European Environmental Calculator (EURECA)

By project Green Screen

Published on 21 August 2024

Spain

Andalucía

Málaga

About this good practice

Green Screen had some pioneering partners. such as Film London, the Flanders Audiovisual Fund (VAF) and the Paris Film Region as examples of good results in the implementation of green policies in the audiovisual sector.
With that intention, we took the Belgian calculator that VAF was using and as a good practice within Green Screen, we adapted it for the Spanish audiovisual industry. The Belgian calculator was very complicated to use, so we tried to make the Spanish version easier to use. At that time, at the end of 2018, there were three different calculators within our Association: the Belgian one, the French one and our own, and we did not have a clear understanding of the differences between them
We came to the conclusion that there needed to be a tool for all of Europe rather than a tool for each country. That was the origin of this good practice: Eureca (European Environmental Calculator - https://www.eurecafilm.eu/). Promálaga worked with VAF and the Slovak Audiovisual Fund to develop the specification for the new Eureca calculator and tool.
Objectives:
HELPS COMPANIES to evaluate/report on emissions but also to make decisions during planning.
Achieve uniform CONVERSION FACTORS
CONSOLIDATE DATA - Facilitates the consolidation of data from different productions at a regional, national and European level.
BE FRIENDLY - It is intuitive and easy to use. It has an affordable cost for agencies and is free for the end user.

Resources needed

In monetary terms, we spent 28,900 euros (without VAT) for the technical development (this Pilot action/project was co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund).

Evidence of success

So far,in a testing phase,15 productions have participated in the use of the carbon footprint calculator and have managed to reduce their carbon emissions by at least 6%.
Thanks to this process,a validation and methodology for standardization has been designed, implemented and tested and may serve as a future protocol for creating a sustainable film seal and ensure that audiovisual productions that adhere to the protocol achieve a minimum goal of reducing 6% of GHG emissions and in recognition

Potential for learning or transfer

Our previous experience of adapting VAF’s calculator and starting to use this with the AVP sector led us to identify the need for the existing calculator to include some additional features:
a) Measure the wider ecological impact of the film production process.
b) Be much more user-friendly.
c) Improve its usability for the AVP companies/productions.
d) Provide resources to help the producers with sustainability planning as well as monitoring and reporting.
e) Facilitate the conversion and consolidation of carbon data across different countries and regions.