Green production is still at its early stages in Portugal.
As of August 2025, there were no mandatory requirements tied to funding, although there is more awareness and some interest in adopting a more sustainable approach to film production, also because international funds such as Eurimages and Creative Europe demand a certain commitment.
Portugal Film Commission has been the most proactive player, releasing a Best Practices Guide, recently updated. In 2021, the commission organized a series of online workshops and initiated the training of green consultants, which has since become an established practice. In November 2025, a Green Film Lab is going to be held in Lisbon.
So far, only one Portuguese feature film has received a Green Film certification, and one tv commercial shot in Portugal has been certified with the Ecoprod Label.
Interest in sustainable practices has grown, especially since certified green consultants can now earn productions extra points for cash rebates or refunds.
Many Portuguese productions seek international co-productions for better budgets, increasing the demand for green consultants to meet funding requirements for sustainability plans.
However, green production is often seen as too expensive, especially by smaller companies with tight budgets, who also consider themselves as already operating in a more sustainable manner.
Portugal has key environmental laws, including:
Social rules
The most recent cash rebate promotes gender equality, awarding two points for projects led by female directors.
The Portuguese Film Institute (ICA) aims to enhance diversity across ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, age, and disability in its 2024–2028 strategy.
A 2023 study on gender equality in Portuguese cinema by the Portuguese Association of Female Workers in Moving Images (MUTIM) provides further insights.
Harassment (sexual or moral) is prohibited under Article 29 of the Labour Code, and 2025 saw the release of a “Manual of Good Practices for Cinema and Audiovisual Media in Portugal” (for now in Portuguese only), addressing several kinds of harassment, and offering practical tools and guidance.
In 2024/2025, both the cash rebate and cash refund introduced one additional point for sustainability plans created by certified green consultants.
A second point is awarded for the cash refund if an audit verifies the implementation of green measures.
In an additional funding round in 2025, where remains of unspent funding get distributed (called Ad Hoc), the development of a sustainability plan qualified for a possible reimbursement of associated expenses. However, the Portuguese Film Institute (ICA) has not yet included any funding conditions tied to sustainability into its regular financing programs.
Portugal Film Commission: Provides a Best Practice Guide, updated in 2024, and a directory of green consultants.
Green Consultants’ Association (“Repensar”): Offers resources for sustainability in production.
The Council for Climate Action (Agência para o Clima, APC, website still not working), launched in January 2025, centralizes climate transition efforts in Portugal, separate from environmental issues. It develops policies for mitigation, adaptation, and decarbonization while managing key national and international climate funds, including the Environmental Fund, EEA Grants, the Social Climate Fund, the Modernisation Fund, and the Blue Fund. The APC also inherits climate-related responsibilities from the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) and oversees the Voluntary Carbon Market.
Main broadcasters must comply with CSR reporting, but sustainable production methods are not yet widely applied or known. Unions are small and lack influence, showing little interest in sustainability. However, the Portuguese Association of Independent TV Production Companies (APIT) is actively promoting the topic, offering regular training initiatives for its member companies.
Availability varies by location and is easier in cities. Although grid connections are expected within 15 days, delays up to 30 days are common. Connections are feasible only when locations are confirmed well in advance, which contributes to this solution being less used than desirable.
To order a grid connection, these steps must be followed.
Local film commissions in Lisbon and Porto offer protocols to expedite the process.
Train
Portugal’s train network is limited, leaving some regions without service. The main route runs North-South (Braga-Porto-Lisbon-Faro) with a fast connection (Alfa Pendular) and affordable tickets.
Future plans include a high-speed Lisbon-Porto line and improved links to Spain.
However, reliance on trains for productions is challenging without network expansion and electrification.
Electric cars
Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming more available through rental companies but remain limited. Charging on the street is expensive unless private chargers are provided.
In 2025 (as per August), Portugal had 6,887 charging stations, an increase following the 5,746 existing in 2024, with most located in Lisbon and Porto. Rural areas have far fewer options.
Find charging stations here: E Network or Electromaps
Productions generating less than 1,100 liters of household-like waste daily must use municipal waste systems and follow proper separation rules.
For waste production exceeding 1,100 liters daily, a waste management service provider must be hired, and digital transport documents are required.
Municipal systems handle undifferentiated waste and separated fractions, including paper/cardboard, metals, plastics, glass, bio-waste, wood, textiles, and packaging. They also collect used cooking oil.
Currently, no directory of specialized green service providers exists, reflecting the limited availability of these services. Most light equipment rentals offer small battery storage units, and all of them a wide variety of LED lights.
CALCULATORS : there is no specific tool for Portugal, however green consultants are trained to use Carbon’Clap (free international carbon calculator powered by Ecoprod), and capable of using others.
TRAININGS
There is one available training program to skill green consultants for production, it is based on the curriculum of Germany’s “Hochschule der Medien”, Stuttgart, for the certified green consultants training.
Country’s decarbonization strategy
Portugal’s Basic Climate Law (Law No. 98/2021) recognizes the climate emergency. However, the Council for Climate Action, mandated by this law, has yet to be established.
A carbon budget has been proposed in late 2024, then entered public consultation. The final version has not yet been published.
The National Energy and Climate Plan for 2030 (PNEC), reviewed in 2024, targets:
The law also promotes the circular economy as a fundamental axis of decarbonisation.
The National Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change (ENAAC), valid until December 2025, outlines solutions for sectors like agriculture, energy, biodiversity, forests, health, transport, communication and coastal zones to adapt to climate change effects.
This factsheet was produced by Dörte Schneider Garcia, green consultant in Portugal.
