How to guide for the production design team and art department
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This toolkit is compiled and designed for user-friendly access for all industry members especially the art department and team, in order to decrease a film's carbon footprint and become a more sustainable production.
This green-production toolkit will follow the four key areas, namely 1 - set building, 2 - set-dressing, 3 - props and 4 - costume and wardrobe and 5 - hair and make-up. 
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1. Set building

  • Use existing locations. 
  • Decrease travel and shipment during set building.
  • Use local materials, art department crew and hardware.
  • Go paperless.
  • Work digitally when communicating with the art department - drawings, plans and blueprints could be done and shared digitally.
  • Reuse existing sets.
  • Use nails instead of screws - easier to take apart the components and reuse the flats.
  • Use materials with eco-labels, such as FSC timber.
  • Use of second-hand building materials.
  • Use and reuse sustainable hardware.
  • Use eco-conscious and sustainable materials and products such as wood, paper, brushes, tools, varnish and paints.
  • Use biodegradable materials.
  • Recycle all building materials.
  • Reusing and or upcycling building materials, hardware and flats.
  • Donate what you can - to the local community or other film productions.
 
2. Set dressing  

  • Decrease travel and shipment while creating or sourcing set dressing.
  • Use local materials, art department crew and hardware.
  • Again, go paperless.
  • Share ideas digitally.
  • Reuse set dressing.
  • Source set dressing locally - purchase at a thrift store or flea markets.
  • Use second hand set dressing elements.
  • Purchase your set dressing from sustainable businesses.
  • Source sustainable set dressing - eco-conscious and sustainably made furniture, curtains, bedding, wall art, kitchen utensils, stationery and clutter elements.
  • Reuse set dressing pieces.
  • Upcycle set dressing pieces - for instance, creating a desk through upcycling boxes used in catering.
  • Use sustainable materials when producing new set dressing pieces - sustainably sourced wood, paper, paint, hardware, wool and cloths.
  • Avoid toxic and unrecyclable materials - polystyrene, single-use plastic and paints - when producing set dressing.
  • Rent set dressing and resend out set dressing to other productions.
  • Donate to second-hand stores or charities.
  • Recycle any set dressing that cannot be reused.
 
3. Props  

  • Decrease travel and shipment while creating or sourcing props.
  • Use local materials, art department crew and hardware.
  • Again, go paperless.
  • Work digitally when communicating with the art department.
  • Reuse old props.
  • Purchase your props locally - second-hand stores and thrift stores or at flea markets.
  • Purchase your props from sustainable businesses.
  • Upcycle prop pieces.
  • Use sustainable materials when creating props - eco-conscious and sustainably sourced wood, hardware, paints, clothes, fabrics and bamboo.
  • Avoid non-recyclable and nonreusable props - single-use plastics and polystyrene. 
  • Make use of props that can promote sustainability and model environmental conscious behaviour - recycle bins, reusable coffee cups and glass straws.
  • Store props for future use.
  • Rent props and rent out props to other film productions.
  • Donate to a second-hand shop or a charity.
  • Recycle any props that cannot be donated or reused.
 
4. Costume and wardrobe   
            
  • Decrease travel and shipment while creating or sourcing wardrobes.
  • Use local materials, art department crew and hardware.
  • For the fourth time, go paperless.
  • Work digitally.
  • Reuse costumes and wardrobe.
  • Upcycle accessories, costumes and wardrobe.
  • Purchase your wardrobe and accessories locally - local businesses, second-hand stores and thrift stores.
  • Purchase your wardrobe and accessories from sustainable businesses.
  • Borrow or rent clothing and accessories.
  • Hire any robes and towels or use stock, rather than buying fresh ones.
  • Use cloth clothing bags instead of plastic clothing bags.
  • Avoid throwing out hangers.
  • Sustainably produced costume, wardrobe and accessories - sustainable materials, fabrics, cloths and wool.
  • Use your creativity and reuse and upcycle scraps and other waste materials.
  • Wash clothes with an energy-efficient and water-efficient washing machine and eco-friendly washing powder.
  • Use environmentally friendly ecological detergents and soaps. 
  • Use energy-efficient irons, steamers and kettles.
  • Use reusable laundry baskets.
  • Donate clothing and wardrobe after use.
  • Recycle all wardrobe and accessories pieces if they cannot be donated or reused. 
 
5. Hair and make-up  

  • Decrease travel and shipment while sourcing make-up.
  • Use local art department crew.
  • Reuse make-up, wigs and other hair accessories.
  • Buy second-hand accessories.
  • Use sustainable, cruelty-free and vegan makeup and brands.
  • Use eco-conscious makeup artists and hairstylists.
  • Use environmentally friendly products - eco-friendly hairspray, tools, makeup, cotton balls, swabs, remover and lotion.
  • Use carbon neutral, biodegradable and compostable packaging. 
  • Use rechargeable batteries in electric - razors, hand fans, hairdryers, and curling tools.
  • Reuse electrical items.
  • Adopt energy-efficient workflows and decrease water waste.
  • Donate what could be donated to charity.
  • Recycle all items that cannot be reused or donated.

*Remember to state at the beginning/end of your film that sustainable practices and eco-conscious workflows were used during the production process. This could provide additional environmental awareness to the audiences, evoke eco-friendly curiosity and could lead to the audience's eco-conscious debate and perspectives.