New report details how studios from across the world are coming together to tackle climate change

BAFTA albert has today released the second annual Studio Sustainability Standard report, detailing how 29 studios, from across the globe, are committing to sustainability and driving innovations to help build a net zero society.  

The Studio Sustainability Standard is the world’s first sustainability assessment designed specifically for studio spaces. The scorecard takes a holistic approach and assesses studios based on their impacts and policies across six themes; climate, circularity, nature, people, management and data. This means that the Standard looks beyond carbon impacts – it also explores how studios interact with biodiversity on site and how they embed sustainability principles for staff and productions to build a culture that supports the transition to net zero.

In the 2023/24 cohort 29 studios participated, a significant increase from 12 in the first year. The studios were from the UK, Canada, Hungary, Belgium, and Germany and included EMG studios, CBC Studios, 3 Mills Studios, BBC Studioworks, Astra Filmland, Garden Studios, Great Point Studios, IMG, Sony Pictures, Urban Myth Films, Wolf Studios Wales, Dragon Studios, Sky Studios Elstree, The Bottle Yard Studios, TBY2: A Bottle Yard Facility, RD Studios, Maidstone Studios and others.

The data in this report draws insights from across the cohort. Key findings include:

• Studios scored most highly on the people section of the scorecard – 11 of the 29 studios scored 100% meaning they have a range of policies in place to support the emotional wellbeing of staff including mental health policies or childcare provisions.
• 26 out of 29 studios are run off 100% renewable energy sources – one of the most impactful things they can do to reduce their climate impacts. However, studios need to commit to reducing their climate impacts year on year to align with net zero. Some studios can supply their own renewable energy, Sky Studios Elstree and TBY2: a Bottle Yard Facility both have extensive solar panels on site to supply the spaces.
• 8 out of the 10 studios who participated in years one and two improved their scores, 2 studios by over two grade boundaries. The personalised sustainability plans have been proven to guide sustainable developments for studios.
• Studios are connecting productions to local organisations to help reduce waste sent to landfills by donating props, sets and raw materials. For example, Garden Studios works with ReCollective who upcycle raw materials into new projects including building a barn from upcycled wood.

Matt Scarff, Managing Director, BAFTA albert, said:

“The Studio Sustainability Standard is not only a unique climate assessment for studios but is innovative in that the participating studios have put climate action above commercial needs to help each other progress towards net zero. For the past two years, we have seen how the studios have come together to share best

practices. I am hopeful that this collaboration indicates a positive future towards decarbonisation for the industry.”

Steve Smith, Project Manager, Studio Sustainability Standard and Lead Sustainability Advisor for PictureZero said:

“The 29 studios who participated in this year’s Studio Sustainability Standard are setting the pace for sustainable innovation in the studio sector. It is inspiring to see how they have embedded sustainability across their organisations, from physical infrastructure to workplace culture. I am even more delighted that the majority of the studios who participated in both year one and year two saw an improvement in their scores. This demonstrates the value of the Standard in recommending studio-specific improvements.”