Sustainability in the Entertainment Industry: What Are Companies Doing?

The entertainment industry is one of the highest-grossing sectors worldwide. Whether you're interested in gaming, you want to watch your favorite TV show online, or listen to a podcast on your way to work; everything is covered by the entertainment sector, which continues to grow, expand and leverage technological innovations. 

On the flip side, we're aware of climate change and the potential consequences that we are going to experience if we don't curb carbon emissions. The entertainment sector, like many other business sectors, is actually responsible for unsustainable practices. In order to change that, they have employed different practices that are meant to make the entertainment sector more sustainable. 

Mobile Gaming 

Mobile gaming represents a highly profitable entertainment industry that has generated a profit that actually accounts for 60% of the revenue of the gaming sector. Since there are over 7 billion smartphones on a global scale, we have to address carbon emissions as well as the need for recycling. 

When it comes to smartphone models, not only is there an increasing number of smartphones, but on a regular basis, we invest in new models, which further create more waste.  

So, in order for the mobile gaming sector to thrive and expand, there is an indispensable link between gaming companies and smartphones on the market. Without smartphones that are able to support various titles, including heftier mobile games, it would have been impossible for the mobile gaming sector to develop on a global scale. 

When it comes to the production of mobile devices, those produced in China are considered unsustainable due to the usage of coal. Also, for mobile devices, there is increased reliance on Nickel, Copper, and Zinc, which are, in many instances, are materials sourced in underdeveloped countries with little regard for human rights or sustainability.  

That has changed to some extent, as Google, for example, opted to use aluminum for the production of the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. Apple also uses some recyclable materials in the production of its mobile devices. They do have a recycling program, however, where you get to return and recycle your old Apple electronics.  

Casino Industry 

The land-based casino industry is not as sustainable as online casino sites. There are obvious differences between the digital nature of online casinos to the fact that you don't have to use any mode of transport in order to get to the casino and play your favorite casino games, and also, the iGaming providers create completely digital casino games.  

However, in both cases, the casinos can decide to become more sustainable by supporting recycling programs or pledging to reduce their carbon emissions. It might be more difficult would be for traditional casinos to reach sustainable goals and rely on renewable energy since they already exist in a physical space, but for online casinos, it's definitely an achievable goal. 

Film Industry 

Film and TV productions leave massive carbon footprints because they are based on extensive labor and production costs. Many times, you have to travel by plane to different locations, rely on tech solutions, and overall, all of these practices can lead to further damage and a higher carbon footprint. Actually, according to the latest data, blockbusters and other highly expensive film productions produce a carbon footprint of over 3,000 metric tons. It is jaw-dropping data from a single film production, while it would take a forest of 3,700 acres to absorb the carbon emission in a period of one year. Needless to say, the need for change is real.  

Although in the past, TV shows were produced on a smaller scale, the video streaming platforms fueled the rise of both original TV and film concerts. On a global scale, the production of TV shows accounts for 60% of global carbon emissions. 

Some of the technologies that were used in order to curb the emissions and promote sustainable practices include the use of green screens which can by now recreate any background as well as Virtual Reality and AR technology. 

In addition, there were instances where film and TV productions took sustainable steps like donating food to homeless shelters or employing a recycling program for the wardrobe department. There are also actionable steps from the BAFTA's Albert in the UK and the Production Guild of America in the creation of green production guide toolkits and certification for productions that would need to follow those guidelines.  

Video Games 

As with the other entertainment sectors, there is an environmental impact of video games. In 2020 for the first time, we saw a surge in sales of digital vs. physical games. That is suitable to some extent, but we need to take into consideration that gaming relies on electricity.  

For example, in 2020, we've spent around 34 terawatt-hours in energy usage, which is comparable to the energy spent by 5 million cars. Moreover, the production of games consists of many moving parts, different suppliers, and materials required for the production of electronic devices and the physical copies of the games.  

But some brands have made an effort to reduce their emissions and become carbon neutral. Microsoft, for one, has invested $1 billion in Climate Innovation Fund to achieve this goal. 

Nintendo has already made changes in using recycled eco-friendly materials, better chemical production processes, and testing energy-efficient game consoles.  Another innovative program towards sustainable goals is the Play & Plant program, where real trees are planted based on the achievements in the game. 

Final Thoughts  

In conclusion, eco-friendly and sustainable development goals have become a higher priority for everyone, not just individuals but corporations and small businesses as well. In fact, most businesses are responsible for the highest carbon emissions, which is why it's necessary for businesses across different business sectors to take specific actions toward reducing their carbon footprint. 

By now, we have seen some efforts on the part of major brands, but there is still a discrepancy between smaller studios, for example, and established corporations that have the funds to go green. For this reason, it is necessary for governments to offer more support towards reaching sustainable goals.