Productions Attain albert+ Certification

A number of high profile independent productions have attained Bafta albert+ certification, leading the way across the TV industry in creating sustainable productions.

Kirstie Allsopp and Phil Spencer's production company Raise the Roof Productions has attained albert+ certification for its Channel 4 commissioned show, Love It or List It.

Working closely with the albert team, the production put a number of practices in place including a coordinated travel plan involving a reduction in the use of cars, use of hotels with sustainability credentials, use of local crews, the non-use of polystyrene and plastic, and the use of Skype rather than travelling to meetings, which ensured it reduced its carbon footprint.

Talking about the certification, Kirstie said: "albert+ is about really thinking about a sustainable production and putting your money where your environmental mouth is."

Phil adds: "Joining the albert+ scheme has been really interesting and we are pleased it really has helped us make the programme far more sustainable. It also helps towards a greener TV industry, which is good news for everyone."

Love It or List It gaining certification comes hot on the heels of a number of other productions that have reduced their carbon footprint significantly.

Desi Rascals by Buccaneer Media, the first production on Sky Living to achieve albert+ certification, saved 16 tonnes of Co2 –13 tonnes of which was saved on travel alone. These savings were made by implementing a number of sustainable initiatives that included a coordinated travel programme, the elimination of disposable cups and water bottles, creating a paperless production and instigating a widespread re-cycling provision.

For Sky 1, A League of Their Own, produced by CPL Productions and starring James Corden, achieved certification by using Google Map Engine planning for all travel, low energy lighting, the prop and staging company worked to ISO 14001 and the overall production had opt-in printing.

Desi Rascals and A League of Their Own are the latest programmes to go through the albert+ certification with Sky as it works with external production companies to measure, manage and reduce their environmental impact.

The Graham Norton Show (So TV for BBC One) gained its rating by using low energy lighting, using the same set for 17 series, planning travel more strategically and reducing printing by 50%.

Aaron Matthews, Industry Sustainability Manager albert+, said: "It is so encouraging that this first tranche of productions have achieved albert+ certification. Through a range of innovative practices employed in decreasing carbon footprint, they have demonstrated that making changes in production practices can have a major sustainability impact on a production company leading to a number of environmental and indeed, monetary benefits."

In addition to the above, Hat Trick Production has joined albert as a consortium member. Chaired by BAFTA's Chief Operating Officer, Kevin Price, the consortium includes the UK's largest production companies and broadcasters – all3media, BBC, Channel 4, Endemol, IMG, ITV, Kudos, NBCUniversal International Television, Sky, Shed Media, Twofour, UKTV and now, Hat Trick Productions.

Laura Djanogly, Joint Director of Production Hat Trick Group, said: "Having used albert to measure carbon usage on our productions for some time now, we are pleased to have joined the Consortium and are looking forward to rolling out further sustainable initiatives across all our productions."

The Consortium provides training on the use of the Albert carbon calculator and techniques in sustainable production, including the 'albert+' certification, as well as providing strategic direction for the group. The group also defines best practice and works collaboratively with associations and suppliers to help the industry move towards sustainable ways of working.

Image credit: PA.

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(JP)