Sustainable video production is a non-polluting way of creating goods and services without causing harm to the environment. Using this method conserves natural resources and energy. Along with the environmental benefits that include reducing waste, harmful emissions and using less materials it can also be economical. All the significant environmental benefits also bring a cost saving side to the production process.
Why is it important?
There are many factors that make sustainability a leading and important issue today. With climate change ever present on news agendas, businesses are realizing are realizing their impact on the world and finding ways to improve their carbon footprint. A recent report by Purpose Disruptors found that the advertising industry could be adding up to 28% more to the annual carbon footprint of every person. With companies choosing sustainable production methods we are protecting our ecosystem, improving the quality of our lives and most importantly preserving natural resources for future generations.
What are we doing about it as Skylark?
As an environmentally conscious video agency, we aim to balance people, planet and profit. Our founder Jo Haywood’s mission in life has been to use the power of video to promote the message of sustainability. With a degree in biology, she made documentary series for the BBC, C4 and Discovery Channel including programs to highlight the potential crises of climate change and pandemics, before launching Skylark Media in 2005. This year, Skylark launched its Original series, a look at environmental solutions for consumers to make a difference at source.
How our digital addiction is destroying the planet
Catering
People need to eat – and when it comes to filming, we always consider the impact of how we cater for shoots. The environmental impact of livestock emissions includes methane, which is up to 34 times more damaging to the environment over 100 years than CO2. We only cater vegan or vegetarian meals on shoot and use reusable cups for minimal plastic waste.
Ad Green
Last year, we undertook in Ad Green‘s sustainable production training to further improve our practices. If you’re in advertising production, we strongly recommend these helpful and free sessions to help lower your carbon footprint you can also use Ad Green’s carbon calculator. The materials that go into the manufacture of tech are extremely costly to the environment, so we often rent rather than purchase new kit.
Location / Working with Local crews
Some of our other commitments include working with local people. When we shoot overseas, we recruit crew members on the ground instead of flying personnel over. Our team members have the choice of working remotely or in our sustainable co-working space at Future Leap. Future Leap offers co-working facilities including environmental technologies, ethical catering and support sustainability. Working with like-minded businesses better facilitates collaboration and creativity.
Shopping locally/ Hiring kit
The materials that go into the manufacture of tech are extremely costly to the environment, so we often rent rather than purchase new kit. As a commitment to supporting local businesses, and fostering a friendly local community, we avoid Amazon where possible, and shop locally. This reduces our carbon footprint as items do not need to be shipped to get to us.
Pedal courier
This is a new and great model we have adopted over the past few months, when delivering any equipment between our staff we no longer use cars or taxis. We work with a local independent pedal courier who cycles and delivers our items.
Transport
When traveling to shoots, we car share to reduce our negative impact on the environment. Most of our team members use bikes as their means of transport both in their daily lives and while travelling to work, with small changes like these you can also help your business move towards a sustainable production path.
Using the Cloud
We use the cloud rather than on premises data storage as it is much more sustainable and good for our environment. You can find out more from our digital addiction is destroying the planet video.
Reducing the usage of plastic
We tend to ask staff and clients to bring reusable coffee cups to shoots or use crockery/glass rather than disposables. If props are bought, they are often hired in, or reused on other projects. We also reduce paper and don’t print out our call sheets.
Educate your team
We can’t put all the above in place without a savvy team that’s undergone sustainability training. Without an educated team it could be difficult for everyone to participate therefore it is always important to have everyone on the same page and to understand their actions and consequences. This way your team members will already be thinking sustainably in their actions and implementing all the necessary steps.
B Corp
And finally, after a year of rigorous high impact assessment, we were awarded our B Corp certification! B Corp measures a company’s entire social and environmental impact therefore, having this status marks your company’s commitment to sustainability and an equal balance between purpose and profit.
What will we be doing going forwards to improve sustainable video production? What you can do too
We are also going to measure big campaigns through the AdGreen carbon calculator and are currently working on one for all our smaller projects. We are always reviewing our production processes and looking at ways to make a minimal impact on the environment. There are many other companies too that you can use to calculate your company’s carbon footprint including Sustain Life, Greenly, and Climate partner.
Finally, to wrap it up
With our planet under threat, money and cost shouldn’t be the primary factors of efficient film production. The film-making industry will benefit in the long run from sustainable videos and environmental awareness. Changing to this new world won’t be easy or quick, but it’s the only way to ensure future generations can keep telling stories through cameras. If you would like our sustainable video production agency to make videos for your company get in touch!
Becky Lomas