Green production is steadily advancing, propelled by growing demand and a dedicated group of stakeholders such as broadcasters, film funds and leading production companies with dedicated sustainability managers.
Productive dialogue on sustainability is taking place across the value chain, involving financiers, producers, and suppliers. They collaborate on new projects each year. Examples include tailored trainings and seminars aimed at specific departments, such as planning, reporting, circular economy, the role of green managers, and conscious costume design.
There is currently a yearly 1 week Green Manager course at the National Film School of Denmark and new collaborations on environmental budgeting and green storytelling.
This fall the Nordic institutes, broadcasters and producer’s associations launched the new Nordic Ecological Standard (NES). It is a standard adapted from the German Ecological Standard and aims to maintain a certain level of sustainability in all Danish film- and tv productions.
Incentives :
There are no eco-bonuses at the moment, but the broadcasters demands sustainability plans, carbon budgets before greenlighting productions and a carbon report after production – some where you will only get your last 10% payment when delivering the report.
Social rules :
Both The Danish Film Institute and the Producers Association has a focus on the social aspects of film and tv production
They offer several courses about diversity, security, working environment.
Denmark has different initiatives.
The alliance is a cooperation between all the financing partners in DK (The Danish Film Institute, the broadcasters, the regional funds and Danish Producers’ Association. )
Together they made a common strategy, a green production handbook, adapted a certification, sustainability plan templates, a website with case studies written as easy accessible articles and interviews with industry professionals, seminars and trainings.
In the BFTP alliance, the partners are: TV2, DR, The Danish Film Institute, Viaplay, Warner Bros/Discovery, Producer association, Film Fyn and the West Danish Film Fund.
Denmark has a highly developed and reliable electricity grid.
The grid is robust and known for its stability, with minimal disruptions and a high level of operational efficiency. Many places it is possible to get connected to 16 amp if one asks around in the area of the base and set respectively.
As of 2024, Denmark’s energy mix is dominated by renewable energy sources, particularly wind and bioenergy. Wind power accounts for around 50% of Denmark’s electricity generation, making it a key contributor to the country’s energy supply.
Denmark’s strong interconnections with neighboring countries through the Nord Pool power market allow for energy imports and exports, helping to balance its renewable-heavy grid (IEA, Energistyrelsen)
Train
Score : 3/5
If you stay in greater Copenhagen the number would be 5.
Denmark has an efficient rail system connecting the biggest cities across the country. On Zealand (Sjælland) where the capital Copenhagen is located there are moreover vast opportunities for regional trains and the so-called S-trains. In the 3 largest cities it is fast and easy to travel by subway, busses, trams and bicycles respectively.
Bike
On productions in greater Copenhagen 50% of the crew can easily bike due to the flat landscape and great bicycle infrastructure.
Score 4/5 (would be 5 if your base is in greater Copenhagen)
The major car rentals in Denmark, Europcar and Avis, offer both electric cars and sprinter vans.
Charging stations and their availability is found on Charge Finder.
Waste management regulations for companies in Denmark are governed by a combination of national policies and EU directives.
Companies must sort the following categories: Paper, Cardboard, Plastic & Cartons, Glass, Metal, Bio Waste, Wood, Electronic Waste (WEEE), Hazardous Waste, Textiles, Residual Waste
More information: Danish Environmental Protection Agency
There are no dedicated sustainable service providers in Denmark, but most follow the requests from the sustainability consultants and companies to meet their demands for environmentally friendly supplies and innovations.
BFTP (Sustainable film and tv production) has completed 8 full day training sessions in sustainable planning. There have been around 100 line producers, production managers and other production people through these trainings.
In addition, courses in CO2 calculating have been completed, where approx. 60 people registered.
BFTP has hosted major inspiration seminars, which have spawned a lot of sparring across the industry. BFTP has offered specific advice for production companies that are about to start filming and want to implement environmentally friendly measures to their production.
The National Film School of Denmark offers a 1 week long course in Green Management once a year. Everyone from the Danish film and tv industry has the opportunity to apply for admission, and up to 16 people are trained each year.
Different calculators and tools are available. Their list can be consulted on our partner‘s website Green Toolkit Film&TV.
Resources & case studies
On the BFTP website there are resources such as: handbooks, templates, case studies and news regularly.
NES – Nordic Ecolocial Standard
This new standard for sustainable practices sas been launched in September 2025 and will be effective from 2027 in all Nordic countries.
Waste management service
Filmservice.dk is offering to come and set up waste management systems on both studio and location shoots. They pick up the waste, weigh it and deliver a waste report by the end of production. It is especially a time saving and a financially sustainable solution when filing in the Greater Copenhagen area.
It is possible to get in touch with green consultants by asking the BFTP organization who also hosts network meeting for this group. Here is a list of some of the existing consultants and green managers:
Full timers:
BFTP – Sustainable film/TV production DK: Caroline Gjerulff ; Laura Kornerup
SF Studios / NEMA (Nordic Eco Media Alliance) : Anne Helvig Frost, sustainability manager at SF Studios, Laura Kornerup Jensen, sustainability manager SF Studios Denmark
Green Producers Club : Ege Heckmann
DR Public Broadcaster : Pia Haldorsson
Others responsible for environmental work in the film/TV industry
TV2 : Carsten Sparwath
Nordisk Film : Mascha Ott
Zentropa : Anne Serup
Cosmo Film : Yade Richmon Krøyer
University of Southern Denmark: Heidi Philipsen
National Film School of Denmark : Henriette Kræmer
Danish Film Institute : Helene Hansen
Freelance green consultant / productions designer : Mette Rio
In 2020, the Danish Parliament adopted the Danish Climate Act.
The purpose of the law is that Denmark must reduce the emission of greenhouse gases by 70 percent by 2030 compared to the level in 1990, and that Denmark must be a climate-neutral society by 2050 at the latest.
The Climate Act sets several frameworks which oblige the current and future climate ministers to take concrete action.
Some of the guiding principles of the law are that:
Denmark has both a historical and moral responsibility to take the lead.
The achievement of Denmark’s climate targets must be as cost-effective as possible, taking into account both the long-term green transition, sustainable business development and Danish competitiveness, healthy public finances and employment, and that Danish business must be developed and not wound down.
Denmark must show that it can make a green transition and at the same time maintain a strong welfare society, where cohesion and social balance are ensured.
The measures it must use to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases must lead to real domestic reductions, but must also ensure that Danish measures do not simply move the entire greenhouse gas emission outside Denmark’s borders.
More info: Retsinformation
This factsheet was produced by Annee Helvig Frost, Laura Kornerup Jensen SF Studios and Caroline Gjerulff, BFTP (Sustainable film and TV production).
