Tools

The toolkits gathered here were developed during the implementation of the Cultural Adaptations Project which brought together leading cultural organisations and their innovative local partners from Belgium, Ireland, Scotland and Sweden. The aim of the project was the development of adaptation strategies for cultural SMEs; and placing artists within adaptation projects run by climate or sustainability organisations. The strands were realised through ongoing collaborative working between a cultural organisation, a sustainability organisation and an embedded artist in each of the four cities across the project span. These toolkits are imagined to support both cultural organisations (Adapting Our Culture toolkit) and adaptation practitioners (Embedded Artist Projects for Adaptation toolkit).

Carbon’Clap is a carbon calculator for the film and TV industry developed by Ecoprod. With Carbon’Clap, users can measure the carbon footprint of an audiovisual, film, or advertising project. By entering physical and financial data into the tool, users can assess the quantity of greenhouse gas emitted for the production of their project and identify the activities with the highest impact. A better understanding of the carbon footprint of production can guide choices and strategies to avoid and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Carbon’Clap also allows users to report their carbon footprint to stakeholders such as broadcasters, co-producers or film funds, which can compile the data of all their projects in the company dashboard. This feature is made available exclusively to Ecoprod members. Carbon’Clap was created by Ecoprod in 2012 and updated in 2017. In 2022, Ecoprod launched a complete tool redesign to update calculation methodology and modernise the user experience. The tool was designed and developed with industry stakeholders and environmental experts. Carbon’Clap is available free of charge to professionals and companies in the audiovisual, film, and advertising sectors. The tool was certified by the CNC in March 2023 and is backed by leading French broadcasting agencies and producers.

Carbon management tools include four spreadsheet-based tools which allow cultural professionals and organisations to integrate their emissions recording and planning work. These tools are for internal use. They are based on the most up-to-date carbon emissions conversion factors provided by the UK Government (BEIS) in 2022. They provide a carbon footprint output unit of kgCO2e (all greenhouse gases calculated as carbon dioxide equivalent), in line with all UK planning and reporting requirements. The four tools encompass:

• A carbon management planning tool that integrates existing records with new planning work to help users identify and assess reduction projects while keeping track of their emissions.
• A quick carbon management calculator that allows users to quickly calculate the emissions of specific actions to reduce their energy consumption, travel, waste, and water consumption. It can help them decide on the lowest carbon action to take or measure a snapshot of their practice. It also includes a guide to typical equipment usage.
• A CMP summary tool that collates costs and emissions savings resulting from user reduction projects over the three years of their CMP.
• A carbon budgeting tool that enables organisations to use their current carbon footprint and net zero target to forecast and budget their carbon emissions in line with their net zero trajectory. This is an advanced tool and should only be used once organisations have calculated their carbon footprint, understood all their sources of emissions, and set a net zero target year.

The Creative Climate Tools is a free set of unique carbon calculators developed by Julie’s Bicycle specifically for the creative industries. The CC Tools help organisations to record, measure, and understand the impacts of their venue, office, tour, production, exhibition, event, or festival. They allow them to track energy use, water consumption, waste, recycling, travel, and production materials. Users embark on a journey of enhanced environmental consciousness by actively contributing to the organisation’s data. The insights derived from the calculated footprint inform an organisation’s environmental strategy and priorities and empower them to strategically identify opportunities for meaningful change and potent climate action. The CCT offers a platform for creative professionals to actively participate in the cultural sector’s united front against climate change. Since its launch in 2007, over 5,000 organisations have embraced CCT in over 50 countries worldwide.

The Canadian version of Creative Green Tools was specially adapted for use in the Canadian arts and culture sector. Powered by Julie’s Bicycle, it offers a comprehensive suite of carbon calculation and reporting tools at no cost. These tools enable organisations operating within the arts and culture sector to effectively document, quantify, and comprehend the environmental impact of various facets of their operations, including venues, offices, tours, productions, festivals, and more. The CG Tools facilitate the streamlined measurement of energy consumption, water usage, waste generation, recycling efforts, travel patterns, and production material considerations. The insights derived from these measurements can serve as the foundation for shaping your environmental strategy and organisational priorities. These CG Tools are applicable across diverse sub-sectors of the arts and culture domain, including but not limited to theatre, dance, museums, galleries, music, libraries, and archives. Initiated in 2009 under the stewardship of Julie’s Bicycle, these tools have continuously been enhanced and refined over the years, through invaluable input from stakeholders within the sector.

Ecoprod establishes a framework for a global approach to sustainability in the film and TV industry. This framework is represented in the Ecoprod Charter. All entities joining the Ecoprod association commit to adopting the green guidelines of its Charter. Each entity committing to the Charter starts the process of reducing its environmental impact by aligning to its main principles.

The Decolonial Toolkit for Climate Artists addresses the intersection of colonialism, climate change and the arts. The Toolkit aims to help artists consider their own cultural conditioning, confront the inseparability of colonialism and climate change, and develop a decolonial foundation for both the climate art field, and the arts sector more broadly. It emerged from multiple sessions with TRAction’s five-member Indigenous Advisory Council and support from the Climate Connectors of the Climate Art Web. The process resulted in twelve steps which explore the relationship between decolonisation and climate justice, to be used when organising artistic activities, events, workshops, and, particularly, collaborative practice.

The Ecoprod Label was created in 2022 to provide a common framework to define green production. Over 100 companies, including major production companies and the major French broadcast agencies, have signed a common statement in December 2022 committing to using the tool in their productions. The Ecoprod label lists actions for each department, from script to post-production, to help reduce their environmental impact and enable producers to self-assess their production by measuring their sustainability score, certify their production and be awarded the ECOPROD LABEL. To be eligible for the Ecoprod Label, a production has to meet all the mandatory requirements (blue criteria), reach a score of at least 65%, and be audited by AFNOR Certification.

Festival Fuel Tool is a simple tool that rates the fuel consumption of your event and compares it with industry benchmarks. It is intended as a guide – all events are unique, and there may be good reasons for differences. However, research indicates that most UK events could save up to a third on fuel bills.
All data remains anonymous and will not be disclosed to any third party. By using this tool, users contribute to aggregate data which will be used to improve industry benchmarks for environmental reporting to chart the industry’s progress. Julie’s Bicycle, acting on behalf of the industry collective Powerful Thinking, collects and stores data according to the Data Protection Act. Julie’s Bicycle possesses access to the data entries for aggregation, irrespective of the hosting website for the Fuel Tool. Any party beyond Julie’s Bicycle can access published, anonymised, aggregated data.

The Future Materials Bank is part of Future Materials, a hybrid platform of the Jan van Eyck Academie, which aims to democratise knowledge about these future-proof materials. The Future Materials Bank is an archive of materials that supports and promotes the transition towards ecologically conscious art and design practices. The archive aims to inspire research and disseminate knowledge of sustainable materials by collecting information and samples from makers worldwide. The collection of the Bank is continuously growing, offering insights into how sustainability evolves in art and design. New contributions and suggestions are always welcome and submitting new material at the Future Materials Bank is accessible to any artist or designer.

Green Toolkit Film and TV is a free access platform that gathers practical guidance and shares sustainability practices and tools implemented across Europe for Film and Audiovisual production. This toolkit is the result of a project led by representative partners of the European audiovisual social dialogue in the creative industry, to strengthen sustainable production capabilities and provide a unique source of information on what practices, tools, initiatives and incentives are already driving the sustainable transition of the industry. Green Toolkit Film and TV provides a unique functionality to discover existing practices that can be filtered by language, country, and categories (platforms, training, carbon calculation, guides, certification, etc.).

The Cleo Event Performance Calculator is a powerful evaluation tool for assessing the effects of various events and their surrounding territories. It facilitates the evaluation of multiple dimensions such as carbon footprint, biodiversity influence, economic and social advantages, and participant experience quality. The primary objective is to give event organisers and stakeholders a comprehensive understanding of their actions’ impact, enabling the creation of more sustainable events and amplifying positive outcomes. Developed in collaboration with event industry experts and professionals, the calculator uses a rigorous methodology. Regular updates reflect the latest advancements in sustainable development. This resource is accessible online at no cost, while training, available at a fee, is recommended for optimal utilisation.

Launched in December 2018, OnMaterials emerged as a pilot project within the START – Create Cultural Change programme. Its main objective was to heighten sustainability awareness in artistic production, fostering waste reduction through material redistribution and creative reuse. By actively engaging artists, designers, craftsmen, art institutions, schools and exhibition spaces, the project aims to collaboratively develop innovative strategies to promote sustainable cultural practices. In Athens, post-event handling of leftover materials from cultural gatherings is infrequent. Installations and artwork materials are often discarded or stored for extended periods. The founders of the project advocate for a departure from our linear “take-make-discard” relationship with materials. This inspired the repurposing of these materials for fresh artistic endeavours, an avenue to re-conceptualise cultural practices in a more sustainable way. This initiative underscores the feasibility of alternative production and consumption systems. Early integration of material reuse in event planning can transform substantial waste into a valuable resource. Artists and designers can use this platform to find the materials they need or to offer the surplus materials they no longer require.

Season for Change is a UK-wide programme of cultural responses celebrating the environment and inspiring urgent action on climate change implemented in 2020 and 2021. The Season for Change toolkit is a collection of online resources for individuals and organisations who want to join together and urge for a just and sustainable future through the arts and culture.

This section presents a limited assortment of temporary power suppliers in the UK who have proven confirmed dedication and proficiency in delivering sustainable energy alongside efficient practices and methods.
The Suppliers List is based on information submitted by the suppliers. Powerful Thinking cannot independently verify the information provided and cannot formally endorse any of the listed suppliers. The intention is to offer a valuable reference for suppliers capable of delivering specific sustainable services. Event organisers should evaluate the competence and capacity of these suppliers, as with any new partnership. Powerful Thinking emphasises the importance of clarifying aspects such as equipment ownership or subcontracting, a team’s expertise in delivering specialised services, past accomplishments, and references from other events.

Sustainability Tools in Cultural Heritage (STiCH) provides valuable resources, including a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), a Carbon Calculator, and a Library of Case Studies and Information Sheets. These resources were designed to empower cultural heritage professionals with the knowledge and tools needed to make informed, sustainable decisions to reduce the environmental footprint.

This open-source toolkit provides guidelines, methods, practical steps, and selected calculators and resources for a sustainable transition within the cultural sector and primarily museums. It is intended for any individual or organisation that creates, defines, publishes, produces, distributes, and uses cultural production within a museum (or cultural) environment who wants to make informed decisions regarding sustainable operations.
Sustainable Cultural Production: Museums is the result of the Futuring research team’s environmental audit of the 27th Slovenian design biennale BIO27 – Super Vernaculars, which took place in 2022.

The Sustainable Production Toolkit addresses the three essential facets of sustainability within the theatre industry: human, environmental, and economic. This guide provides practical tools and proven best practices emphasising the interconnected goals of enhancing environmental, social, and economic sustainability within the American theatre sector. Its primary focus centres on equipping professionals with environmental sustainability resources, particularly within design and production. This step-by-step resource is available at no cost, offering performing arts organisations a clear path to enhance their sustainability initiatives. Thoughtfully crafted by artists with fellow artists in mind, it serves as a free and accessible repository, whose aim is to transform the arts into a more sustainable and equitable arena, aligning with a vision of a brighter and more sustainable future for the industry.

The Gold Mine is an online database of high-quality service providers, simultaneously fostering the skill development of these companies and providing resources to artists. Namely, beyond the intricate technical skills essential for its creation, producing artwork hinges on an exceptional level of attentive engagement. Communication between artists, artisans, designers, and engineers is a cornerstone for project success. Service providers herein are companies fabricating artworks or components based on artist-provided documentation without the artist’s direct involvement in production. Suppliers include those selling materials, raw resources, and tools for artistic realisation. The production locations listed are closely aligned with artists, providing equipped spaces and tailored support for piece creation. Database user feedback offers personalised evaluation of suppliers and service providers, considering factors like budget, speed, durability, sales terms, and reputation. The Gold Mine, a Dos Mares project, administers this resource without compensation for artists or administrators, ensuring verified addresses and moderated comments with free and open access. The addresses within this database are artist-contributed.

The Green Production Guide (GPG) stands as the leading online industry toolkit, purpose-built to diminish the carbon footprint and ecological impact of the film, television, and streaming sectors. This platform hosts a global directory of vendors offering sustainable products and services tailored to film, television, and streaming production needs. Additionally, the GPG provides an array of tools and resources designed to facilitate the integration of sustainability practices into all types and sizes of productions.
These tools encompass:

• Production Environmental Accounting Report (PEAR): PEAR helps to compute a production’s carbon footprint, allowing for a precise understanding of its environmental impact.
• Production Environmental Actions Checklist (PEACH): PEACH offers department-specific best practices, guiding each aspect of production toward sustainable choices.
• Sustainable Production Infographics: These visually engaging resources serve as practical guides to ensure the adoption of sustainable practices, both in office environments and during on-location and on-stage activities.
• Sample Memos, Signs, and Flyers: These templates effectively communicate sustainability initiatives to the cast and crew, promoting a shared commitment to environmental responsibility.

Launched in 2010 through a collaborative endeavour involving the Producers Guild of America Foundation’s PGA Green committee and a coalition of major studios, now known as the Sustainable Production Alliance (SPA), the GPG has become a cornerstone of sustainable production efforts.

Created during the Covid-19 lockdown, Theatre Green Book UK is an unincorporated association established by several leading theatre organisations in the UK which have come together in a unique partnership, building upon grassroots initiative by many individuals and organisations. Currently, the initiative is led by three UK national theatres and membership organisations (the Association of British Theatre Technicians, the Society of London Theatre/UK Theatre, and Theatres Trust, the national advisory body for theatres). The focus of the initiative is to create, in collaboration with leading sustainability experts, a comprehensive common standard for making theatre sustainably. At the moment, 2nd version of the book has been published by the initiative. This version is offering toolkits, guidelines, case studies, educational materials, and the possibility for theatres to register and monitor their process. The book content was developed in regards to three specific areas of theatre making: sustainable productions (setting common standards for sustainable ways of producing shows), sustainable buildings (structurally adapting theatre buildings to climate emergency) and sustainable operations (covering everything else theatres do, from catering to rehearsals, offices to travels). New editions are expected in the future. The ambition for Theatre Green Book is for all theatres in the UK to achieve Theatre Green Book baseline standards across building operations and productions by the end of 2026.

The Future Festival Tools is a collection of complementary resources designed to assist individuals in the festival industry in cultivating sustainability within their events. These tools equip event professionals throughout Europe with the capacity to embrace the future, fostering ecological proficiency, utilising practical resources, and obtaining personal certification. The comprehensive array of Future Festival Tools encompasses:

• A self-assessment tool to find out where you are in your sustainability journey
• Inspiring green stories from festivals across Europe
• An event sustainability e-learning course
• An expert guide to help you teach others about sustainability using the tools

The chosen case studies include the following themes: Food & Drink, Energy, Travel, Water, Materials & Waste, and Strategy.

The CO2 calculator is targeted at the Danish arts and culture industry. A user guide and tips are made available for artists and organisations to easily start measuring the climate footprint of their projects or buildings. There are also 12 available suggestions for concrete green considerations and measures that artists and organisations may use in their artistic project or work.