Materials and waste
Actions for this theme are relevant for Art, Catering, Costume, Facilities, Hair and make-up, Locations, Post-production, Production, Script, Sustainability roles and Visual effects departments. We strongly encourage collaborating across departments and sharing knowledge to maximise the positive impact of your efforts and to avoid silo working.
Productions generate unnecessary material waste across departments, with environmental and social factors that need to be considered.
For a typical tentpole production, the Screen New Deal resource consumption data analysis shows that its total waste generation is equivalent to the weight of 313.5 blue whales.
To reduce waste and the impact of materials, a key approach is to reduce where possible, reuse, repurpose (or share) and recycle. Resource efficiency should also support reducing the demand for materials and facilitate reusing materials and hiring locally, resulting in overall material cost savings.
To facilitate these approaches, methods need to be in place across all departments to manage efficient material planning. In addition, connecting these methods with existing networks and material stocks in Scotland – which also benefit from industry demand – will support reducing materials and waste at scale.
Responsible sourcing, including the use of sustainable materials and adherence to ethical supply chain standards (ensuring fair labour practices), should also be considered when purchasing new materials for set components, costumes and props, catering, camera and lighting, etc.