4 Set Design, Scenic Art and Construction The key environmental impacts associated with stage sets come from the materials used and how they are sourced and manufactured, the construction process, and how the materials are disposed of after the production. As much as 80% of a product’s environmental impacts are locked in by decisions made during design4, so it’s important to consider sustainability from the very beginning of your design process. By choosing more sustainable materials, construction and disposal methods, you can have a huge influence on a production’s environmental performance. When sustainability is factored into your supplier relationships as well as your own approach to design and construction, this task becomes a lot easier. For example if you outsource construction, working to engage the workshop with your sustainable aims and/or choosing a workshop that already has an environmental policy will be key. Likewise, working with suppliers that stock sustainably sourced wood, and/or providers of recycled metal products, can save you carbon and, in some cases, cost as well. Set design and construction involves many different expertise and materials, but it’s worth recognising priorities for action. The biggest impacts of set materials come from the materials most commonly used in terms of volume: timber and metal (steel and aluminium). Choosing where to source these materials and how to dispose of them after use can make a massive difference to the carbon footprint of your production.
Key Starting Points Basic practices to start embedding environmental sustainability into your decision-making. Industry Good Practice Pushing it a bit further; impact reducing initiatives that will raise you just above the norm. Leading Ideas Stuff to shout about; the ideas and practices that are beginning to fundamentally change the way we make theatre.
PRE-PRODUCTION Action Set sustainability commitments and targets for the show’s set design, scenic art and construction. Sit down with the producer and director to go through the production’s environmental policy and set measurable sustainability objectives for reducing the impacts from set construction. Design to maximise opportunities to reduce, reuse, repurpose and recycle. If working with an external construction workshop or contractors, share the production’s environmental objectives and ask whether they have an environmental policy. Choose only to work with suppliers and contractors who have robust environmental credentials and an up to date environmental policy.
sustainable production guide – Measure and manage your carbon emissions
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EU Directive 2009/125/EC on Ecodesign (2009). Available at: http://ec.europa.eu/energy/efficiency/ecodesign/ eco_design_en.htm
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