Set and Staging
1. Source materials sustainably
Adopt an environmentally sustainable pruchasing policy to use environmentally responsible suppliers.
Learn about the environmental impact of products and equipment - gather information from suppliers on the efficiency of equipment, the sustainability of goods and services, and always ask for proof of a supplier's environmental credentials.
Work with the production team to reduce the use of environmentally damaging materials – for example:
- Choose suppliers offering energy saving solutions and/or good environmental credentials
- Use FSC certified timber for all set and staging construction
- Use non-PVC materials for banners, signage and scrims
- Use fabrics and material that can be re-used, re-purposed or recycled
- Minimise or prevent the use polystyrene in props
- Choose corrugated plastic board over foam-core
- Choose to use products made from recycled or sustainable materials
- Seek opportunities to reduce logistic requirements, for example, using in-house or locally sourced equipment
- Avoid air freighting production
- Plan for where production equipment will be going post the event or tour
- Dispose of materials responsibly - try to find a contractor such as Scenery Salvage that can recycle your waste staging and materials after the concert
- Read our Production Practical Guide for more information
- Read our Sustainable Purchasing Practical Guide
2. Encourage a culture of re-use
Adopt a culture of re-use. If you can source contruction materials, design and staging objects and props that have been used from previous productions, or from other recycled sources, use them instead of purchasing new products.
Store used materials if you have the space, and share/make them available for hire for other theatre companies and venues. Consider sharing storage space with a collective of other theatres.
3. Dispose of materials responsibly
So much of our theatre waste can be diverted from landfill. Make sure you work with a contractor like Scenery Salvage that can recycle your waste staging materials at the end of a show.
