The animation industry is finally getting its own environmental certification, and it's about time! This new European initiative, ANiMPACT, is a game-changer for the sector, addressing a long-standing gap in environmental reporting. While live-action films have had certification programs for years, animation has been left out, despite its significant environmental impact. This is a major step forward, and here's why it matters.
A Long-Overdue Step
Animation, often overlooked in environmental discussions, is a major player in the film and TV industry. The process is complex, with projects often fragmented across multiple studios, countries, and vendors. This complexity makes it challenging to measure and manage environmental impact. The new certification program, ANiMPACT, aims to simplify this by providing a standardized approach, ensuring that animation studios can prove their sustainability efforts.
Measuring the Impact
One of the biggest challenges in animation is measuring its environmental footprint. Unlike live-action shoots, which emissions are often tied to travel and location filming, animation's primary environmental cost comes from computers. The electricity used to power workstations and servers for rendering and digital work is a significant contributor. This focus on electricity is further emphasized by the rise of AI in animation, which, while beneficial for efficiency, consumes significant computing power.
A Comprehensive Approach
ANiMPACT's certification system covers seven broad areas, including company management, office buildings, digital workflow, travel, food, merchandise, and communication about sustainability. Studios can be assessed individually or as companies, with each standard weighted by its environmental impact. This comprehensive approach ensures that all aspects of animation production are considered, allowing for a more accurate measurement and reduction of environmental impact.
The Financial Incentive
The financial benefits of environmental certification are a significant driver for studios and producers. Public film funds at various levels are increasingly offering incentives or even making certification a requirement. This shift has already influenced how live-action productions are budgeted and planned, and organizers expect the same to happen in animation. The key to this success is third-party verification, ensuring that certifications are not just claims but genuine, audited standards.
A Unified Standard
ANiMPACT's collaboration between CineRegio, Ecoprod, and Green Film is a crucial aspect of its success. By designing a shared European standard from the start, they avoid the mess that occurred with live-action film certification, where different countries developed separate, incompatible systems. This unified approach ensures that animation studios across Europe can participate without the confusion and inefficiency of competing standards.
Conclusion
The launch of ANiMPACT is a significant milestone for the animation industry, addressing a long-standing need for environmental certification. It provides a standardized approach to measuring and reducing the environmental impact of animation, ensuring that studios can prove their sustainability efforts. With financial incentives and a unified standard, the industry is now better equipped to tackle its environmental challenges, paving the way for a greener future in animation.
