Effective July 1, 2023, all film and TV productions receiving public funding in Germany must follow ecological production standards. These standards, applied by all film funds, broadcasters, and VOD services, include 39 requirements, 22 of which are mandatory.
They cover all production stages, including those in Germany, regardless of the production company’s location. Compliance for stages abroad is encouraged.
The standards fall into five categories: general requirements; energy use; transportation; accommodations and catering; and material use. Each category has “should” and “must” requirements, with the latter being mandatory. Up to five deviations from the 22 mandatory requirements are allowed.
The Fuel Emissions Trading Act (BEHG) introduced a national emissions trading system (nEHS) in 2021, setting a CO2 price for fuels in sectors not covered by EU emissions trading, mainly building and transportation. Starting at €25 per ton in 2021, the price will be market-based from 2027.
This decarbonization strategy will impact the film and TV industry, making fossil fuel-based energy more expensive while expanding access to cheaper renewables. Currently, the industry relies on renewable energy labeled “green” under the Renewable Energy Certificate System (RECS), which allows coal power to be classified as green by purchasing certificates from hydrogen plants in Norway, where the same hydrogen is then sold as “grey energy.”
In Germany, film productions receiving subsidies must meet ecological standards under the Filmförderungsgesetz (FFG). A new film law in 2025 may further tighten compliance by reducing permitted deviations.
Management and line producers must sign a statement confirming adherence to ecological standards. A green consultant must oversee compliance in energy use, transport, accommodations, and materials. CO2 emissions must be estimated before applying for funding and measured again after production using an approved calculator. A final compliance report must document adherence to these standards.
Certified green energy must be used for all production sites, including post-production. Generators are allowed only when no grid access is available within 100 meters. LED lighting is required in studios, while incandescent and halogen lighting must be avoided.
Flights are not permitted for trips that can be made by train in under five hours, and private planes are banned unless used on-screen. At least one-third of production vehicles must be CO2-efficient, such as electric or hybrid. Diesel vehicles must meet EURO 6 standards, except for specialized equipment.
At least 50% of accommodations must be in eco-certified establishments within 15 km of the production site. Catering must source at least 50% of food locally (within 150 km) or 33% from certified organic suppliers. Productions must serve at least one vegetarian meal per week and avoid disposable tableware.
Rechargeable batteries must be used instead of disposable ones, except for in-ear devices. New wood and composites must be FSC or PEFC certified. Costumes should be reused, rented, or sourced second-hand. Paper products must contain at least 90% recycled fibers, except where full colorfastness is required. Waste must be sorted at all production sites according to regional disposal regulations.
All film funds and film commissions in Germany agreed to apply the ecological standards.
A study by the University of Rostock and the MaLisa Foundation examined gender representation in German cinema. While the share of women in central roles has increased since 2017, they remain less diverse on screen.
Women and men now have nearly equal central roles (47% women, 53% men), but disparities persist. Women over 50 are significantly underrepresented, making up only 30% of key roles. Female protagonists are almost never overweight and are three times more likely to be very thin. Their professions are less visible, and they appear more often in relationship contexts.
Women are underrepresented in creative roles: 25% of films are directed by women, and 24% are written by them. Male-dominated teams still oversee most scripts (76%). Films directed by women offer more extensive female character arcs, with 90% passing the Bechdel-Wallace test.
Diversity gaps extend beyond gender. Men are more represented in nearly all diversity categories. Women are often depicted as thin, heterosexual, and without disabilities. People with disabilities appear on screen at rates close to real-life representation, but mostly as male protagonists. Only 15% of film protagonists have a migration background, despite making up 26% of the German population. Non-heterosexual characters are vastly underrepresented (3%), compared to 11% in society.
Since 2015, the German Federal Film Fund (FFA) has collected gender data in project support applications. Committees for funding decisions are now fully gender-equitable. The MOIN Film Fund in Hamburg promotes inclusivity with a “Diversity Checklist” for funding applications and the “OMNI Inclusion Data” platform, which tracks diversity in the industry. The platform collects voluntary data on gender, ethnicity, disability, and other factors, ensuring GDPR-compliant data protection.
The availability of grid connections is not the same in the different cities nor in rural areas. Moreover, the grid connection has often to be ordered in advance, so that there is a lack of flexibility.
The German Circular Economy Act prioritizes waste prevention, reuse, recycling, energy recovery, and disposal. The 2017 Commercial Waste Ordinance requires separate collection of commercial and construction waste into categories like paper, glass, plastic, metal, wood, textiles, and organic waste.
Entities generating over 50 kg of waste per week must document their waste management. Electrical waste falls under the WEEE Directive, enforcing producer responsibility and free consumer returns.
The German Packaging and Batteries Acts require manufacturers to fund disposal. Harmful batteries must be labeled, registered with stiftung ear, and returned by consumers to collection points.
Train transport :
In Gemany, it is possible to travel almost anywhere by train. Depending on the transfer options, travelling by train is not in any case the fastest solution.
Electric cars :
The availability of electric cars is still low. Therefore it is not possible to require from productions to use electric cars only.
The Green Consultants Association provides a list of green consultants. The search tool links producers with green consultants can be found in the requested area. https://bvgcd.de/members/
The Hochschule der Medien Stuttgart and MFG Baden-Württemberg offer a 14–16-week certification program for green consultants. Training includes an online preparation phase, on-site sessions in Stuttgart, and a final exam. Topics cover sustainability principles, environmental management, green film production, energy and transport processes, waste disposal, and carbon calculation.
Cost: 1,800 euros
More info
The Green Consultant Film & TV IHK program is a four-module online training covering production planning, budgeting, and sustainability measures for offices, buildings, IT, catering, transport, lighting, and set design. The course ends with a final test.
Cost: 2,400 euros
More info
Other calculators and tools are available. Their list can be consulted
on our partner‘s website Green Toolkit Film&TV.
Country’s decarbonization strategy
Germany’s decarbonization strategy is legally defined by the Federal Climate Change Act, renewed on July 17, 2024. The Act aims to cut carbon emissions by at least 65% by 2030 and 88% by 2040 (compared to 1990 levels), achieving carbon neutrality by 2045. The focus is on reducing total emissions rather than sector-specific targets.
By 2030, at least 80% of electricity should come from renewables, primarily wind and solar. The goal is to reach 215 GW of photovoltaic capacity, 115 GW of onshore wind, and 30 GW of offshore wind. Biomass and hydropower also contribute to a sustainable energy supply.
This factsheet was produced by Birgit Heidsiek, founder of Green Film Shooting.
