Written by Kianna Best on Jun 12, 2025. Posted in Interviews

Garden Studios change the script on sustainability

Film studios may be in the business of fiction, but at Garden Studios, sustainability is the most authentic storyline of all. From its inception in 2021, this West London production hub has made environmental and social responsibility not just a feature—but the foundation.

“We didn’t retrofit sustainability. It’s part of our DNA,” says Julie Hoegh, Head of Sustainability at Garden Studios. “We’ve been thinking B Corp since day one.”

Indeed, Garden Studios is Europe’s only large-scale film and TV studio to hold B Corp certification. It was also among the first to adopt Albert’s Studio Sustainability Standard, setting a new benchmark for climate-conscious content creation.

But for Hoegh, the mission goes beyond certifications. “I’ve always cared about the environment,” she explains. “My work with Client Earth and training at Cambridge’s Institute of Sustainable Leadership gave me this sense of urgency. When the opportunity at Garden Studios arose, I saw the potential for real change in film.”

That sense of purpose is being realised through initiatives that are as practical as they are impactful—none more so than Re-Set, a programme aimed at reducing production waste while amplifying social good.

“The waste on sets was painful to witness—materials used once, then tossed. Re-Set helps clients reuse or donate props and set pieces to local organisations,” Hoegh explains. “It’s not just cutting carbon—it’s delivering social value, too.”

The studio has even established local circularity networks, including a WhatsApp group connecting schools, charities, and businesses for real-time item exchanges. “When it works, it’s beautiful,” she says. “Take Witches, a co-production with MUBI—over 90% of materials were donated. The key? Early engagement and flawless logistics on strike day.”

While reducing waste is a tangible win, Hoegh is also excited about the less-visible but equally powerful potential of virtual production (VP). “VP can cut carbon emissions by as much as 80%,” she says. “There’s less travel, less accommodation, fewer shooting days, and less post-production. Plus, you’re not disturbing heritage sites or delicate ecosystems.”

Still, she’s realistic about VP’s limitations. “We don’t yet fully understand the environmental cost of the tech itself,” she admits. “But we’re working to reduce duplication of digital assets, using packages from Unreal Engine and promoting asset sharing across productions.”

For all the innovation, there’s a grounded, human approach to Hoegh’s work—especially in the way she sees community as a critical partner in sustainability. “Sustainability isn’t just carbon numbers. It’s social impact. It’s about using what we have to benefit those around us.”

That principle fuels her vision for the future, including a big wish: tying tax incentives to sustainability. “Austria’s doing it. Why not us?” she asks. “Allocate a percentage of the production budget for sustainable initiatives—it would change everything.”

Hoegh also sees room for improvement in studio norms, especially when it comes to transport. “There are so many inefficiencies—oversized petrol fleets, unnecessary VIP cars,” she notes. “And the elephant in the room? Private jets. One flight can wipe out all the sustainability gains of a production.”

The solution, she believes, lies not just in better practices but in better communication—especially from major studios. “Some of the big companies have brilliant sustainability goals, but those messages aren’t reaching freelancers on the ground,” she says. “And when success stories happen—like a set becoming a community centre—why aren’t we shouting about that?”

The lack of follow-through frustrates her. “There’s an incredible PR opportunity here. You don’t have to greenwash—you just have to tell the truth about the good that’s happening.”

For now, Hoegh continues to chip away at the old narratives, replacing them with one where sustainability is not a side plot but the main arc.

“Our job is to make this easy, not extra,” she says. “We’re here to help productions create magic—and leave a lighter footprint while they do it.”