The Green Code Project wants to promote and establish environmentally friendly practices that will help create an International set of standards for the film and media industry. A 2006 UCLA study found  that the US-wide economic activity associated with the activities of the Film and Television Industry in the Los Angeles metropolitan area makes a larger contribution to the nationwide conventional air pollution than 4 of the 5 other sectors they studied (aerospace, oil refining, apparels, hotels, semiconductor).  The Green Code wants to address and offer tools to diminish the Film and Television Industry important ecological footprint. (download the report here)

You can give your support right away by becoming a Greencoder, engaging yourself to do simple actions that will grow soon into an industry wide green revolution!
See the greencoder's list here

NEW! Greening your production budget: In production, In the office, On the team. (bottom of the page)

NEW! Many fantastic features have been added to the website; you can chat on our Green forum, read our page on carbon-offsetting, download and use the Greencoder logo, subscribe to the RSS feed, see the latest Greencoders, and interact with other Greencoders with who's online.

The project in details

A growing group of international filmmakers, media industry partners, environmental researchers and supporters have come together to research, develop, launch and establish a green code for the Media Industries. Consider the greencodeproject as our industries’ own micro “Kyoto Accord” – tailored to the needs and processes of the documentary, film, television and new media industries, and the institutions which support them.

In its simplest form, the greencode is a set of modest, voluntary, environmentally friendly eco-actions, guidelines, standards and principles that encourage ecologically friendly sustainability. Goals we can all buy into, at our own self-selecting levels, from a suite of options and menus of recommendations for improvement in our workplaces and on our productions. From using fair trade coffee to sourcing eco-friendly suppliers. From reducing waste on location, to counting carbon impacts, to using production car co-ops.

Until now, there has not been a pan-industry set of goals and standards created specifically for, and by, the media industries. In different parts of the world, there have been number of positive individual and local initiatives, and proactive best-case examples that the greencodeproject hopes to highlight and bring together. Eventually, facilitated by the greencodeproject, these types of actions will establish themselves as self-regulated norms across the industry by way of a certification process. After all, it didn’t take long for the mainstream media industry to adopt standards for more ethical treatment of animals. Now it’s time to treat the Earth, and humanity, with similar respect.

In this era’s new shift to eco-consciousnesss, the greencode also makes economic sense to the media industry. In the long-term, green friendly productions are the most cost-effective, and profitable, when real accounting principles are considered. For financiers and funding agencies, the greencode might mean asking producers to include a budget line item to account for their environmental footprint, or giving special incentives or tax credits to companies that adhere to the greencode principles and certification. Individual productions could chose to do a full audit of their carbon impact and pay the offsets, or promote the use of alternative energy sources. Over the next few years, productions that adhere to greencodeproject principles would earn the certified right to use a trusted greencodeproject standards stamp of approval.

The greencodeproject hopes to serve all the screen arts and industries. In Canada, and around the world, we are calling on like-minded media-makers, production companies, suppliers, broadcasters, organizations, agencies and funders to join with us in an open affiliation to envision and endorse the greencode. The media industries influence and reflect society’s collective consciousness. They can be a model for other industries and civil society. The greencode for the Media Industries will be a project of Canadian-based, not-for-profit organization with international outreach, the greenmedia institute. It will also be web-based through greencodeproject.org. As a timely, pioneer project, a greencode for the media industries is at the leading edge of the greenwave.

The greencodeproject is about taking action. There is much we need to do. From developing the greencodeproject.org website to establishing an industry-wide consensus and consciousness; from continued research of best practices based on sustainability principles to outreach, communication and education, and establish connections.

Many dedicated filmmakers, producers, broadcasters and media makers are ready to move ahead and become trailblazers in this area. As the idea grows, we hope that filmmakers, companies, patrons and foundations will become early adopters and come into the picture with sustainable funding for the greencodeproject organization. To support the greencodeproject is to support a practical, educational and sustainable process. The greencodeproject welcomes you – and the organizations, foundations and companies you represent. Come dream with us!