Working in the Film and TV world, we are very aware how materials intensive our work can be and how sets often only stand for a few weeks or months. We believe it’s up to us all to reuse and recycle as many of the set elements as we can without impacting on our client’s need for confidentiality.
We have already implemented changes to reduce the environmental impact of our work by:
- Building sets from smaller flattage elements whenever practical so they can be more easily stripped down, transported and reused. If you think you might be offended to see second, third and even fourth hand flats being used in your builds we may not be the right company for you.
Eliminating chipboard flooring from our sets as the panels are too easily damaged and hard to reuse. Instead our subfloors are built up from good quality softwood plywood and OSB Sterling boards. Together these make quiet and durable floors which can be reused multiple times.
- Reducing with an aim to eliminating our use of far eastern hardwood plywood. We have little confidence that these boards are sustainably produced. We have settled on a Poplar plywood which has good environmental credentials and performance. Notably, it is lighter in weight which reduces the carbon footprint involved in its transport.
- Reducing the amount of timber that is sent for landfill or for use in biomass electricity generation. Our timber for flat making is grown in well managed pine forests in Eastern Europe. This softwood is fast growing and sequesters large amounts of carbon dioxide for the life of the timber so we are committed to reusing and recycling as much as possible.
- Reducing use of Formaldehyde bonded MDF sheets. Like all set construction companies we use significant quantities of MDF fibreboard. We are committed to using ZF (zero formaldehyde) sheets whenever possible.
- Phasing out use of paints and finishes high in VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds). Our painters already use water based paints wherever possible. Almost all the coloured emulsion paint we use is supplied to us by John Mylands who manufacture in South London using a large proportion of earth pigments. There is some chemistry involved but Mylands own policy is to strive to reduce these whenever possible. Left over mixed colours are used to prime back cloths and flats wherever possible. Of course they also need to use spirit based finishes like shellac and varnish. We take care to dispose of waste paint and solvents in as environmentally sensitive way as possible.
- Partnering with waste companies who are committed to maximising recycling and avoiding land fill. Our waste management company has an impressive recycling rate and almost none of the material we send to them is sent to landfill. They are committed to improving this rate and we are exploring how to reuse hard to recycle materials like plastered plywood.
- Powering our operations using electricity from renewable sources. Our workshop is powered using electricity generated from renewable sources.
- Reducing the carbon footprint of our transport operations. We own an electric panel van which is used for pick ups and deliveries whenever possible. Our next purchase of 3.5 ton vans will be electric as the range and payload of these vehicles will soon reach what we consider practical.
- Partnering with a charity to reuse and recycle materials for sustainable architectural projects.
