Filming commercials and other promotional messages goes on every day in southern California, New York City and around the world. A great deal of talent, skill and time goes into those snippets of imagery and action – and a great deal of waste.
Making commercials create about 18 million pounds of “commercial waste” a year; about half of which is food waste, the rest is specific to the industry, such as gels, duvetyne and cinefoil (black materials used to absorb light on shoots).
A new “green” company, EcoSet Consulting, focuses on greening commercial, TV and film sets and works with Target on 90% of the retailer’s commercials.
Since 2009, Target and EcoSet claim to have diverted 100,016 pounds from landfills, which is 85% of all waste generated by Target’s broadcast shoots in Los Angeles. Materials are composted, recycled, or donated for reuse.
Rather than turning to carbon offsets as a single solution to wasteful production, EcoSet is intent on making production itself more sustainable.
