SUSTAINABILITY
WORDS Katie Kasperson
STUD I O Sustainability STANDARD SPOTLIGHTS We sit down with two of the studios proving their green credentials to find out more
3 MILLS STUDIOS London’s 3 Mills Studios stands tall on Three Mills Island, the city’s oldest surviving industrial centre. Situated among green spaces, 3 Mills wants to be at the forefront of sustainability, says William Taylor-Gammon, client services coordinator. “We want to deliver meaningful change for our planet and people – albert is a fantastic way to share in that responsibility.” Operating out of a converted gin distillery, the studio itself is recycled, breathing new life into former factory buildings. Minutes from the Tube and served by bus routes, “we’re a dream destination for productions looking to cut their carbon footprint and rely more on public transport,” he adds. Beyond this, the studio has taken steps towards environmental friendliness. “We have a zero waste to landfill policy and a 100% renewable energy provider, ensuring any generator brought on-site uses HVO fuel,” explains Taylor-Gammon. 3 Mills has also increased its biodiversity by planting wildflowers, installing bird houses and introducing its very own ‘Buggingham Palace’. 3 Mills plans to install external distribution boards, change its house lights to LED, replace old meters and remove remaining gas boilers – making it 100% electric. The studio also partners with organisations like CAMA and Sustainable Film to reduce waste between productions. The company is taking care of its employees’ mental health and accessibility needs too, by offering staff training and wheelchair-friendly washrooms.
GARDEN STUDIOS Founded in 2020, Garden Studios is ‘London’s home for creative talent’, being the city’s largest studio. But bigger doesn’t mean badder, as the certified B Corp was one of 12 to participate in albert’s first Studio Sustainability Standard. “From inception, our founder’s vision was a business that treads lightly on our planet and takes care of its employees,” says Garden Studios head of sustainability, Julie Hoegh. “So, when the albert Studio Sustainability Standard came along, it was an easy decision.” Garden Studios focuses its efforts in three areas: environment, people and community. “We’ve sourced 100% renewable electricity since the start, our lighting is close to 90% LED, we have an extensive recycling programme and implement no idling, zero single use plastic and zero waste to landfill policies,” explains Hoegh. The studio is committed to gender equality, with 59% of its employees and 37% of its board being female. It also aspires to be ‘a positive force in the local community’, according to Hoegh. “We achieve that through educational programmes, internships, a local artist- in-residence initiative, free use of studio space for young talent, and a shared workspace for artists and makers.” Garden Studios is not only committed
to climate action, but also encourages its clients to reduce their environmental impacts. “It quickly became apparent waste was a problem,” recalls Hoegh. In response, the studio launched an upcycling programme called Re-Set, which ‘aims to upcycle as much props, wood material, textiles, furniture and any other items as possible’. These are then donated to local schools, charities and other organisations. But this isn’t enough for Garden Studios. “We’re just at the beginning of a long journey to becoming truly sustainable,” says Hoegh. Future plans include further reducing its carbon footprint, installing solar panels on-site, expanding its list of upcycling donors and improving its supply chain, among other goals. “Being able to demonstrate that we engage seriously with these issues will be a competitive advantage,” states Hoegh. Sounds like a win-win.
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