Electriclimefilms, an advertising and film company, recognises the need for an eco-conscious film industry. Based out of Singapore, Dubai, and Sydney, we have transitioned to greener offices and adopted various zero-waste and carbon-neutral initiatives to create more sustainable film production sets.
Led by our Head of Production, Rory Cavanagh, we join a collective effort, helmed by innovators like AdGreen founder Jo Coombes, to raise awareness that waste reduction is an inherently important part of any business. The downside to any creative process is the inevitable, and at times unavoidably generated, by-products that become wastefully discarded.
In response to this industry-wide issue, we put our own processes under scrutiny with an aim to persistently make overall production and operation more sustainable by minimising our waste and reliance on disposable plastics and other pollutants. As a result, these practices have reduced costs and contributed to efficiency throughout our business model.
Challenging factors with making such a drastic and fundamental change have resulted from lack of sense of urgency and resources. But electriclimefilms has found ways to push through these obstacles. Electriclimefilms were early adopters of sourcing recyclable and compostable food and beverage containers, cutlery, packaging, and other paper products on set – preventing unnecessary plastic and food waste from food vendors and caterers. Where possible we reduce reliance on paper by using digital devices to display storyboards, schedules, scripts, and other documents, and sending digital copies rather than printouts for production materials, invoices, communications, and other information.
We also encourage the cast and crew to use our provided, or bring their own, reusable water bottles, labeled cups, and carriers on set and in our office. We supply water in reusable coolers during high volume events and when filming outside under high temperatures, as everyone on set needs to be frequently hydrating with cold water.
After shooting finishes, electriclimefilms donates leftover food, props, costumes, set pieces and displays, and other materials that can be repurposed or reused, to local charities and recycling organisations. These are just some examples of how electriclimefilms is applying sustainable solutions to film production. Thinking forward, electriclimefilms wants to engage with like-minded people in the green production movement as part of our sustainability commitment. And Singapore, Dubai, and Sydney have rapidly growing communities of eco-conscious activists and businesses working towards an environmentally sustainable culture and mentality.Electriclimefilms endeavors to set an example as a film production company that understands these implications and can put into practice the effort to reduce our carbon footprint. Through community involvement we hope to contribute to a collective consciousness that strives to protect the environment and its beauty.
We are also visiting partners in the industry, sharing key learnings, best practice, and some of the initiatives we have implemented.
Electriclimefilms encourages film production companies to try these tips to make their sets environmentally sustainable and conscious:
- Go Paperless – digitise your documents. Especially schedules, call sheets, storyboards and scripts. It greatly cuts down cost and increases efficiency (for example: a digital tablet on a stand for the Director or clients to refer to while shooting is handy and fuss-free).
- Reduce Plastic – reuse and recycle. Encourage all cast and crew to bring reusable bottles, or have a sharpie on hand to label cups and food containers for reuse. Recycle or source compostable receptacles if you can’t provide reusable materials.
- Considered Materials – reduce waste. Set design and equipment/tech support materials can be made from eco-conscious, recyclable or compostable materials to help you ditch frustrating plastic waste.
- Donate to local charities and organisations. With minimal effort, much of what is used on set can be repurposed or donated to those in need, such as leftover food, props, textiles, set and building materials, supplies, and more.