Wednesday 2 September 2020

The carbon footprint of an average blockbuster film ‘is equal to 11 trips to the moon’

The average blockbuster film creates 2,840 tonnes of carbon dioxide during production, the equivalent of 11 one-way trips from the Earth to the moon.

That's according to a new report by the British Film Institute (BFI), which estimates emissions contributed by air travel alone on a blockbuster film's production are equivalent to flying one way from London to New York 150 times, or 3.4 million car miles.

Produced as a collaboration between the BFI’s Research and Statistics Fund, which is supported by the National Lottery, the BAFTA-led consortium albert and Arup, the 'first of its kind' study also suggests the carbon footprint from accommodation used on production is equivalent to the use of electricity by 34 homes for one year.

To produce the report, Arup looked at sustainability data from more than 19 productions filmed in the UK and the US in the last five years to assess resource consumption patterns and carbon emissions.

Expensive blockbuster films with budgets of $70 million (£52m) or more were chosen for the analysis on the basis that they would have the largest carbon footprint.

The study showed transport contributes to 50% of total emissions, 30% of which is air travel and 70% is land transport. Energy consumption is the second largest factor, contributing 34%.

Harriet Finney, Director of External Affairs for the BFI, said: "This piece of work is not the solution to delivering greater environmental sustainability but it provides us a valuable route map for taking forward positive action.”

Pippa Harris, Chair of the albert Film Forum and Producer at Neal Street Productions, commented: "We cannot continue to create films in the same manner we did before with no long-term plan for the environment around us.

"It's time for our industry to lead the way both on and off screen and rebuild for a cleaner, greener future."