenant ,” actor Leonardo DiCaprio used half of his allotted minutes for his acceptance speech to talk about climate change : “Climate change is real, it’s happening right now, it’s the most urgent threat facing our entire species, and we must work collectively and stop procrastinating,” were his words.
Despite DiCaprio 's rhetoric and the environmental activism of many in the industry, film and television production still has a significant carbon footprint and waste.
From copying scripts to making costumes, moving crew to remote filming locations, and the energy used to light sets, there is virtually no element of the industry that does not have a negative impact on the environment. And it is an industry so omnipresent, global and highly influential in world opinion that it is surprising that it is not often held accountable.
The environmental footprint of the entertainment industry
Every year, the global entertainment industry generates millions of metric tons of CO2. A 2021 report from the Sustainable Entertainment Alliance —a consortium of major players in the world of film, television and streaming dedicated to driving sustainability initiatives—notes that, depending on the size of the production, films can emit on average between 391 metric tons for a small film and up to 3,370 metric tons of CO2 equivalent for large productions, such as Oppenheimer ’s Tanks or Barbie.
These emissions are similar to those emitted by driving 12 million km, powering 656 homes for a year, or charging a cell phone 360 million times.
Hollywood and its productions are the best example that there is no human action that does not have a negative environmental impact . While a sector of the industry has shown some concern about issues related to sustainability, what the American entertainment industry has done in this regard is very little so far.
In the United States, the Sustainable Entertainment Alliance (SEA) has developed a series of tools and resources for sustainable productions . Also in that country, the Environmental Media Association (EMA), an organization made up of influential people from the entertainment industry, entrepreneurs and ecological icons dedicated to the mission of promoting environmental progress, developed the Green Seal Program in 2004, as a way of honoring productions that reach a certain level of environmental sustainability .
In the UK, Albert , an environmental organisation owned by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) and founded in 2011, works to support the film and television industry to reduce the environmental impact of production and create content that supports a sustainable vision of the future.
From sustainable fuels to cardboard sets
In recent years, as companies commit to stricter climate targets, interest in this field has increased.
One of the biggest environmental impacts of the entertainment industry is energy, and particularly the use of diesel, which is used to fuel heavy vehicles and to power electric generators, essential for filming in locations where the electricity grid is not accessible. As a way of mitigating the environmental impact, productions such as “Downton Abbey: A New Era” have used HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) , a type of biodiesel created from vegetable oils, animal feed or used cooking oil. HVO can pollute up to 90% less than traditional diesel fuel.
Also, with the improvement of batteries and solar generators, technology is contributing its share. And the use of cardboard instead of wood for scenery in some productions is an environmentally friendly option, as it requires less materials, is lighter and easier to recycle.
Examples of film
The 2014 film “ The Amazing Spider-Man 2” was recognized for its sustainability practices by saving 193,000 single-use plastic water bottles and diverting 52% of its waste from landfills by focusing on reusing and recycling materials. In addition to the ecological benefits, the production’s sustainability practices saved Columbia Pictures over $400,000 in costs . The film was recognized with a Green Seal in the end credits.
Another film that has been a good example of “green” filming is the award-winning and critically acclaimed 2022 film “The Whale .” The film, starring Brendan Fraser, was shot on a studio lot that required low energy consumption and transportation emissions. Typically, transportation accounts for about 51% of a film’s carbon emissions, while electricity and gas usage accounts for about 34%.
While the environmental impact of the film industry is clear, steps are being taken to improve the sustainability of the entertainment industry , even though consumer pressure to change their practices is lower than in other industries.