Sustainability in film production
Sustainability in film and television production has entered a new phase. What was once viewed as a nice-to-have initiative such as recycling bins on set, has become a fundamental operational and reputational priority for studios, streamers and production companies.
Under pressure from partners, talent, audiences and other stakeholders, major studios and streamers including Netflix, Warner Bros. Discovery, Universal Pictures, Paramount, Sony and Disney have publicly stated environmental goals or launched sustainability initiatives aimed at reducing the environmental impacts of the filmmaking process. Many also participate in industry collaboratives, such as the Sustainable Entertainment Alliance, focused on advancing sustainable production. These goals and efforts are pushing the broader industry to adopt clean energy, waste diversion and standardized reporting.
Why sustainability matters in film production
Film and television productions are inherently resource-intensive. Temporary infrastructure, mobile power, equipment logistics, transportation and material waste can generate significant negative environmental impacts. Historically, these were accepted as unavoidable. However, this assumption is no longer valid.
Sustainability is now closely linked to operational efficiency, risk management, competitiveness and audience trust. Productions that integrate sustainability into planning and execution are often better positioned to control costs, reduce logistical challenges and improve working conditions on set. Clean energy solutions, local sourcing and smarter material usage can lower fuel dependence, simplify operations and minimize disruptions during production.
Just as importantly, sustainability has become a marker of professionalism and maturity in the industry. Studios, partners and talent increasingly expect production companies to demonstrate that responsible practices are embedded in how they work, rather than treated as an afterthought. Clear documentation and thoughtful communication help build confidence that sustainability efforts are genuine, repeatable and scalable.
In this context, sustainability is no longer just about reducing harm. It is a competitive advantage. Companies that adopt a disciplined approach are better positioned to attract collaborators, meet evolving partner expectations, protect their reputation and build long-term trust with audiences.
Clean energy is reshaping how film sets operate
One of the most visible shifts in sustainable film production is the move from traditional diesel generators toward mobile, zero-emission power solutions. Clean energy platforms such as solar-charged battery systems are powering lighting, trailers and mobile sets on active productions. These solutions deliver silent operation that improves working conditions, reduced fuel usage and decrease on-site air pollution. They provide reliable power in remote or grid-limited locations and simplify logistics by reducing the frequency of fuel deliveries.
Clean power systems have moved beyond the piloting stage and are becoming part of standard production infrastructure. This technology is just one example of how sustainability can enhance both environmental performance and operational efficiency in film production. This shift reflects a broader trend of incorporating sustainable practices into core logistics and budgeting instead of treating them as afterthoughts.
Funding support: green grants and incentives
Adopting cleaner technologies and piloting new production approaches can require upfront investment. Several funding sources can help offset costs and accelerate adoption when sustainability is integrated early.
The Redford Center supports environmental storytelling and frequently backs projects that combine creative impact with environmental innovation. In addition to support production operations, its grants can support pilot projects, documentation efforts and case studies that demonstrate sustainable techniques and share lessons learned across the industry.
Several states with strong film incentive programs offer structures that can support sustainability-aligned decisions.
California provides production incentives alongside clean energy and environmental grant programs. Productions adopting lower-impact technologies may be better positioned to layer funding opportunities.
Illinois provides a strong production tax credit with stackable bonus incentives, including a 5 percent bonus for productions that implement a certified green sustainability plan approved by the Illinois Film Office. Additional uplifts are available for local hiring, filming outside the Chicago metro area and series relocation. For productions that plan sustainability early, Illinois is one of the few states where environmental planning can directly increase the total incentive value.
The gap between action and disclosure
In numerous cases, production teams are taking action, but the results are not captured or communicated effectively. Production companies may struggle with translating sustainable production practices into meaningful reporting, credibly sharing performance without greenwashing or aligning on-set decisions with long-term sustainability commitments. This disconnect restricts the visibility of their efforts, weakens accountability and diminishes the potential to learn from and scale best practices.
Too often, sustainability efforts remains siloed. Real progress made on set may never reaches public communications, partner conversations or internal planning. While action is essential, transparent and credible communication is equally important.
Sustainable production creates value when it is documented consistently across projects, measured using realistic and defensible indicators, placed in context rather than framed as isolated achievements, and communicated with precision and restraint.
Ecosystem of sustainable production tools
In response, the entertainment industry has made an effort in recent years to develop a growing ecosystem of tools to support sustainable production across various departments. These resources are designed to standardize the measurement and reporting of environmental performance and guide decision-making during production.
One effective tool is Albert, which is widely used in the United Kingdom and beyond. It offers carbon calculators and certification for sustainable productions, providing a structured approach for measuring and managing carbon footprints while promoting best practices in energy use, transportation and material sourcing.
The Producers Guild of America developed the Production Environmental Accounting Report (PEAR) to provide standardized environmental reporting standard for U.S. productions.
The Green Production Guide serves as a central resource hub for vetted vendors and industry best practices. It helps producers make informed sustainability decisions by giving access to tools, templates and directories tailored to their specific production needs.
While these tools are advancing measurement and consistency, most still operate at the individual production level. Aggregating data across projects, regions and partners remains a challenge, limiting the industry's ability to report on systemic progress.
Looking ahead
As the ecosystem of sustainable production continues to matures, the entertainment industry is taking steps to align environmental responsibility with operational goals. The tools, incentives and standards now available enable an increasing number of productions to implement greener practices with confidence and clarity. The next stage of sustainability in film production involves connecting on-set actions to credible communication. Stakeholder expectations of the industry are rising and demand that environmental claims are supported by credible data.
Studios and production companies that embed sustainability throughout their operations are increasingly recognized as industry leaders. These efforts contribute to long-term competitiveness, risk management and audience trust.
As sustainability evolves from a supplemental measure to an operational imperative, the industry is entering a new era of accountable and transparent filmmaking.
How Inside Media can help make sustainability clear and credible
Inside Media partners with production companies and studios to effectively communicate their sustainable production efforts.
Our approach, guided by established industry frameworks, helping teams in:
Identifying meaningful and reportable sustainability actions
Creating consistent narratives across productions, partners and platforms
Communicating progress responsibly without greenwashing
Turning on-set decisions into content that builds trust with stakeholders
If sustainability is becoming part of how you operate, we can help make it part of how you communicate. Message us to start the conversation.