A Blueprint for a Sustainable Set
A successful green production requires the active participation of every single person on set, from the director to the production assistants. The Green Memo is the primary communication tool used to ensure that the entire team understands the sustainability plan and knows how to contribute. It is typically created by the production’s Eco Supervisor or producer and is distributed to everyone along with their start paperwork or on the first day’s call sheet.
Its purpose is to set clear expectations and provide actionable guidance, transforming good intentions into a consistent on-set practice. It serves as a declaration that sustainability is a priority for the production.
Typical Contents of a Green Memo
While the specifics can vary depending on the production’s scale and goals, a comprehensive Green Memo usually includes:
- A Statement of Intent: A brief introduction from the producers explaining why sustainability is important to the production.
- Key Production-Wide Policies: Clear, simple rules that apply to everyone. This is the most critical section.
- Waste: ‘Please sort your waste using our 3-bin system: Compost, Recycling, Landfill.’
- Hydration: ‘No single-use plastic water bottles are provided. Please use your reusable bottle at our water stations.’
- Transportation: ‘Please carpool when possible and turn off vehicle engines when idle.’
- Department-Specific Goals: Brief notes for different departments, such as ‘The Art Department will prioritize sourcing sustainable and salvaged materials’ or ‘Catering will provide plant-based options daily.’
- Key Contacts: The name and contact information for the production’s sustainability point person (e.g., the Eco Supervisor) so crew members know who to ask if they have questions.
By providing this information upfront, the Green Memo empowers the entire crew to be active participants in reducing the film’s environmental impact.