Carbon emissions in the audiovisual sector are a bit like the behind the scenes of a film: we don’t always see them, but they are there! To understand where and how production generates CO₂, we must look at the 3 scopes of emissions.
📢 Spoiler alert: Yes, cameras and lights pollute, but the biggest impact does not always come from where we imagine…
In this article, we explain scopes 1, 2 and 3 simply and concretely—nd most importantly, what that means for audiovisual production. 🎥
Table des matières
What are emissions scopes?
Emission scopes are categories used to classify greenhouse gas emissions generated by human activity in a carbon footprint. They make it possible to identify the origin of emissions:
- Scope 1: direct emissions produced by the activity itself (e.g. on-site fuel combustion).
- Scope 2: indirect emissions linked to the consumption of purchased energy (e.g. electricity, heating).
- Scope 3: broader indirect emissions, encompassing all upstream and downstream impacts (e.g. transport, manufacturing of materials, waste management).
Scope 3 represents more than 80% of carbon emissions of an organization, because it takes into account all emissions across the entire value chain of a product or activity. However, it can be complex to measure and standardize. To prevent certain broadcasts from being voluntarily omitted, different methodologies have been put in place in order to harmonize the calculations and guarantee a reliable evaluation.
The scopes have been defined between 1998 and 2011 within the framework of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol), which is today one of the most used standards worldwide for reporting carbon emissions.
Here is how the different scopes of emissions are organized in the particular case of film production ⤵️
Scope 1
🚗 Team journeys
🔋 Generators on set
Scope 2
⚡ The energy used to power the stage and ancillary premises
Scope 3
📦 Transportation of equipment
🎥 Manufacturing of shooting equipment
📢 The impact of film promotion
🎟️ The journeys of spectators to go to the cinema
🍽️ The impact of canteen and table meals
👗 The production of sets and costumes
Etc…
Scope 1: direct emissions
👉 Scope 1 includes all broadcasts directly generated by audiovisual production, that is to say those linked to the use of fossil fuels on set.
These emissions mainly come from production vehicles, generators and technical equipment running on fuel. For example, trucks transporting equipment, vehicles used by the team commute to set and even generators powering an outdoor shoot fall into this category.
Productions that use physical special effects, such as explosions or real flames, also generate scope 1 emissions, since they require the use of flammable products.
📉 How can we reduce these emissions?
To limit this impact, it is possible to opt for more sustainable alternatives, such as the use of electric or hybrid vehicles, the use of rechargeable batteries instead of diesel generators, or even better logistics organization to reduce unnecessary travel.
Scope 2: indirect emissions linked to energy
👉 Scope 2 concerns indirect emissions linked to energy, purchased and consumed on set and in adjacent premises.
This includes electricity used to light sets, operate audiovisual equipment, or power production and post-production offices. A studio running indoors, for example, may require very high energy consumption for lighting, heating, air conditioning and rush storage servers.
If the energy comes from an energy mix including fossil fuels (coal, gas, fuel oil), its carbon impact will be higher. Conversely, if production uses electricity from renewable sources (solar, wind, hydraulic), scope 2 emissions can be considerably reduced.
📉 How can we reduce these emissions?
To act on this lever, productions can favor studios equipped with green energy, optimize their consumption thanks to LED lighting and limit energy-consuming equipment.
Scope 3: other indirect emissions
👉 Scope 3 is by far the largest and often the most significant in terms of carbon impact, since it brings together all indirect emissions linked to production, apart from the energy directly consumed.
This includes the transport of equipment, the manufacturing of shooting equipment (cameras, lenses, drones), but also the sets and costumes used for filming. The management of waste generated by filming, often thrown away after use, is also part of this category.
Beyond the production itself, scope 3 also includes post-filming elements, such as film promotion, crew travel for previews and festivals, or even the storage of digital data. Another aspect that is often underestimated is the impact of the audience: the journeys of spectators to see a film at the cinema represent a significant part of the overall emissions of a production.
📉 How can we reduce these emissions?
To limit these emissions, it is possible to act on several levels: pool transport, encourage more eco-responsible solutions in catering (e.g. limit disposable packaging and favor local products), reuse and recycle sets and costumes, or even optimize the use of data centers for digital storage.
Who is affected by these scopes of emissions?
As of 2023, companies with more than 500 employees must integrate scope 3 emissions into their reporting alongside scopes 1 and 2 — which includes all indirect emissions generated throughout their value chain.
The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) is a European directive that entered into force in 2024, with gradual implementation until 2028. It requires eligible companies to comply with new reporting obligations in terms of environment, social responsibility and governance (ESG) ⚖️
In their reporting for the year 2026, companies covered by the CSRD must meet at least two of the following three criteria:
- A turnover of more than 50 million euros
- A workforce exceeding 250 employees
- A balance sheet total exceeding 25 million euros
SMEs listed on a regulated market in Europe (excluding micro-enterprises) will have to apply the directive from 2027, with a transitional period of two years to facilitate their adaptation.
The specific issue of scope 3
Scope 3 is a key lever in reducing emissions on a global scale, because it encompasses all of the indirect impacts of a company, throughout its value chain; each company is, in turn, the scope 3 of another. 🔄
Even without regulatory obligation, carrying out a carbon assessment integrating scope 3 becomes essential. On the one hand, this assists customers and partners who are subject to new regulations meet the requirements. On the other hand, this approach offers a competitive advantage by enabling companies to better understand, control and reduce their environmental impact.
Integrating scope 3 into a low-carbon strategy is therefore not just about compliance, but about a long-term vision aligned with the objectives of carbon neutrality by 2050 and with a policy of corporate social responsibility (CSR) increasingly expected by the market. 🚀
How to measure indirect emissions?
If measuring the direct emissions of a production is relatively simple, quantifying indirect emissions (scope 3) remains a real challenge. There is no single method, because the calculation is based on a variety of scattered data coming from transport, accommodation, materials used, or even digital consumption.
In the audiovisual sector, this means taking into account all the impacts of a project, from the construction of the sets to the broadcast of a film or series. 🎬
According to Ademe, only 9% of companies report having the capacity to estimate their scope 3 accurately.
To structure this approach, several sector-specific carbon calculators have been developed. Carbon’Clap, Albert And Peach Pear Plum make it possible to estimate the carbon footprint of production using recognized methodologies, such as GHG Protocol or the Bilan Carbone®. These tools are essential for identifying the most emitting positions and implementing appropriate reduction actions.
But data collection remains a tedious and time-consuming step. A facilitator like GreenPro allows you to automate recovery and processing of carbon data. By directly integrating information from invoices, budgets or service sheets, this tool simplifies monitoring and avoids errors linked to manual entry. ✅
It also ensures reliable traceability and facilitates the production of the extra-financial report, a valuable asset for meeting the requirements of the CSRD and undertaking concrete impact reduction actions.
Meet an expert to discover the solution
The scope 4 project, avoided emissions
For several years, experts have suggested going further by integrating a “scope 4”, which would correspond to the CO₂ emissions avoided thanks to more sustainable solutions. The idea is to measure the positive impact of a product or service when it replaces a more polluting alternative. 👌
For example, a company that develops energy-saving equipment, advanced recycling systems or even video-conferencing solutions to avoid travel could promote these actions in its carbon footprint. L’ADEME in France and EFRAG in Europe encourage this reflection, even if no official methodology has yet been standardized.
The companies defending this project identify three types of avoided emissions:
1️⃣ Replace a polluting solution with one less emitting alternative
2️⃣ Reduce your emissions by investing in solutions bas-carbone
3️⃣ Finance sustainable projects in connection with decarbonization
Even if scope 4 is not yet officially recognized, it opens the way to a new approach to carbon footprinting, where companies could not only reduce their emissions, but also highlight their positive contributions to the ecological transition.
