Let's make TV greener

If you watch The Graham Norton Show on BBC1 tonight, you will notice a footprint logo at the end of the credits. It signifies that the team behind the programme are working hard to cut their impact on the environment.

The show has just achieved a rating under the albert+ scheme, and the logo is their stamp of achievement. The team has reduced carbon emissions from energy consumption by using low energy lighting, and has cut emissions from fuel by using hybrid vehicles as much as possible.

They’re also making real progress cutting paper waste in the studio and estimate they’ll save almost 10,000 sheets of paper this series. The set itself has been re-used again and again – in fact for 17 series, more than 240 shows.

Gaining the albert+ mark was a team effort, with the production team, crew and suppliers all playing their part and embracing sustainable production.

The BBC is at the forefront of sustainable production and we want many more to follow this lead.

It matters to our audiences. Operating with consideration for the environment couldn’t be more important. We know our audiences care about the environment and are concerned about climate change. It’s simply the right thing to do to play our part by reducing our impacts on the environment and using resources wisely. Plus it introduces more efficient ways of working and saves the BBC money, which means we can invest more back into programmes.

What’s more, it’s getting easier all the time. The tools are there to aid programme makers take steps to adopt a ‘greener’ approach in the TV production process. New ‘cleaner’ technologies, such as low energy lighting, fuel cells to power camera batteries or solar power generators are increasingly being used by programme makers who want to make the difference.

In particular, albert and albert+ - two tools developed and launched at the BBC - are now being used across the TV production industry, by broadcasters and producers alike.

Albert is a bespoke carbon calculator for TV production developed at the BBC and launched in 2010.  It is used across BBC Television, so we can better understand where we can make improvements during the production process.  We’ve ‘footprinted’ more than 1000 BBC productions since launch – an achievement not matched anywhere else in the world.

We think of albert as the set of carbon scales for TV production. What we needed next was the diet plan.  Enter albert+… 

This is a structured approach to sustainable production, proposing measures that teams can take to be more environmentally-conscious. Cutting waste and reducing emissions can be achieved through energy use, waste management, catering, set materials, and post production. Albert+ records the team’s efforts, which are checked by an independent audit team. A one, two, or three star rating is then awarded to the production.

Since being piloted at the BBC, and launched in 2013, 21 BBC programmes have achieved the albert+ rating.  A range of BBC programmes, spanning many genres and channels have received the footprint stamp of approval at the end of their credit, including CBBC programmes such as All At Sea and Gigglebiz, BBC Natural History Unit’s SpringWatch, AutumnWatch and WinterWatch and  continuing drama Casualty,  and we’re working with several more.

BBC programme teams are constantly trying new ways of working, sharing their ideas and really making a difference to our industry.

Through the BAFTA-led albert Consortium, set up in 2011 to promote sustainable production, Sky, ITV, Channel 4 and UKTV and a number of independent production companies are using albert and albert+. The Graham Norton Show producer So Television is owned by ITV, a supporter of sustainable production since the consortium was established.

The first programme to display the albert+ badge on screen back in May 2014 was drama From There to Here, made by Consortium member Kudos for BBC1.

Sky meanwhile has made albert part of the commissioning process, really driving take-up across the industry.

It’s important that we address the challenges we face together, putting in place industry-wide solutions and processes rather than heading off in separate directions.

But of course there’s much further to go - we need more examples of sustainable production in practice to share, and for more programmes, broadcasters and production companies to join in. 

We want sustainable production to be simply the norm for our industry. There’s a huge opportunity to learn from – and lead – this transition.

• Hattie Park is the BBC’s project manager for environmental sustainability