How to calculate the carbon footprint of a film or TV production

What a production's carbon footprint is

It is the sum of the emissions generated by the activities needed to make the project. Because different gases contribute to global warming with different intensities, they are all expressed in a single unit, CO2e, so they can be added together and results compared.

The result helps you understand where the production's impact is concentrated, prioritise measures on future projects and meet the requirements of certain certification schemes, platforms or funders.

Why data has to be collected during the shoot

A lot of data is lost if it is not saved when it is generated: the receipt for a fuel top-up, a hotel invoice that goes to someone else, a waste contractor's delivery note. At wrap the crew disperses, and rebuilding that information is slow and unreliable.

That is why it is worth agreeing in pre-production which documents will be needed and who collects them. On set, this task is usually supported by an EcoPA.

What information is usually needed

• Transport: production vehicles, fuel type, litres or kilometres, from transport orders and hire contracts.
• Travel: flights and train journeys with origin, destination and number of trips.
• Accommodation: nights per person and location, from rooming lists and invoices.
• Energy: grid kWh in studios, offices and locations.
• Fuels: litres of diesel or other fuels used in generators.
• Materials: set construction, props and other relevant consumables.
• Waste: quantities and types handed to licensed waste contractors.

The exact level of detail depends on the tool or standard used for the calculation. Some ask for data others do not include, or group it into different categories.

The difference between activity data and emissions

Activity data is what has been consumed or done: litres of fuel, kWh, kilometres or hotel nights. The emission is the result of converting that data into CO2e using an emission factor, which indicates how much each unit of activity emits.

1. 1

   Litres of fuel

   The litres shown on a generator's refuelling invoice.

2. 2

   Activity data

   That quantity, recorded with its date and supporting document.

3. 3

   Emission factor

   The value the chosen methodology assigns to each litre of that fuel.

4. 4

   kg CO2e

   The result of multiplying the activity data by the emission factor.

Emission factors come from recognised sources, but not every calculator uses the same ones or structures the calculation in the same way. Requirements and results can therefore vary by tool or standard, and you should always calculate with the methodology that applies to the project.

Why documentation and evidence must be kept

Every figure must be backed by a document: an invoice, a receipt, a delivery note or a consumption record. That traceability makes it possible to review the calculation, correct errors and answer questions from a certification body or funder.

At La Tribu Verde we centralise each production's documents and data in MERA, so that every figure stays linked to the document it comes from.

What happens when data is missing

It is common for some information to be missing. The key is not to fill gaps with zeros: missing data does not mean there were no emissions. Mark it as pending, try to recover it from the supplier or department concerned and, if the methodology allows, use a documented estimate.

If you need support organising the data and calculating your project's footprint, our services page explains how we work.