The BBC is expanding its commitment to sustainable production by announcing that all factual, comedy, drama, entertainment and daytime TV programmes from April will have to track their carbon footprint.
The will need to use the Albert carbon calculator for TV production. The calculator, developed by the BBC and now managed by the Bafta Albert Consortium, enables production companies to estimate the footprint of a programme by inputting information from across the production process, such as studio use and time spent in editing suites.
The BBC said completing a footprint was already the standard for most productions, made by its own studios and independent production companies. The decision to make the scheme mandatory is supported by PACT, the trade association representing the commercial interests of UK independent television and media companies.
Its deputy chief executive, Max Rumney, said: ‘[Our] members understand the importance of transitioning their productions to environmental sustainability and welcome the BBC’s commitment to this goal by making the use of the albert production calculator mandatory.’