Green Spark Group: Greening The Film Industry,
One Production at a Time

At first glance, film productions aren’t necessarily considered beacons of sustainability – after all, thousands of cast and crew must be fed, sets are temporarily built and then destroyed, generators leave an impressive environmental footprint… But a deeper dive into the world of filmmaking shows a steadily growing trend towards reducing environmental impact, often in a big way.

In Vancouver, the shift is being spearheaded by companies like Green Spark Group, the only consultancy in British Columbia dedicated to implementing sustainable production initiatives in the motion picture industry. The company has worked with productions like The X-Files, Legion, the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy and Disney’s Noelle, among others.

Green Spark Group is led by Zena Harris, a passionate advocate for environmental awareness and pioneer of best practices in the local film and television industry. Below, Zena shares why sustainable production matters, the process of greening a production, and how Vancouver stands out among other film hubs worldwide as a sustainability beacon.

Describe the process of “greening” a motion picture production.

The first step is making contact. Studios – or a production manager or producer – will typically reach out to us to request support locally with sustainable production. After an involved discussion, we build a strategy and scope of work. Once the client has approved, the real work begins!

We do a lot of brainstorming around the client’s sustainability goals and how we can achieve those goals while staying within budget. Throughout the process, we make sure to continually touch base with the studio and vendors to ensure everyone is on track. As the production draws to a close, we pull together a wrap report that includes case studies, crew insights, a greenhouse gas emissions profile and other relevant data.

Why is sustainability within the entertainment industry so important?

The entertainment industry exerts a powerful influence on the general public. If we want society to shift to more sustainable practices in our daily lives, what better industry to lead the charge than motion pictures? If we can model these practices in such an influential sphere, there is incredible opportunity to shift culture in a truly positive way.

We all know sustainability is important – but how does greening a production benefit the studio?

Everybody likes to point to cost-savings as an attractive byproduct of greening productions; it’s proven that studios will save money by implementing more sustainable practices. But I would also add that sustainable environments positively affect cast and crew health, happiness and wellbeing. For example, if the studio asks catering services to provide less meat (and more fruits and vegetables), they will save money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions – and they will also have healthier options available to the crew.

Are other cities as focused on greening their productions as Vancouver?

Other cities and countries do have similar programs, though Vancouver stands out due to incredible stakeholder collaboration. We have a tight-knit and collaborative community, and that really helps move along the sustainability journey more quickly than other destinations. Also, the infrastructure and support provided by various municipalities is very strong. I bet if you assessed any production currently filming here to determine whether they are actively doing something beneficial for the planet, every single one would be.

Let’s get personal. What’s your favourite all-time Vancouver activity?

I really like kayaking in Burrard Inlet – it’s so fun to see the city from a different perspective!

What do you want people to know about Green Spark Group?

The on-set sustainability support we provide is a key part of what we do, but it’s just one part. We also work with various sustainability companies like Reel Green; we put on sustainability events with partners like Vancouver International Film Festival; and we have partnered with Keep It Green Recycling on the Sustainable Lockup, a collaborative space facilitating material reuse and food donations.

Interested in learning more about Vancouver’s film scene? Click here for film-themed self-guided itineraries, tips from actors and other film industry stars about what to see and do in Vancouver, and much more.