Power Ballad

Power Ballad is a feature film produced by Treasure Entertainment in 2024/2025. From the outset, the team committed to embedding sustainability into every stage of the production, guided by a Sustainability Plan, departmental guidelines a dedicated Sustainability Advisor to the production, Alexandra de Valera (Ecoscope Ltd.). The production aimed for Albert Certification, making systematic efforts to track, reduce, and offset its environmental impact.

The production’s approach was shaped around the five core pillars of its Sustainability Strategy:

1. Communication & Engagement
2. Waste Management
3. Sustainable Catering
4. Travel & Energy
5. Materials

These commitments were communicated to all crew each day through a Sustainability Crew Memo which accompanied the call sheet as well as departmental guidelines. A culture of engagement was established early, with Producers and the production team holding a sustainability kick-off meeting early in the pre-production process, each department appointing a sustainability liaison responsible for implementation on set. In addition, the production company Treasure Entertainment also directly engaged with the Sustainability Advisor on the production regarding the company’s overall sustainability objectives and policy. 

In addition, the production applied sustainability practices across accommodation by:

• Prioritising eco-friendly hotels (e.g., The Mespil Hotel’s environmental policy)
• Energy-efficient lighting through Cine Electric’s low-emission battery-powered equipment, such as Instagrids
• Using HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil which reduces emissions by up to 90%)
• Holding a WEEE day for the departments to recycle any unwanted electrical items
• Reduced single-use plastics
• Digital paperwork systems
• Responsible material sourcing
• Production Office running on a 100% Renewable Energy tariff
• Ensuring no on-screen elements promoted unsustainable lifestyles
• At wrap, the team offset its remaining footprint through an Ecologi portfolio project.

As a result of these actions, Power Ballad ultimately achieved albert certification represents.

Communication & Engagement

The Sustainability Advisor prepared a full pre-production engagement plan including:

• Sustainability Plan circulated before shoot
• Crew Green Memo distributed to all cast & crew
• Department-specific sustainability guidelines
• Daily reminders on call sheet
• Pre-shoot briefings with Heads of Departments

The production emphasised shared responsibility, with one sustainability representative appointed per department. Crew were strongly encouraged to reduce waste, avoid single-use plastics, and engage with circularity initiatives (donation, reuse, repurposing).

Waste Management & Circular Economy

Three-Bin Waste System

• Recycling, compost, and general waste streams were implemented across unit base and shooting locations.
• Glón provided on-set waste support during key phases

WEEE Day initiative provided by Glon:

• Waste streams were supported by clear signage and crew reminders.

Objectives:

• Divert electronic waste from landfill
• Provide legal and safe disposal for batteries, cables, bulbs, appliances, and damaged equipment
• Encourage crew to bring electronics from home

Outcome:

• Approx. 220 kg of electronic waste collected
• Fully recycled through WEEE Ireland, preventing hazardous materials entering landfill
• Strong crew engagement and morale boost, noted in the WEEE Day memo

Additional Waste Actions

• Compostable catering packaging was used across all shoot days
• Reusable-first policy for water bottles and coffee cups
• Paper usage reduced via digital contracts, digital forms, and opt-in printed script

Sustainable Catering

Catering followed guidelines from the Sustainability Plan and Crew Memo:

• Daily vegetarian and vegan meal options
• Reduced red-meat offerings
• Locally sourced, seasonal ingredients where possible
• Bulk condiments instead of single-serve items
• 100% compostable cups, cutlery, boxes, and hotboxes
• Hydration points established to eliminate single-use water bottles

These measures significantly reduced food-related emissions and landfill contributions.

Travel & Energy

HVO Fuel Transition

Fuel Supplier: Euro Oil
Facilities Provider: Irish Film Facilities, operating generators on HVO
Electrical Provider: Cine Electric, supplying HVO-fuelled generators and Instagrid battery systems

Benefits of HVO Use:

• Up to 90% emissions reduction
• Drop-in diesel replacement
• Lower particulate pollution on set

Low-Emission Power from Cine Electric

The production relied on:

• Instagrid Max One battery units (zero-emissions power for lights and portable gear)
• HVO-fuel-compatible generators
• Energy-efficient lighting units (Creamsource Vortex 8, ARRI S60, etc.)

Travel Policies

• No-idling policy across all vehicles
• Consolidated deliveries and collections
• Crew carpooling encouraged; seen on-screen as well
• Electric vehicle charging available at some accommodation locations

Materials & Circularity

• Renting prioritised over purchasing new
• When purchasing was necessary, second-hand was preferred
• WEEE Day supported responsible disposal of electrical equipment
• No single-use plastics permitted where alternatives existed
• End-of-shoot donation and repurposing pathways provided by Sustainability Advisor
• Eco-conscious suppliers used where possible (e.g., Cine Electric’s green credentials, compostable catering materials)

Carbon Tracking & Offsetting

• Full carbon footprint tracked using the Albert calculator
• Sustainability Advisor provided ongoing data collection, verification, and troubleshooting
• At wrap, Treasure Entertainment offset its emissions through an Ecologi portfolio project

What worked well

1. Waste Reduction & Behaviour Change

• High adherence to the reusable bottle + cup policy
• Consistent use of recycling and compost bins
• Crew contributed personal e-waste to WEEE Day, indicating strong cultural buy-in across the production.

Although exact diversion percentages fluctuated, the overall direction of travel was positive and aligned with sustainability objectives.

2. Strong Department-Level Integration

Departments demonstrated proactive compliance:

• Electrical used battery packs and minimal generator loads where possible
• Production prioritised digital-first paperwork
• Art and Costume maximised rentals, repurposing and rehoming
• Catering maintained compostable ware and reduced red meat options

3. Low-Emission Power & Fuel

The partnership with Cine Electric and Irish Film Facilities proved very successful:

• Battery-powered equipment reduced noise, emissions, and energy waste
• HVO generators ran reliably and reduced the biggest single onsite carbon source
• Crew found the Instagrid units easy to use, reducing small diesel generator use

4. Accommodation Selection

Crew accommodation such as The Mespil Hotel demonstrated strong environmental credentials:

• 100% renewable electricity
• Phasing out single-use plastics
• Water reduction measures
• Clear waste and recycling systems

This reinforced the production’s sustainability goals outside of film-set operations.

Challenges encountered

1. Achieving Consistent Waste Segregation

Despite clear signage, without a dedicated on-site waste steward (e.g., Glón’s full service), achieving optimal diversion rates was difficult.

2. Maintaining Top Level engagement during busy/demanding production periods

While engagement remained positive throughout the production period, slow response times and engagement during busy/demanding production periods made it challenging to complete sustainability deliverables within a timely manner.

Recommendations for future productions

• On larger productions, engaging a full-time person/team dedicated to the implementation of the sustainability policy for the production to ensure the smooth flow of information and timely delivery of key action items. The Sustainability Workplan should be reflective of the budget of the production.
• Continue HVO adoption as standard practice for both Facilities and ElectricaL
• Facilitate sustainability training modules for HODs during prep week
• Expand the battery power approach to lighting and smaller units

The production’s successful implementation of HVO fuel, WEEE recycling, waste segregation, sustainable catering, digital documentation, reuse-based materials practices and low-emission energy solutions illustrates how the Irish screen industry can lead the way in climate-conscious filmmaking.

Credits

Sustainability Advisor
Alexandra de Valera - Ecoscope Ltd.

Producers / Production Company
Treasure Entertainment

Line Producer
Cathleen Dore

Production Manager
Christine Kelly

Additional Partners & Suppliers
Glón
WEEE Ireland
Cine Electric
Irish Film Facilities
Euro Oil
Ecologi