Last week, Garden Studios hosted the third edition of Sustainability Behind the Lens – PGGB’s open day for Film & TV production professionals to meet and network with sustainable technology suppliers. The event offered an opportunity to explore greener production solutions, engage directly with suppliers and find out how to make this industry more sustainable through our two panel discussions.
Panel One: Reframing Risk – Embracing Innovation for a Greener Screen
The first panel featured Amelia Price (Co-founder, Sustainable Film and Chair of PGGB’s Sustainability Committee), Louise Marie Smith (Founder & Managing Director, Neptune Sustainability and PGGB Sustainability Committee Member) and Karl Liegis (Head of Production, 60Forty Films and PGGB Sustainability Committee Member). Together, they examined the challenges and opportunities of integrating sustainable technologies into film and television production.
One central topic discussed was the barriers to adopting green technologies. The panellists pointed to a prevailing fear of change, particularly in an industry where producers must constantly mitigate risk. With tight schedules and budgets, many productions hesitate to trial unfamiliar technologies that could disrupt workflows or cause delays.
Despite this hesitation, the panellists shared promising examples of sustainable tech in action. Among the innovations discussed were battery and hydrogen-powered generators, which offer quieter, cleaner alternatives to traditional diesel – improving both environmental impact and on-set working conditions.
Panel Two: From Set to Screen – Building a Circular Film & TV Industry
The second panel brought together Julie Hoegh (Head of Sustainability, Garden Studios), Kate Allan (Co-founder, PropUp Project CIC) and Freya Bruce (Co-founder, ReCollective) to discuss strategies for embedding circular practices in film production.
The panellists highlighted key principles for fostering circularity – from reusing and recycling sets and props to donating materials to charities, schools, or local organisations. The panel stressed that creativity and collaboration are crucial when making environmentally sound choices on and off set.
A standout point was the importance of education in driving long-term change. The panellists emphasised that raising awareness among young people and integrating sustainability education into early career training can create lasting industry transformation. They advocated for production budgets to include sustainability training initiatives as standard practice.
Both panels, hosted by PGGB’s Acting CEO Michael Beavan, aimed to shine a spotlight on the environmental challenges the Film & TV industry is facing. It's only through initiatives like Sustainability Behind the Lens that we can raise awareness and help make Film & TV production more sustainable.
Read more about Sustainability Behind the Lens 2025.
Read more about our Sustainability Committee.
