An environmental policy communicates your commitment as a production to implement sustainable production practices.
It reflects and extends your company’s principles and values, and in turn communicates an expectation on those employed or doing business with your production to uphold these principles.
An environmental policy is the starting point in moving your production towards environmentally sustainable practice.
The template here should be adapted by your producer to reflect the unique culture and values of your production company.
If the template isn’t for you, then the steps below will you in building your own environmental policy.
The guide below was produced by Greening the Screen.
Begin with a statement that reflects your company’s core business mission, activities and position in the screen production industry.
The New Zealand screen production industry aims to create high quality film and television that informs, entertains and educates audiences in our own country and around the world.
Relate this statement to your company s commitment to the environment. You may wish to signpost your wider commitments such as health and safety policy, corporate social responsibility, ethical stance, community outreach, charitable strategy.
New Zealand’s special environmental, social and cultural qualities are central to our screen production industry. We value public confidence and trust and recognise the responsibilities that come with our unique ability to influence audiences and inspire action. Innovation, creativity and stewardship are integral to this vision and our performance.
State your environmental objectives and principles these are material to your organisation and reflect relevant areas of compliance and your significant environmental impacts.
You may wish to indicate your expectation of staff and others whom you rely on to achieve your environmental commitments.
This environmental policy is intended to guide and inform staff and contractors as to how they are expected to carry out their functions, work with one another and in representing the screen production industry to customers, suppliers, shareholders, audiences and the general public.
There should be an explicit statement of commitment from top management, usually the Producer, Managing Director or Chief Executive Officer
The date for reviewing the environmental policy should be stated.
Next review (YEAR)
Additionally, you may wish to address particular issues. Below is a list of potential issues and suggested statements.
Risk assessment, pollution prevention, environmental protection
Strive for energy and water conservation in all existing operations and prefer technologies that enhance energy and water conservation when replacing or upgrading systems.
Encourage and participate in research that seeks realistic solutions to environmental problems. Advocate and apply promising and cost-effective technologies to demonstrate their environmental efficiency. When investing in new technologies, consider energy use, material composition and life cycle impacts including end-of-life disposal.
Educate staff and contractors about environmental issues and encourage them to adopt environmentally responsible practices at work and at home. Share good environmental practice and achievements with the screen production industry, the wider business community, audiences and the general public. Disclose accurate, up-to-date, verified environmental performance data in annual reports.
Support and encourage productions and unit managers to implement the environmental policy. Set environmental objectives and targets, and hold business units accountable for performance and measurement results.
Strive to understand and adhere to environmental laws and regulations, work to identify issues that may not yet be identified in law but could result in adverse environmental effects, and where feasible exceed required levels of compliance.
Seek business relationships with companies that demonstrate environmental ethics. Encourage suppliers, contractors and participant companies to conduct business in an environmentally responsible manner.
Strive to understand and adhere to environmental laws and regulations, work to identify issues that may not yet be identified in law but could result in adverse environmental effects, and where feasible exceed required levels of compliance.
Promote conservation through partnerships with the regulatory, scientific and academic communities, and organisations committed to preserving natural, historic and cultural heritage. Effectively plan and manage business activities and productions to prevent adverse impacts on natural and built environments.
Encourage feedback on environmental policy and practices and seek contributions for improving environmental performance through engagement with stakeholders.
Reduce waste at source in all operations, encourage creative “reduce/reuse/recycle” of waste materials generated in the office, studios and on location (make-up, wardrobe, sets), and dispose of any unavoidable wastes safely.
Measure greenhouse gas emissions and set targets to for reducing emissions. Progress will be reviewed annually.
An industry-wide collaboration for environmental sustainability within the Aotearoa, New Zealand screen sector