By Zizipho Zikhali – Operations Manager GREENSET

In an era where environmental action is vital, the South African Film & Television industries are rising to the challenge. 

At the forefront of this `green revolution’ is GREENSET, part of the SA FILM Academy, helping shape the future of sustainable filmmaking in South Africa; managing waste and minimising the carbon footprint, one-production-at-a-time. GREENSET integrates sustainability into every step of the filmmaking process and in so doing, is helping to decarbonise the industry.

Established in 2020, GREENSET has implemented sustainable best practices on countless local and international productions. With a clear, impactful vision, GREENSET focuses on upskilling young people through hands-on, In-service training to become Eco Stewards and Green PAs. These young changemakers not only foster sustainable best practice amongst the cast and crew, but make sure eco-friendly habits extend beyond the set and into local communities.

In 2023 GREENSET partnered with Homebrew Films to transform Atlantic Studios, in Montague Gardens, into the first, large, sustainable, `Green Studio’ in Africa. This was acknowledged by international sustainability icon and polar explorer Robert Swan OBE, who has become a global GREENSET ambassador and champion. GREENSET and Homebrew were subsequently finalists for a Screen International Award at Cannes 2024. The Atlantic Green Studio has installed solar and now 80%+ of its power needs are met through renewables, while waste on site is sorted and managed by GREENSET.

In 2024 GREENSET introduced the Cinergy solution to Netflix’s One Piece S2.  The basecamp is powered by a solar powered 150 kVA battery storage unit, while the tech base is powered by a 50 kVA solar mobile battery unit. On another Film Afrika-serviced production, Virgil is using the A-Unit solution, which has two 45 kVA solar-powered battery storage units to support daily production operations, at SBH studios. In addition, GREENSET encourages the use of Blue Water Trailers to reduce or eliminate single use plastic.

GREENSET works to divert film & television production waste from landfill sites, with an average 70% diversion rate across productions, including hard-to-recycle materials like Polyurethane and Polystyrene, which are turned into building blocks by Lite-Concrete. Working with Film Afrika and Netflix, a donation of 3501 building blocks helped build a school in Delft. These lightweight, SABS-approved building blocks have good thermal properties and can be purchased directly from GREENSET or from Lite-Concrete.

Focusing on Biodiversity and Sustainable Story Telling GREENSET partnered with Leadership for Conservation in Africa (LCA) on their project Taking Conservation to Non-Conservationists and hosted two masterclasses and a field trip supported by Eco Services Green Humanity in addition to co-hosting Earthshot finalists and the media, on a Sustainable Film-making presentation and tour of Atlantic Studios.

GREENSET has received global recognition and was nominated for the prestigious Makers and Shakers Awards 2023 by HBO for its work on Warrior S3, earning 10 EMA Gold Seals on international productions and numerous albert sustainable production certifications. 

Long-form and Commercial Productions in South Africa are increasingly embracing eco-conscious, sustainable filmmaking, and the GREENSET team is poised to support them.

For further information contact Zizipho Zikhali – zi**@gr******.org