REthinking sustainability in the film industry

​By Ivan Chen

A lot of waste is generated behind the scenes of film and TV productions, but it is often overlooked by fans. (Credit: OsloMetX/Pixabay)

Many people enjoy watching films and TV shows. Whether it be for entertainment or just a way to wind down and relax, they are a valued part of daily life. However, while viewers often only see the finished product, a significant amount of resources is required during the production phase, and a substantial amount of waste can be generated. 

A 2020 report from albert, a U.K.-based environmental organization, estimates that an average tentpole film production, which has a large budget and is expected to be highly profitable upon release, generates waste that’s equivalent to the weight of 313.5 blue whales, or roughly 313,500 tonnes, as an average blue whale weighs around 100 tonnes. Despite this huge amount of waste, some actions can be taken to cut down on how much of it is generated.

Types of waste on set

Some of the most common types of waste produced at productions include single-use food and drink containers, food and organic waste, construction materials and set dressing, props and costumes. 

Craft and catering services are common on sets. Single-use containers and prepackaged foods tend to be the preferred method of serving food. However, these items are often improperly disposed of. Single-use containers can often be littered across production sites. If they are disposed of in recycling bins but still contain food or drinks, they can contaminate the entire bin, and it ends up going to the landfill. When uneaten food is improperly disposed of and ends up in landfills rather than being composted, methane can be released when it decomposes.

Construction materials, like lumber, are another common form of waste. Lumber is often used to build sets of varying sizes and designs. These sets can sometimes be deconstructed into their standard components and stored for future use. Materials can also sometimes be shared or sold to other productions. But it’s common for sets to be destroyed and disposed of rather than disassembled and reused. These materials could be sent to landfills or recycling centres. However, when materials like lumber are altered, like with paint or glue — which is common on film sets — they cannot be recycled. Since lumber is an organic material, it produces methane as it decomposes in landfills. 

Other types of waste from film productions include set dressing, props and costumes. Examples of set dressing include furniture, decorations and artwork. Props include flowers, notebooks and other personal items. Costumes could involve fabrics, fast fashion and vintage clothes. All of these items could be acquired new, secondhand or rented. These items have a bit more potential for reuse. After filming, they may be retained for future use or sold to other productions. Non-essential set materials might also be given away to crew and cast members, or donated to charities, thrift stores or local theatre groups. Otherwise, materials are thrown away and sent to a landfill.

Barriers to waste reduction

There are a few reasons why waste reduction may currently be difficult in the industry. 

Productions might have a limited budget that can’t pay for waste diversion services; some productions may only pay for waste to go to landfills, as it’s cheaper and quicker. A lack of these services, as well as infrastructure, like disposal bins, signage, collection dumpsters or storage facilities for material reuse, further complicates waste reduction. 

Crew behaviour and attitudes also play a major role. A lack of knowledge and a general disregard for how to properly sort waste for diversion can undermine efforts. Since many productions are unique and have different requirements, including custom designs, items cannot always be repurposed. Materials are also sometimes damaged, resulting in waste. 

Even when productions try to be more sustainable, there can be additional costs. Renting materials may not always be cost-effective in the long run. Sourcing secondhand materials can also be time- and labour-intensive. Certified sustainable products also tend to be more expensive.

What can be done?

Productions can aim to budget for waste diversion services. Guidance and support from studios and leaders on how to address waste is also crucial to ensure sustainable practices are upheld and ingrained in crew and cast responsibilities. 

Expansive, well-managed storage spaces are also needed for material reuse and waste diversion. A major barrier to reusing production materials is the time and effort required to communicate availability, locate stored items and coordinate logistics to move materials. Industry members should improve communication and collaboration to establish and run a network of well-managed storage spaces. 

Increased collaboration in sustainability is happening in Canada’s film and TV industry. In 2024, a coalition called Green Frame was formed. Led by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the group includes numerous Canadian content organizations and funders working to reduce the environmental impact of film and television production. To achieve this, steps include:

• Collaborating on guidelines, requirements, tools, best practices and training for sustainable production
• Sharing and leveraging resources for research, knowledge exchange and broader industry collaboration
• Engaging underrepresented communities vulnerable to climate change
• Annual reporting on progress and working with other industry coalitions committed to advancing sustainability

Certain waste reduction approaches, like those championed by the St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Association Waste Reduction Group, could also help productions tackle waste. 

For instance, an event like FreeMarket could let productions donate and take items like props, decorations and wardrobe pieces for free instead of buying new ones.

Productions could also implement TerraCycle cigarette collection boxes on set to ensure responsible cigarette butt disposal, while a repair café–style initiative could also help fix props, costumes or set pieces instead of discarding them, extending their lifespan and reducing waste.

One small business trying to minimize film industry waste is Ready Set Recycle. Based in Toronto, they sell many props, costumes and set materials at major discounts, giving them a second life. Ready Set Recycle is located at 254 Bartley Drive.

Summary

Reducing waste in the film and TV industry comes with many challenges, from tight budgets to limited infrastructure and time constraints. But progress is possible through collaboration and creative solutions. 

Rethinking how materials are sourced, used and maintained will help the industry make meaningful steps toward a more circular, low-waste future. Initiatives like Green Frame, along with approaches like reuse markets, cigarette recycling programs and repair café–style services, show how sustainability can be integrated throughout production.

Edited by Jess Blackwell