Best Practice – Do’s and Dont’s for Animation Studios Looking to Develop a Sustainability Strategy

In this article, our Sustainability Manager Valentína Hučková names the best practices when it comes to animation studios developing their sustainability strategy and setting environmental goals. Sustainability strategies are increasingly being demanded as a part of a solid funding strategy, especially on the European level where funders require a solid and ambitious strategy to be in place when they choose which projects to fund. 

Valentína has helped film, TV and animation productions to develop a specific and realistic sustainability strategy for their studios and projects. Have a read of the DO´s and DON’Ts she recommends.

So, what is a Sustainability strategy?

It refers to a long-term plan to reduce environmental impact and support social and economic responsibility. It guides actions like reducing emissions, conserving resources, and promoting ethical practices to ensure a healthier planet and resilient business. For animation studios, this means optimizing operations, workflows, consciously choosing vendors and partners, and planning for the future with the planet in mind.

Animation may seem low-impact, but powerful computers, render farms, and travel all create carbon emissions, adding to our carbon footprint. A clear sustainability strategy helps cut energy use, reduce emissions, and save costs through things like renewable power, smarter workflows, or fewer flights. It also shows clients and audiences that the studio takes climate responsibility seriously, strengthening reputation and future-proofing the work.

Here are some recommendations for you:

Get educated and stay informed

Consider doing training for yourself, for your team, maybe even for your partners and subcontractors. Education is key to being fully on board, because when we understand the scope of the change we need to do, we can really invest the energy and time into it. Working with experienced Sustainability consultants can not only help you learn about the details of your sustainability strategy, but also gain credibility in the eyes of funders.

Partner up for change

Search for partnerships and organizations that can help you meet your sustainability goals. These could include providers of energy-efficient hardware, e-waste management services, green energy suppliers, sustainable catering companies, or even local environmental initiatives. Building a network of like-minded collaborators not only reduces your ecological footprint but also strengthens your studio’s reputation as a forward-thinking and responsible creative business.

Request action from your subcontractors and partners

Your efforts will have a far greater impact if everyone in your supply chain is on board. Ask freelancers, production houses, and other partners to share their own sustainability practices, and include basic environmental standards in your contracts when possible. Encourage them to adopt measures such as using renewable energy (if viable), reducing single-use products, and minimizing unnecessary travel.

Trace your impact (and your subcontractors too)

Data is the foundation of meaningful change. Track your studio’s energy use, waste output, travel emissions, and equipment lifecycle to understand where improvements can be made. Where subcontractors are involved, request similar information so you can assess the full footprint of a production. This transparency allows you to set realistic targets, monitor progress, and identify quick wins (such as switching to more efficient rendering farms or optimizing file storage to reduce server demands).

Set your specific goals and ambitions

It’s hard to make a change when you don’t exactly know what you’re doing. Be specific and realistic, time-based and measurable (SMART goals, anyone?), and try to set goals together with your team and/or the main stakeholders. But just because you should be realistic, does not mean you should not be ambitious in your plans and goals. The availability of information is constantly evolving and more sustainable options are increasing in availability, and so can your goals.

Communicate your journey honestly

Sustainability is an ongoing process, not a one-time achievement. Share your successes as well as your challenges with your team, your partners, and even your audience. Publish regular updates, whether through social media, a company blog, or internal newsletters, highlighting milestones and lessons learned. Honest communication builds trust, inspires others in the industry, and shows that progress, however small, is worth celebrating.

Be concrete

When making plans and talking about them, try to avoid greenwashing. It’s easy to claim action without proof – can you prove everything you say you are doing? When you set out the goals, can you quantify and measure each of them? Try to set performance indicators which will ascertain whether you are on the right track, and within the set timeline, or not.

Don’t change everything everywhere all at once

Be focused and realistic. Start with the areas where you can make the biggest difference and build from there. Set clear, achievable targets so progress feels tangible, not overwhelming. Small, consistent steps create momentum and help others see that change is possible. By focusing your efforts, you’ll be more effective and avoid burnout while still moving toward meaningful impact.

Don’t be vague

Sustainability strategies are a part of major funding schemes, especially on the European and also on the national level. Being vague or just using AI to create a digested strategy in your application can result in low points. Instead, be realistic, take your time to think through what you already do, what you are capable of achieving on your own, and search for help if needed. Available guides on sustainable film-making and Animation are accessible online for free, and so is a plethora of training that you can sign up to, such as BAFTA albert (UK specific). Sustainability Consultants active in the Film and media industries can also offer expert guidance on how to structure your application’s Sustainability Strategy section.

Don’t overlook the impact of your subcontractors, partners, and co-producers

Communicate your commitments and goals, and get all your people on board, including all subcontractors and partners. Your sustainability efforts don’t stop at your own doorstep, everyone you work with plays a part. Share your goals openly and invite partners to collaborate on solutions, whether it’s reducing emissions, cutting waste, or improving sourcing. Clear communication builds trust and accountability, making it easier for others to align with your vision.

And finally… Don’t get discouraged!

It might seem like a whole another thing to worry about, which you just don’t have the capacity for right now… But it is here to stay! Start now, start with small steps, don’t aim for perfection immediately, and be personal when you make your sustainability strategy and think about how to limit your current impact – copy pasting what you found online will be a see-through sign for funders, that you are not investing the energy. Funders are more and more susceptible to deal low points to strategies in funding proposals, if they are repetitive and not innovative.

A few keywords: 

Climate change (more accurately referred to as the climate crisis) – a long-term shift in average weather patterns (such as warming, wetter, or drier conditions) over decades or more. When the Earth absorbs more solar energy or greenhouse gases trap heat, the planet warms; when energy is reflected back into space, it cools.

Borrowing the words of the UN: “Rising temperatures are fueling environmental degradation, natural disasters, weather extremes, food and water insecurity, economic disruption, conflict, and terrorism. Sea levels are rising, the Arctic is melting, coral reefs are dying, oceans are acidifying, and forests are burning.”

Climate change affects everything from the air we breathe to the water we drink, with its harshest impacts falling on women, children, Indigenous peoples, and economically marginalized communities, making it a profound human rights issue.

Carbon footprint – the total amount of greenhouse gases (mainly carbon dioxide) released directly or indirectly by an individual, organization, product, or activity, usually measured in CO₂e (carbon dioxide equivalent). It represents the overall climate impact of daily choices, from travel to energy use. Initially, the term was popularised by oil companies trying to shift environmental responsibility onto individual consumers while denying their own impact, rather than aiming for systemic change. Now, it is used as a useful tool to quantify the impact of not just individuals, but organizations, studios, or activities, too.

Carbon emissions – refer to the release of greenhouse gases (often referred to as GHG) such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide into the atmosphere, expressed as CO₂e to account for their combined warming effect.

Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions – a framework for categorizing an organization’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Scope 1: Direct emissions from owned or controlled sources (e.g. company vehicles, on-site fuel burning)
Scope 2: Indirect emissions from purchased electricity, heating, or cooling
Scope 3: All other indirect emissions in the value chain, such as those from suppliers, product use, travel, and waste

Written by Valentína Hučková