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At a recent screening of the new Snow White in London, influencers were ushered through a whimsical, digitally crafted forest, which included a life-sized thatched cottage adorned with models of wildlife. Meanwhile, the film’s Hollywood premiere in the United States saw Disney parading a live bunny dressed in a brown knitted sweater on the red carpet.
However, the film’s overarching message about harmony with nature appears to contrast sharply with its environmental impact. Internal company documents indicate that the production of Snow White produced more greenhouse gas emissions in the UK than the latest installment of the Fast & Furious franchise, a series notorious for its use of high-performance vehicles.
An examination of over 250 filings from the Walt Disney Company reveals that both Snow White and the live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid have contributed to greater environmental pollution than any other Disney films produced in the UK since the establishment of mandatory environmental reporting in 2019. The Little Mermaid alone generated emissions exceeding the annual totals of Blackpool Pleasure Beach and London’s O2 Arena.
The obligation to disclose UK emissions does not encompass global totals, suggesting the actual figures may be even higher. Notably, The Little Mermaid was filmed not only in the UK but also in locations such as Sardinia, while the Fast and Furious production spanned multiple countries, including the US and Italy.
The emissions generated by the two films collectively surpass the annual output of major UK airports, like Birmingham and Luton. Specifically, each film’s emissions outstripped the yearly figures for Blackpool Pleasure Beach and the O2 Arena, which hosted events for the influencer community.
Snow White, featuring Rachel Zegler from West Side Story in the title role and Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen, faces its own set of challenges. It’s been mired in controversies around its casting choices and the portrayal of its dwarven characters, leading to projections of a financial loss estimated at $115 million, with total box office earnings around $145 million against production costs of approximately $260 million.
Interestingly, although these films originate from an American studio, both were shot at Pinewood Studios, located just outside of London. The UK government offers tax incentives whereby studios can reclaim a substantial portion of their production expenditures, thereby motivating filmmakers to bring projects to the region. Consequently, Disney has reported reimbursements of £44.9 million for Snow White and £49.7 million for The Little Mermaid.
Greenhouse gas emissions associated with these productions are quantified in tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) across three categories. Scope one accounts for emissions directly arising from fuel during the movie’s production, such as those generated by generators used to power lighting and heating. Scope two entails emissions from electricity consumed during filming, while scope three encapsulates indirect emissions from the supply chains involved.
Many organizations, including airports, do not report scope three emissions, which can significantly inflate their total emissions figures. For instance, emissions from aircraft operations fall under this category and would push airport totals much higher than those typically attributed to film productions.
In terms of direct emissions, Snow White produced 3,153 tonnes of CO2e, while The Little Mermaid generated a total of 5,127 tonnes, amounting to 8,279.6 tonnes combined. In contrast, Birmingham airport emitted around 7,829 tonnes during the 2023-24 period, Luton airport produced 6,243 tonnes, and East Midlands recorded 3,351 tonnes in the same timeframe.
Films categorized as “tentpoles” in the industry are known to have substantial budgets and emissions profiles. A source familiar with Disney noted last year that about 2,600 tCO2e is a typical figure for a production of this scale. By comparison, The Little Mermaid is reported to have doubled that figure when considering all three emissions scopes, while Snow White surpassed it by 62%.
The extensive location shooting for Snow White necessitated the reliance on portable generators, which largely contributed to the energy consumed during production. Nevertheless, the filmmakers employed certain eco-friendly practices, such as using battery-powered and hybrid generators, as well as plugging into the mains electricity whenever feasible. Notably, Pinewood Studios switched to renewable energy through a green tariff in 2020, although the corresponding reductions were not reflected in the emissions calculations for the movies.
Furthermore, production teams opted for electric vehicle rentals and limited charter flights to instances where such arrangements proved more carbon-efficient than arranging multiple commercial flight bookings.
Source
www.theguardian.com