Environmental Sustainability
The screen content industry, in Canada and around the world, is taking meaningful action to reduce its carbon footprint and to minimize environmentally damaging practices.
Telefilm is committed to supporting this transformative journey.
Inspired by the Indigenous perspective, where story and land and language are fundamentally interconnected, we understand that knowledge-sharing and collaboration are essential to our industry’s successful transition to sustainable production. To that end, Telefilm supports research on best practices and encourages their implementation.
We also champion training, partnerships and initiatives that seek to reduce the industry’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Our Vision
As a responsible leader in, and champion of, the Canadian audiovisual industry, Telefilm Canada commits to adopting eco-responsibility as a lens through which we work. This transformative commitment will be actualized in its capacity as:
- an investor in the value chain of content production
- a promoter of Canadian talent, and the industry, both nationally and internationally
- a financial administrator
- an employer and Crown corporation
This is in alignment with the Government of Canada’s target to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
Our Commitment
To lead and support the industry to mobilize collectively through informed, business practices; and the establishing of science-based policies and targets. This commitment will be operationalized through our Programs, Initiatives, Promotion and Communication efforts, Research, Training and HR policies.
Telefilm works with sustainability experts to assess our role and impact, and to better understand our industry’s needs, its environmental footprint and pain points. We have also hired a sustainability advisor.
Telefilm Canada launched the first phase of its action plan on eco-responsibility in January of 2022. There is much work ahead.
The Action Plan lays out seven objectives that will affect three sectors
- Organizational (aimed at work processes and business practices)
- Production (aimed at applicants, partners)
- Promotion (aimed at applicants, both national and international)
The full plan can be found below
Tools and resources for industry practitioners
Looking for support, free training or more information on sustainable practices in production? Please refer to the following links for green vendors, best practice suggestions, green film certification programs and more.
In Canada
*Only available in French
Provincial film commissions providing free training, best practice guidance and resources
- Alberta Sustainable Production Guide
- Creative BC – Reel Green
- Ontario Green Screen
- Manitoba – Reel Green
- Quebec – Rolling Green
- Screen Nova Scotia – Sustainable Production
Unions and Guilds – Members have free access to resources and training
Broadcasters
International resources
*Only available in French
Organizations
- Screen.brussels (Belgium)
- Green Film Wallonia (Belgium)
- *CNC (France)
- Netherlands Film Fund (Netherlands)
- Screen Ireland Green Filmmaking (Ireland)
- Trentino Italy / T-Green Film (Italy)
- BFI (UK)
- Green Filming Tirol (Austria)
- Hamburg Film Commission (Germany)
- Ekosetti (Finland)
- Green Screen (Europe)
- Green Production Guide (USA)
- Creatives Industries Pact for Sustainable Action (International)
- Green the Bid (for commercials)
Carbon calculators
- albert calculator – English and French (Free)
- AdGreen (for commercials)
- *Carbon Clap from Eco Prod (France)
- EURECA (EURopean Environmental Calculator)
- TheGreenShot
- PEACH and PEACH+ from Green Production Guide (Free)
- *Seco2 from Secoya Ecotournage (France)
Research and Conferences
Telefilm is proud to share research findings related to environmental sustainability.
Telefilm Canada commissioned Leger to survey workers in the audio-visual/production industry to assess their interest and awareness towards Susbtainable/Green production practices (SGPP) in the workplace. The survey was conducted as part of Telefilm’s Action Plan on Eco-responsibility 2022.
Industry Impact Studies
- A Screen New Deal (2020) – UK report highlights the systemic change required to be environmentally sustainable
- Global Carbon Emissions of Film and TV Production (2021)
- North American Regional Analysis of Film and Television Carbon Emissions (2022)
- *Environment and Climate: New Challenges for the audiovisual industry (France, 2020)
- CineRegio Green Report 2020 on Sustainability in the European Regions
Conferences and events
*Only available in French
Strategic Commitments
Below are strategic commitments made by organizations towards a more sustainable future.