BAFTA albert: sustainability and carbon footprint in film and TV production

What BAFTA albert is

albert works with production companies, broadcasters and screen industry professionals. As well as its tools for productions, it publishes guides, training and case studies, and takes part in industry initiatives on topics such as clean temporary power on set or emissions tracking. Up-to-date information about its programmes is on its official website (opens in a new tab).

Its approach: measure in order to reduce

A central part of working with albert is the carbon footprint: knowing which emissions a production generates and where they are concentrated. That knowledge supports better decisions on the project itself and on the next ones.

Alongside measurement, albert includes a certification process linked to the production's sustainability actions. The specific criteria and how they apply are defined in its official documentation.

Why planning matters

As with any standard, what is decided in pre-production shapes the result: locations, energy, transport, accommodation or suppliers. Planning also means knowing in advance what data the tool will ask for, so the crew collects it from day one and it does not have to be rebuilt later.

What production data is needed

The albert calculator works with production activity data. In general terms, this usually involves information such as:

• Energy in offices, studios and locations, and generator fuel.
• Road transport: vehicles, fuel or distances.
• Crew flights and train journeys.
• Accommodation: nights and location.
• Other areas such as materials, catering or waste, depending on what the tool covers.

The exact categories, how data is entered and the level of detail required depend on the current version of the tool. More background on the process in how to calculate the carbon footprint.

The carbon footprint, with its own methodology

albert's results are obtained with its calculator and methodology. They should therefore not be mixed with calculations made with other tools or standards, nor should emission factors from other sources be used to anticipate the result. What you can do is prepare the activity data properly so it is entered correctly.

Monitoring measures and documentation

During the shoot you need to monitor the measures applied and keep the documents that back each figure: fuel and energy invoices, rooming lists, tickets, transport orders or waste delivery notes. Keeping that documentation organised makes it easier to review the information before entering it.

At La Tribu Verde we organise that data and those documents in MERA, our in-house tool; the footprint is always calculated in albert's own tool. Our services page explains how we support productions through this process.