Making a Film Festival Greener
About this good practice
Policy formulation for all TFF’s activities requires specialized consulting services. Thus, in March 2023, the Festival assigned to an expert consultant on sustainable cultural management the task of designing the Organization's environmental policy, strategy and action plan and their effective implementation.
TFF has commissioned a carbon footprint analysis and energy audit of its venues and operations.
TFF is a co-signatory of the Green Charter for Film Festivals, a European initiative of the Festival Network MIOB. By registering, festivals commit to “follow a progression path to lower the pollution generated by our activities and be in a constructive attitude towards our environment”.
A Green Team was formed, with the participation of staff members from across the organization. Three introductory training seminars have been held for all employees and partners, as well as for festival volunteers.
A series of individual advisory-educational workshops (thematic seminars) are currently taking place, on the following subjects: policy-strategy, legal & ethical issues in regards to environmental sustainability and sustainable management, energy & water management, materials & waste management, procurement, digital footprint & digital sobriety, travel & offsetting, communication & outreach).
Resources needed
The Festival tries to utilize European financial tools. The energy upgrade of Olympion is co-funded by the Region of Central Macedonia and the European Regional Development Fund. The Festival wishes to finance further energy upgrading interventions for the OLYMPION, Warehouse C and Cinema Museum.
Evidence of success
TFF collaborates with VIPA GREECE S.A., InCommon,and Cigaret Cycle. VIPA showed that water coolers reduced the single-use plastics. InCommon reported that training partners, guests and audience contributes to sorting at source. Cigaret Cycle's reported in 2022, 70.800 cigarette butts collected, while in 2023 102.500 cigarette butts were recycled, 718 m3 of sweet/salted water was saved from pollution, 656 kg of CO2 was not released in the environment, 15.980 MJ of non-renewable energy was saved.
Potential for learning or transfer
TFF communicates its environmental policy to public and private bodies to encourage them adopt similar practices & become active partners for green and sustainable future. Access to training material, good practice guides, case studies from the cultural sector internationally is provided to Festival’s team. Regular updates for climate issues and innovations in sustainability are shared among staff members. Emphasis is placed on training and compliance with the general framework of the Green Deal and individual policies, e.g. EU: Green Procurement, Greening Creative Europe, and on carbon offsetting frameworks and best practices to avoid greenwashing. TFF’s environmental policy revises internal procedures, updates work protocols and re-evaluates priorities. In order to achieve this change of mentality, TFF cultivates and develops green skills among staff and collaborators, embeds sustainable clauses in the job descriptions and roles of employees & in the contracts of external partners.
Further information
Documents
Website
Good practice owner
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