Circularity is a key component of sustainability, and Creative BC’s Reel Green™ has just launched a new circularity toolkit on their website as a resource for crews, productions and municipalities. 

Circularity is ultimately about less waste: extending the longevity of materials to avoid them ending up in the landfill – whether by renting, reusing, repairing, donating or selling materials, props, sets or costumes. Keeping objects in circulation as long as possible reduces the need for more manufacturing, more pollution, more resource and fossil fuel extraction.

The motion picture industry as a whole definitely has room to learn new approaches to breaking our unsustainable habits. The toolkit is an evolving resource that will get updated on the Reel Green™ website, with current information on where to recycle and repurpose, ways to collaborate, and a comprehensive list of green vendors in BC.

Speaking of repairing and repurposing, have you heard of Repair Cafés? The concept originated in Amsterdam in 2009 and has become a global initiative to curb the waste of our throw-away societies. Sadly it is sometimes cheaper and easier to throw something away and buy a replacement than take the time to repair it. Repair Cafés aim to break that linear path to disposability and replace it with a circular model. You can bring clothes and textiles, small appliances, bicycles and electronics to volunteer fixers who will try repairing them for free.

The City of Vancouver is co-sponsoring nine Repair Cafés throughout 2024. The next one is coming up on Saturday, February 17 at Hastings Community Centre. Find out more details and ways to get involved here.

Repurpose old ways and rethink new ones. Keeping things in circulation longer is good for both us and the planet. Change is right around the corner.

For more ideas on ways to effect change, check out DGC National’s DGC Green site as well as Creative BC’s Reel Green website for new industry initiatives, green vendors, events and courses you can take. 

Tell me what your show is doing to be more sustainable! Do you have a green tip or success story you'd like us to share in a future Ebulletin? Send me an email at awilczur@dgcbc.com.

Annabelle Wilczur
Assistant Business Agent