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Our team adopted impactful sustainable practices such as using reusable lunch boxes, second-hand wardrobes, and energy-efficient LED lighting,
significantly reducing our environmental footprint.

These efforts, guided by experienced faculty and fueled by our team's commitment to eco-conscious filmmaking, culminated in earning the Green Seal from Environmental Media Association (EMA), establishing School of Art, Design and Media - Nanyang Technological University as the first university in Southeast Asia to achieve this recognition in sustainable film production.

Being recognised alongside renowned studios like Walt Disney, Warner Bros, and other major industry players, which have long set the standard for excellence in filmmaking, makes this achievement even more meaningful and highlights the significance of our efforts.

The Environmental Media Association (EMA) is a non-profit organisation
that promotes environmental awareness through the entertainment industry. 

Each year, the EMA Green Seal award is presented to media productions
that demonstrate outstanding commitment to sustainable practices,
serving as a benchmark for environmental responsibility within the industry.

45 student seals, with university around the world, now submitting applications, including the School of Art, Design and Media, Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, which received it's first Environmental Media Association (EMA) Green Seal.

Auliʻi Cravalho
33rd Environmental Media Awards
Environmental Media Association

Preface

It is essential to be environmentally conscious in today’s day and age due to the staggering amount of waste and carbon footprint generated by industries worldwide. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, global waste generation will increase by 70% by 2050, and the film industry is not an exception.

 

For instance, a film production generates tons of waste, including food containers, plastic bottles, and other materials, which ultimately end up in landfills or oceans. In a local Singaporean long form production, where the average crew size ranges from 50 to 85 people, you can imagine the enormous amount of waste being sent to our landfills each day.

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Putting the wellbeing of the planet at the forefront of our film, the team behind Paper Planes, Don’t Always Soar (PDAS) believes that it is imperative for us to pull our weight and take action to instill change where possible within our production pipelines.

Introducing

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Approximately 5 Minutes Reading Time

The Green Filmmaking Initiative by PDAS was in fact inspired by one of our senior's final-year-project titled, My Name is Tan You Yu, where both crew and cast were mandated to bring their own water bottles for refills instead of receiving their disposable counterparts from the production team.

Here at PDAS, we decided to take it a step further, and include other one-use items such as styrofoam boxes and single-use plastics to test if the reason for expediency truly outweighs efficiency onboard a fast paced working environment. 

In the following write-up, we highlight our efforts in showing by example that being eco-friendly while maintaining convenience in the taxing industry of filmmaking are not in fact mutually exclusive events. Even as a small team of less than 30 members, we believe that the benefits of instilling green efforts in the long run is beneficial for the longevity of this industry and for this planet we live in.

Implementation Plan

1 / The Film Pack

Eco-friendly essentials for sustainable film production

2 / Sustainable Wardrobe 

Vintage clothing, reducing fashion waste

3 / LED Lights

Energy-efficient lighting for low carbon sets

4 / Recycled Paper

Sustainable printing made easy with recycled paper

5 / Secondhand Props

Reusing items for authentic, green storytelling

6 / Reuseable Batteries

Sustainable energy, reducing hazardous waste

7 / Designated Recycling Points

Making recycling accessible on set

8 / Green Label on Set

Promoting environmental mindfulness on set

9/ Eco-friendly Paints for ADM Grad Show 2023

Extending green practices beyond film production

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The Film Pack

Eco-friendly essentials for sustainable productions

For a start, we have collaborated with Gift Market, a leading corporate gift company that has been delivering curated, creative, and highly customized gifting solutions for clients since 2013.

 

With a shared vision of leaving a positive impact on the environment, we are proud to have them as our primary green partner for the Green Filmmaking Initiative.

 

Our partnership with Gift Market is a testament to their commitment to sustainability, and we are thrilled to have their support in achieving our goals.

 

Together, the team has curated a film pack that works towards improving our efficiency in film production. Amongst the four products included are: a Lunch Box, a Thermos Water Bottle, an EZ-link Transit Card, an Eco-Friendly Notebook and Pen

Explore Gift Market

Corporate gifts that deliver delight and inspiration

Eco-friendly Essentials from our Film Pack

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Lunch Box

Waste-reducing, reusable meal containers

To reduce excess food waste, we have opted to serve our cast and crew members using a buffet-style setup. This allows them to take only the amount of food they need, rather than predetermined portions in takeaways that often lead to leftover waste.

With the Lunch Box, cast and crew members will collect their food from the buffet setup and dispose of any food remnants once finished. After ensuring that there is no food waste left, the production team will then collect the lunch boxes, wash and dry them for use in the next meal. Any leftover food from the buffet trays is then brought home by crew members who have brought their own reusable containers. 

Additionally, we have collaborated with the food vendor to use reusable metal trays instead of disposable ones, and we have arranged for the production team to wash and return the trays after each use. These efforts total up and allow us to significantly reduce our waste production.

By providing Thermos Water Bottles to members on board the film, it is ensured that everyone has a reusable bottle to participate in our green initiative by using the water dispenser available on set.  

 

We also color-coded our lunch boxes and water bottles, effectively accomplishing two objectives. First, it helped with hygiene purposes as everyone could easily identify their own products and reduce the risk of cross-contamination. Second, it made it easier for each department to locate their specific products. For instance, the Directing department has their products labeled in red, while the Sound department has theirs in yellow.

Other features of our film pack includes an EZ-link Transit Card to encourage our cast and crew to reduce their carbon footprint with public transportation, as well as an Eco-friendly Notebook and Pen made from recycled paper for jotting down production notes where necessary.