Northern Ireland Screen blazes a trail with UK industry-first Sustainability support scheme
Date Posted: January 30, 2025
Northern Ireland Screen has announced a newly established Sustainability Support scheme– the first of its kind in the UK.
It follows a range of new sustainability policies, as part of a four-year ‘Stories, Skills and Sustainability’ strategy, that aim to encourage the screen industry’s shift toward environmentally sustainable operations.
The scheme represents a new approach for the local screen industry by supporting more sustainable practices across local operations, including equipment, energy sources and food waste.
All scripted productions will be required to use hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) as their primary fuel source, replacing traditional diesel.
That means Northern Ireland Screen will be the first in the UK to make HVO use compulsory across its facilities fleet, on-site generators, forklifts, telehandlers and on-site machinery.
Meanwhile, Belfast-based police drama Blue Lights will be the first production to make use of the innovative policy.
Additionally, all productions, except interactive content, must use BAFTA Albert’s carbon calculator [which allows productions to work out their carbon footprint] to track and report their carbon emissions to Northern Ireland Screen.
As part of a one-year partnership with Olio, a waste reduction platform, all scripted productions must also join the platform to help minimise food and material waste during production.
Northern Ireland Screen Chief Executive Richard Williams said the new initiative signals a significant step toward reducing the environmental impact of film and television production in the region.
“The sustainability drive is expected to bring long-term benefits to both the industry and the environment,” he said.
“We also hope that by having a dedicated grant scheme, we can help make Northern Ireland one of the most sustainable filming regions in the world.”
Northern Ireland Screen’s new Sustainability support scheme offers substantial support to promote the use of innovative technology and overcome financial barriers.
The fund provides £53,500 for large-scale productions, £28,500 for high-end television dramas, £18,500 for children’s drama, and £13,500 for independent films, including new talent initiatives.
Stephen Wright, CEO of Two Cities Television and Executive Producer of Blue Lights, which benefitted from funding, said “We want to help lead the way on sustainable Productions and are delighted to be the first company to make use of this innovative new policy whilst filming series 3 of Blue Lights.”
Funding is available to live action productions that shoot at least 50% of their work in Northern Ireland, with the expectation that all eligible projects will seek access to the fund.
Projects must allocate £3,500 toward hiring a Sustainability Advisor for 10 days, including one to two days of pre-production, to develop sustainability plans.
The advisor must be engaged during the first week of the production office opening.
Approved spending from the fund can be used for a variety of green solutions, including hybrid generators, recycling facilities, portable electric vehicle (EV) charging points, and battery power alternatives.
Additionally, projects can receive financial support for EV car units and solar-powered alternatives. To find out more visit the policy webpage.
