By Anders Lorenzen

The five Nordic countries—Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Iceland—are no strangers to incorporating sustainability into film and TV production.

However, the case for greener film and TV production in the Nordic region has just become even stronger.

Nordic film and TV industry sets joint green standard (NES)

This week, the five countries jointly announced a new standard for sustainability in Nordic film and TV production. 

The Nordic Ecological Standard (NES) will cover six core areas: generic requirements, transport of people and equipment, energy usage, accommodation and catering, content usage, and biodiversity.

Tine Fischer, the head of the Danish Film Institute, says about the new NES standard, “In the Nordic region, we have a strong tradition of doing things collectively, and with NES, we are getting a practical and flexible tool that can help us take concrete steps in the right direction that we all know is necessary.”

Collaboration drives Nordic green film and TV standard

She explained why a new standard for sustainability is important: “We all know that no one can solve the climate crisis by themselves, but with joint standards and a will to cooperate, we can create the right conditions that make it easier to act responsibly on a daily basis—we are delighted that so many in the Nordic film and TV sector are backing it.”

The overall objective with NES is to secure a reduction in the climate footprint of the sector.

The Danish Film Institute developed NES in collaboration with the film institutes in Norway, Sweden, and Finland, as well as the Nordic Film & TV Fund (Nordisk Film & TV Fond). It was built on existing ones and tried standards in Germany and Austria.

Industry-wide coalition backs Nordic Ecological Standard

It is a large coalition that also includes the Association of Producers (Producentforeningen), the Danish national broadcasters DR and TV 34, and Nordic funds and organisations. It has pledged to follow the standard within a few years.

It’s another example of the strong collaboration spirit between the Nordic Film and TV sectors. Collaboration between the five countries goes back decades and allows for spectacular film and TV productions that achieve worldwide praise and recognition.

Nordic countries are already strongly focused on incorporating sustainability in film and TV productions, either in terms of reduced emissions on productions, incorporating sustainability into the storyline, or both.

The NES standard aligns with the Nordic Council of Ministers’ overall target of making the Nordic region the world’s most sustainable.

Anders Lorenzen is the founding Editor of A greener life, a greener world.