Garden Studios has improved our rating to ‘Very Good’ in the Albert Studio Certification for our work in sustainability in the film and TV industry. We sat down with our Head of Sustainability, Julie Hoegh, to discover what the certification means for Garden Studios and why it is important for other studios to follow suit.
Why was it important for Garden Studios to pursue albert sustainability studio certification in the first place?
Environmental sustainability and community engagement have been core values since Garden Studios was set up in 2021, so when Albert started to offer studio sustainability certification, it was an easy decision for us. We have participated in the standard since its inception.
What does the albert certification represent for the studio in terms of values and long-term vision?
Alongside our B Corp certification, our Very Good Albert Certification sends a strong signal to our clients that we are serious about sustainability. We want to be at the very forefront of how studios can help film productions meet, even exceed, their ESG ambitions, but we also want to lead by example and ensure that our own operations are as sustainable as possible. We continuously work to improve our certification ratings.
What role do you think sustainability certifications like albert play in the broader film and television industry’s journey toward net zero?
Certifications are good motivators and an effective lever in driving decisions towards sustainable outcomes internally. Also, it fosters a bit of healthy competition between studios. Who doesn’t want to beat their competitors? Participation in Albert’s Studio Standard is now reaching a tipping point where it’s starting to look concerning if a studio doesn’t take part, which is effective in driving the sustainability of our industry.
Can you share any examples where sustainability directly shaped the way a production was planned or executed at the studio?
We’ve had numerous productions where our clients have been engaging with our internal reuse initiative, Re-Set. Re-Set is a programme designed to maximise reuse of set material and props and minimise waste and skip costs. One production, the MUBI documentary Witches, was particularly successful in achieving this. From the outset, we worked closely with the Art Director and managed to plan for donation of all set material and props, with the exception of a few flats, to our local community partners. Our network of schools, artist studios and charities lined up on strike day to take their donations. It all worked beautifully and proves that, with a bit of planning, this is possible.
What role do you think studios play in influencing the rest of the production ecosystem, crews, suppliers, creatives, toward greener practices?
When it comes to suppliers, studios have influence. We always check the sustainability credentials for the suppliers we enter new contracts with, and we try to nudge our existing suppliers towards more sustainable practises. There’s a bit of greenwashing going on and some unverifiable claims, so certifications come in handy as they indicate that an independent third party has assessed the company. Of course, not all certifications are equally stringent, so we look at that as well. When it comes to our clients, apart from our diesel generator, single use plastic and idling ban, we cannot dictate what they do, but we can certainly nudge. We make it clear that we’re here to help make sustainable practices easy and offer practical help and advice along the way.
What advice would you give to other studios considering pursuing albert certification?
Just do it! You don’t need to be perfect from day one, none of us are. It is an interesting process and you learn a lot about the way your company operates. Not all of the changes you need to make are costly and many of those you need to invest in will save you money in the short to medium term. Ideally, one staff member, preferably someone who is interested in sustainability, should oversee the certification process, as many departments will need to be involved. Changing the culture internally can take time but is even more satisfying when it happens. I’ll be happy the day my role is superfluous, and sustainability is baked into everyone’s way of operating. We still have some way to go.
