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Film production produces a lot of waste, and a large proportion of that waste is made up of plastic. Not surprisingly, since plastic is a large proportion of the world’s waste as well. According to estimates by Safe Food Advocacy Europe, around 220 million tons of plastic waste has been generated in 2024, and that’s not the worst part: a third of this waste is predicted to have been mismanaged and to have ended up in the natural environment.
The same source says that two thirds of the world’s population lives in areas where the amount of plastic waste exceeds the capacity to manage it.
And since most of the plastic that’s been produced since the 1950s (around 8 billion tons) is still around is some shape or form, the first obvious solution to helping solve the plastic pollution problem is simply using less plastic.
In July 2024, during Plastic Free July, we had a month-long series of posts on our LinkedIn page where we shared tips to use less plastic on a film set. We’ve take those tips, added some best practices and earned experience, and put it all together in this article.
- Reusable drinking cups
According to Ecoffee Cup, over 300 billion plastic cups are used globally each year for takeaway drinks, from which 98% end up in landfills and eventually in our oceans.
We encourage productions to adopt reusable swap system for film sets. Instead of single-use cups, crew members can enjoy their coffee or tea in a reusable cup. When they’re ready for another drink, they simply return their used cups and receive a clean, sterilised one in exchange. This simple swap reduces plastic waste and keeps sets sustainable.
There are many options suited both to cold and hot drinks, easy to wash, store and manage.
- Eco-friendly catering
We advise productions to choose catering services that use compostable or reusable containers. We avoid single-use plastic cutlery and plates, opting for biodegradable or reusable alternatives instead.
For example, compostable containers can break down in as little as 90 days, compared to hundreds of years for plastic.
At the end of 2022, we worked on a series where catering used ceramic plates and metal cutlery for the entire 3-month production. We loved not only the fact that there was no plastic used, but also the fact that this sort of lunch arrangement makes you sit down and actually take a break and enjoy the flavours, rather than eat your food on the go.
- Reusable water bottles
As film eco-managers, we encourage the cast and crew to use reusable water bottles to help eliminate single-use plastic waste. We advise productions to provide refilling stations on set and in basecamps and, when possible, to also give the cast and crew reusable bottles if they don’t have their own.
According to the Pacific Institute, it takes 3 liters of water to produce a 1-liter plastic bottle, so switching to reusable bottles not only produces less plastic waste, it also saves water.
Branded bottles also make great film set gifts. We were introduced to them in 2019, when we received silicone water bottles as a welcome gift on a production in Thailand. We spent the next 3 months on set not having to use even one single-use plastic bottle.
- Zero-waste craft services
We advise craft service providers to stock their tables with snacks that come in bulk packaging or minimal, recyclable materials. Individually wrapped items should be avoided to cut down on plastic waste.
Bulk snacks not only reduce packaging waste but also often cost less, making this a win-win for sustainability and budget.
Some snacks can be made even more sustainable: fruits such as apples and vegetables such as carrots make great snacks, are usually bought in bulk and are also super-healthy!
- Plastic-free hair and make-up products
Make-up and hair artists can opt for products that come in recyclable or biodegradable packaging. Thay can look for brands that prioritise sustainability and offer refills.
Reusable makeup applicators, such as washable sponges and brushes, are also a great choice, replacing disposable ones. For hair, professionals can use biodegradable or wooden combs and brushes.
Last, but not least, buying products in bulk reduces the amount of plastic packaging waste and decant into reusable containers.
- Sustainable signage solutions
For practical outdoor signage, use materials like painted wood, metal or bamboo. For indoors, you can also opt for paper or cardboard options that are easier on the environment. Here, you can even go the extra mile and choose with non-toxic inks if you want to make your signs compostable.
- Sustainable wardrobe
For clothes, there are two main avenues that can be taken when it comes both to making the whole Costume Department more sustainable, and reducing plastic use.
Choose Natural Fibers: Use clothing made from natural fibers like cotton, linen, and hemp, which are biodegradable and free from synthetic plastics. Avoid synthetic materials such as polyester and nylon, which contribute to microplastic pollution.
Embrace Reuse: Implement a clothing swap or rental system to reduce the need for new purchases, or resell them after the end of the shooting. This not only cuts down on waste but also promotes a culture of reuse and sustainability on set.
- Sustainable office supplies
For production offices, the team can choose plastic free stationery: pens, pencils, and notebooks made from recycled or biodegradable materials. Plastic binders and folders should be avoided, and replaced with cardboard or other sustainable options.
Also, digital tools should be used as much as possible to reduce reliance on physical office supplies.
- Bioplastics
When plastic use is unavoidable, the question comes down to what plastic we CAN use. Reducing plastic waste means that we should find solutions to every plastic product we have today, so they are durable, easy to make, affordable and eco-friendly. Until we can entirely manage to do that, we can replace regular plastic with bioplastic.
Bioplastics can help us make our sets greener by replacing regular fossil-based plastic in drinking cups, packaging, some of the props we use and even the bags we throw garbage in. Unlike regular plastic, which is made from petroleum or gas, bioplastic is produced from renewable biomass sources, such as vegetable fats and oils, corn starch, straw, wood chips, recycled food waste, etc. PLA (polylactic acid) plastic, for example, is both made from renewable sources and compostable.