A survey by the EkoFilm Platform with 100+ film industry professionals revealed strong concerns about environmental impact and a demand for sustainability knowledge. While 50% were familiar with green production, only 38% showed strong interest, and most had never worked on a green set—though those who had saw lasting behavioral changes.
Key waste sources included luxury expenses (personalized caravans, catering), open-buffet food waste, single-use materials, and a lack of second-hand culture in costumes and sets. Education, financial incentives, and integrating sustainability into film funding were seen as crucial, but barriers like a lack of experts, fast-paced production, high costs, and limited eco-friendly materials persist. Structural challenges, including freelance work and tight schedules, further hinder adoption. The full report is available in Turkish on the EkoFilm Platform website.
While not directly bound by climate agreements in these sectors, Türkiye’s sustainability efforts are informed by the Paris Agreement and the European Green Deal. In relation to the film industry, the 2024-2030 Action Plan focuses on using mass media to raise climate awareness, including incorporating environmental themes into popular film and TV content, promoting collaboration with experts, and adopting eco-friendly practices. The action plan assigns the responsibility for achieving these goals to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Radio and Television Supreme Council.
Türkiye has implemented several legislative measures to support its decarbonization strategy and achieve net-zero emissions by 2053. Key milestones include:
National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (NEEAP): Launched in 2018, the NEEAP outlines strategies to improve energy efficiency across various sectors, aiming to reduce energy consumption and associated emissions.
Ratification of the Paris Agreement: In October 2021, Türkiye ratified the Paris Agreement, committing to international efforts to combat climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Green Deal Action Plan: The Ministry of Trade has introduced a Green Action Plan to align export industries with global sustainability standards, particularly in response to the European Green Deal. This plan focuses on reducing the carbon footprint of Turkish exports and enhancing competitiveness in international markets.
Drafting Climate Law: In 2023, Türkiye released the draft Climate Law, outlining its commitment to addressing climate change through comprehensive legislative measures.
Türkiye is in the process of developing comprehensive climate legislation that includes provisions for establishing a national emissions trading system (ETS) and setting sectoral emission reduction targets. The ETS is expected to align with the European Union’s Green Deal and is anticipated to be implemented soon.
These legislative measures demonstrate Türkiye’s commitment to transitioning towards a low-carbon economy through policy reforms, international cooperation, and support for sustainable practices across various sectors.
There are currently no national incentive mechanisms specifically for green production. However, there are opportunities for international co-productions. The cash rebate scheme is managed by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in accordance with the provisions outlined in Law 5224 on the Evaluation, Classification, and Support of Cinema Films.
Eligible Projects:
Cash rebates of up to 30% are available on all eligible expenses incurred in Türkiye.
Eligibility Criteria:
Foreign film producers can receive a VAT refund for all expenses relating to the procurement and import of goods and services incurred during the shooting of a film. Tax residents of Türkiye (i.e., those who pay Turkish income tax, corporate tax, and VAT) are not eligible to apply for this refund.
To be considered for a VAT refund, producers must obtain a filming permit from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s General Directorate of Cinema, as laid out in Law 5224 on the Evaluation, Classification, and Support of Cinema Films. For more details, click here.
EkoFilm: Sustainable Production Platform is the first institutional body to promote sustainability practices in the film industry. You can access the EkoFilm Platform’s 2024 Highlights Report, available in English, on the platform’s website.
Founded in 2023 as a collaborative space for sustainable filmmaking and is currently the only legal entity dedicated to this cause. It operates through partnerships between the industry, academia, NGOs, and professional unions. The Platform has published a carbon footprint calculator and a sustainable production guide to facilitate and support the voluntary transition of the industry to sustainable practices. Additionally, the Platform has developed three educational modules on sustainable production and storytelling for professionals, students, and educators. The initial implementation of these training modules begins in early February 2025.
The Cinema-TV Union’s 2024 principles emphasize a commitment to promoting “green sets,” marking significant progress in the adoption of sustainable practices. These principles recommend that, under the leadership of the production team, staff should be properly informed and educated. The work environment should be supported by modern infrastructure and tools that reduce waste and improve efficiency, without disrupting the production process, while minimizing overall consumption. Prioritizing practices such as upcycling, reuse, and recycling is essential, along with encouraging collaboration with local authorities. The Cinema-TV Union, in partnership with the Actors’ Union, has launched an awareness campaign on social media, showcasing sets that actively implement green practices.
Several climate-themed film events and organizations have been taking place. One notable event is the Short Film Competition organized by the Sabancı Foundation Short Film Platform, which is coordinated by producer Zeynep Atakan. In 2023, the platform received the European Film Commission Sustainability Award, recognizing its commitment to environmental sensitivity in both its thematic focus and organizational practices. Additionally, TRT World introduced the “Climate Awareness Award” at the 2023 Humanitarian Film Festival, honoring films that address climate change and environmental issues.
Currently, the whole country is covered by a fully interconnected grid system. The voltage level in Türkiye is 230V and 400V. The voltage between phase and neutral is 230V, while the voltage between phases is 400V. The frequency is 50Hz. In more remote or less-developed rural areas, access to reliable grid connections can be a challenge.
The National Waste Management Plan (2023-2035) outlines waste management improvements and periodic models based on current data and projections for 2035.
The National Strategy on Food Loss and Waste focuses on prevention, redistribution for human consumption, animal feed use, and proper disposal.
Since 2017, Türkiye’s Zero Waste Policy, led by the Ministry of Environment, aims to reach a 35% recycling rate for domestic waste by 2023. Though not mandatory, voluntary participation is widespread, with a certification system for compliant buildings and institutions.
Waste collection follows a standardized color-coded system, with local governments managing transportation.
Train transport :
While nearly all major cities are connected by conventional train services, high-speed rail is currently limited to a few cities: Istanbul, Ankara, Eskişehir, Karaman, Konya, and Sivas. Efforts are underway to expand the high-speed rail network and improve connectivity across the country.
Electric cars :
Major car rental companies like Enterprise, Europcar, and Avis offer electric vehicles (EVs) in their fleets, particularly in larger cities and popular tourist destinations. The expanding network of charging stations supports this trend. However, the availability and accessibility of charging stations, especially in rural areas, along with the higher initial cost of EVs compared to traditional vehicles, slightly limit their overall accessibility.
EkoFilm Platform is now the only legal entity with consulting expertise through the guides, carbon calculator, and training programs it has developed. It has a network of film industry professionals, environmental engineers, and academics, with the team collaborating based on the specific needs of each production. As the training programs expand, the role of sustainability consultant is expected to evolve as a profession. The Platform is also working on officially defining this profession in collaboration with key stakeholders.
Working conditions are regulated by national laws:
Production companies must also comply with Article 122 of the Turkish Penal Code (TPC) No. 5237 on hate crimes and discrimination, promoting equal opportunities.
EkoFilm Platform provides a free and user-friendly carbon emissions calculator for film production in Türkiye. This practical tool enables users to quickly estimate emissions across a range of categories, including electricity consumption, natural gas usage, fuel for transportation and generators, accommodation, waste, and catering.
The Platform has published the guideline for sustainable practices in film production (available here in Turkish), and a guide for sustainable content development will be released online as open access in 2025.
Other calculators and tools are available. Their list can be consulted
on our partner‘s website Green Toolkit Film&TV.
Country’s decarbonization strategy
Türkiye has committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2053, focusing on a comprehensive decarbonization strategy that emphasizes maximizing the use of renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable industrial practices.
Maximizing the use of renewable energy: : The country plans to significantly increase its renewable energy capacity, aiming to quadruple wind and solar energy installations to 120,000 MW by 2035. This ambitious target is expected to attract approximately $80 billion in public and private investments, with upcoming tenders and regulatory reforms designed to expedite the permitting process and encourage private sector participation.
Energy Efficiency and Infrastructure Development: Türkiye is investing in enhancing its energy infrastructure to support the integration of renewable sources. This includes a $28 billion allocation for improving transmission infrastructure, building transformers, and installing high-voltage transmission grids nationwide. Additionally, the government is implementing incentive packages totaling $30 billion to boost high-tech areas, including electric vehicle production, semiconductor manufacturing, and battery production, aligning with its decarbonization goals.
Industrial Decarbonization: In collaboration with international financial institutions, Türkiye has developed low-carbon pathways for hard-to-abate sectors such as steel, cement, aluminum, and fertilizer. These roadmaps provide technological, financial, and policy guidelines to facilitate the transition to sustainable industrial practices, with estimated investments exceeding $50 billion and projected greenhouse gas emission savings of more than 135 million tons of CO₂ by 2053.
Policy and Regulatory Framework: To support its decarbonization efforts, Türkiye is set to implement a national emissions-trading system aligned with the European Union Green Deal. This system aims to create a market-based mechanism to incentivize emission reductions across various sectors of the economy.
Through these strategic initiatives, Türkiye seeks to transition to a low-carbon economy, enhance energy security, and contribute to global efforts in combating climate change.
This factsheet was produced by Ecoprod, the leading association promoting ecological and sustainable practices in the audiovisual industry (cinema, TV, animation, advertising, web, podcast, radio), and created by Ekin Gündüz Özdemirci, Nurten Bayraktar and Funda Apa Aslan from EkoFilm: Sustainable Production Platform
