Green screen: TV that won’t cost the earth

Britain’s film-makers and TV producers are beginning to rise to the challenge of climate change, recent research suggests. A survey by YouGov for Barclays found that nearly half of all medium-sized media firms now realise going green can be both cost-effective and good for their reputations.

Perhaps surprisingly, the media have been slower to tackle green issues than more traditional industries: just 33% of firms in the telecoms, media and technology (TMT) sector said environmental sustainability was extremely important to them, compared with 45% of retailers and 43% of manufacturers.

However, that seems to be changing: 46% of the TMT companies surveyed said they were aware that green practices could save them money and bring them reputational benefit, and 71% said they had taken actions to be more environmentally responsible.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

These included implementing policies to encourage environmental awareness among employees, reducing business travel by greater use of digital collaboration and cutting back on energy and water use.

TV leads the way

TV producers are setting the standard, with the UK’s smaller cinema sector following behind, says media industry magazine Broadcast. This is partly because more TV programmes than films are made, but it also reflects the temporary nature of film productions.

While TV producers stay in the same locations or studios for extended periods – and may return every year to make a new series – film producers may only be in a given location for a few days. This complicates efforts to reduce their impact on the environment.

Help from Albert

Leading the charge of programme and film-makers going green is Bafta, the UK’s film and TV industry body. It has started a programme called Albert, which provides recognition for sustainable film-making, training and other help.

Bafta says it wants “all UK screen content to be made in a way that benefits individuals, industry organisations and the planet”. It hopes to use Albert to help producers “reduce the environmental impact of the production process” and to engage audiences by acting responsibly.

Through Albert, producers can gain environmental sustainability certification – and programmes including Peaky Blinders, Victoria and Poldark have all done so. Series four of Peaky Blinders was “the greenest to date”, says Bafta: local crew were used, keeping travel to a minimum, LED lighting replaced less efficient alternatives where possible and props and costumes were hired rather than being specially built.

Albert also offers producers free training in green issues, a free carbon calculator and membership of a renewable-energy procurement programme.

Green dividend

To support production companies seeking to deepen their environmental commitment, Barclays has created a suite of products – supported by a Green Product Framework developed with Sustainalytics – which includes green loans, innovation finance and other types of lending with an environmental commitment.

The bank says environmental sustainability is no longer just a matter of corporate social responsibility. Going green can also help an organisation reduce costs, become more innovative and stand out from its competitors. For example, companies taking out a green loan get an accreditation that tells investors, the markets – and the rest of the world – that the loan is being used for the benefit of the environment as well as the company.

“The environmental impact of climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing the world today,” says Rhian-Mari Thomas, head of green banking at Barclays. By financing a more environmental corporate landscape in the media and beyond, the bank intends to play “a leading role in the transition towards a sustainable environment and low-carbon global economy”.

Find out how Barclays Corporate Banking’s industry experts are supporting clients to achieve their ambitions at barclayscorporate.com

Take our survey for your chance to win £100 John Lewis vouchers