MISSION STATEMENT

In recent years Mid Atlantic Films has made significant changes to its work flow in order to create a more sustainable and ‘green’ working environment. Our goal as a company is not only to advance education on ‘green’ issues but lead the way forward in Hungary on best environmental practices in the entertainment industry.

Mid Atlantic has introduced a range of corporate social responsibility practices into our business model and implemented challenging but realistic sustainable policies throughout all phases of production.

Our sustainability initiative includes:

• Optimizing crew sizes across all productions is a priority for Mid Atlantic Films which will result in the reduction of a show’s environmental / carbon footprint.
• Implementation of modern technologies across technical departments will complement these efforts requiring smaller operational staff (remote controlled cranes, wireless transmission technologies, digital platforms, etc.).
• Crew to attend mandatory sustainability training as part of the onboarding StartForm procedure (planned introduction across all projects on Mid Atlantic Films’ online production platform in 2023).
• Following studio requirements budgets can include a Sustainability Team – Coordinator / Steward(s), as required – supported by Mid Atlantic Films’ sustainability supervisor and outside consultants to ensure best practices and compliance with sustainability policies.
• Mid Atlantic Films to assist with the selection of production office and workshop spaces in order to assess carbon footprint and possible access to renewable energy.
• We centralize core production services in one facility (incl. admin, accounting, travel & housing) while our offices are equipped with low energy consumption heat pump systems providing heating and air conditioning.
• Office administration has been taken digital wherever legally possible by introducing our own Production Platform and utilizing other online services (Scenechronize, SyncOnSet, etc.) thereby minimizing paper usage and waste.
• Mid Atlantic Films encourages better awareness of heating efficiency, air conditioning and lighting practices not only in production offices, workshops and stage space but also in private apartments.
• Facilitating productions to be ALBERT (UK) or equivalent program certified by preparing and educating departmental data tracking processes. Sustainability and production teams to draft an environmental action plan which is implemented during early prep to include data gathering and carbon footprint measurement thru end of wrap concluding in a final report shared with crew and studio.
• Assisting Accounting Department to follow emissions tracking procedures and tagging relevant costs (as per production / studio guidelines). Encourage crew members to track individual carbon footprint by smartphone applications and increase awareness with production-long competitions between departments and individuals in order to maintain long term awareness.
• Sustainability Team to work with departments to select and communicate with key suppliers based on their environmental conscious practices. Cooperation with vendors who have a proven and current sustainability track record aka green suppliers’ list.
• Sustainability Team and production to focus on optimizing, reducing transport & power needs from early stages of prep, including renewable energy for office/studio spaces and efforts to supply hybrid and EV rental vehicles.
• Sustainability Team to work with Location / Unit / Facilities / Lighting / Catering and other relevant departments to create a power estimate for set and base operations and make the necessary arrangements to use mains power wherever possible and make efforts to use and introduce HVO / hydrogen / battery powered energy solutions. Encouraging to gather power usage data during production to identify efficiencies for the future.
• We have been introducing a continuously evolving standard in the past 10 years resulting technical trucks equipped with Euro 5 or 6 engines only – mostly being able to run on hydro-treated vegetable oil (HVO) – working in our productions while making efforts to have access to an ever-renewing fleet of production minivans and self-drive vehicles with high level of environmental engine category. We are dedicated to follow this path and be part of a transport revolution run by fully electric vehicles in the next years.
• Productions to implement and maintain zero single use plastic (SUP) and waste to landfill policies. Since 2019 all Mid Atlantic Films productions have been following a strict recyclable or compostable catering packaging policy focusing on new materials while ensuring compliance with HACCP food safety guidelines.
• Crew meal pre-ordering practices introduced during COVID continue to be a proven and effective system to minimize food waste. Water dispensers replacing single use plastic bottles across all productions. Atlantic Catering is the leading catering supplier continuously testing new materials & packaging together with state-of-the-art kitchen equipment with the highest efficiency rating (low energy and water use, no cooking oils, etc.). Implementing no meat days and/or increased vegan/vegetarian menu options help the crew to access a sustainable catering experience based on a wider range of local or intracontinental ingredients.
• In Set Dressing / Props / Costume departments we promote rental and repurpose / alteration as much as possible alongside of eco-friendly materials such as paints, adhesives and varnishes. Through an initiative called ‘Artikel ReStore‘ Mid Atlantic Films facilitate storage / sale / donation of production assets following completion of production and ensure that assets stored will either be reused, repurposed or donated and have a second life.
• Set construction companies are encouraged to use repurposed materials and set elements by allowing longer build times or better scheduling, use metal scaffolding structures and purchase building materials from certified sources. Recommending to budget for longer strikes allowing recycling, dismantling or pack strike.
• Helping and consulting with studio facilities in Hungary to implement environmental practices on an infrastructural level to include composting facilities (pilot project launched in cooperation with Astra Studios) beyond already existing selective waste collection and energy saving measures. Prefer facility trailer suppliers with green initiatives and solutions.
• Our production managers and assistant production managers are tasked with reminding head of departments and crew to reduce the amount of consumables they request to the absolute minimum and reuse / order in small batches.

Mid Atlantic Films is dedicated to the advancement of a greener and more environmentally responsible film and TV industry.