Sustainable Production: Responsible Filmmaking at ARTE
Sustainable production is one of ARTE’s strategic objectives. The channel is committed to the environmental transition of the audiovisual sector on both sides of the Rhine – whether for in-house productions, co-productions or projects commissioned from partners and production companies.
Why take action?
Like any industrial activity, audiovisual production generates carbon emissions, waste, and consumes resources. Studies show the significant environmental impact of the sector. Recognizing this, ARTE is adapting its practices and collaborating with industry stakeholders to minimize its environmental footprint throughout the entire production lifecycle, from pre-production to distribution. ARTE is a member of Ecoprod, a recognized organization dedicated to promoting sustainable practices in the French audiovisual industry. The channel is also involved in the Green Shooting working group, which brings together key players in the sector: broadcasters, production companies, on-demand services and organisations supporting film production. Together, they have established specific environmental criteria to ensure eco-friendly production procedures that respect the climate and conserve resources in Germany.
ARTE productions: 70 % sustainable by 2028
ARTE aims to make 70 % of its in-house and commissioned productions ecoresponsible by 2028. This involves:
training teams in sustainable filmmaking practices,
integrating environmental criteria into all stages of production, including transport, set design, catering or file storage,
labelling productions, with the support of the Ecoprod association and the Green Shooting working group.
The magazine programmes Karambolage (2 stars, 2024), Mapping the World (2 stars, 2024) and The World in Images (2 stars, 2024), produced by ARTE Studio in Paris and ARTE Journal (1 star, 2025, week 47), produced by ARTE G.E.I.E in Strasbourg, have already achieved Ecoprod certification. An ecoproduction charter sets out the work ARTE is doing to reduce the environmental impact of its productions, and is appended to all contracts and displayed on set.
The long-term aim is to extend ecoproduction to all in-house programmes.
Co-productions: carbon footprint calculation mandatory
ARTE also encourages its co-production partners to measure their environmental impact by requiring carbon footprint assessments in contracts. This aligns with broader industry trends to quantify and reduce the carbon footprint of audiovisual projects.
Documentary co-productions such as “Borneo: the Miraculous Forest” (ARTE/Nomades) and “Climate Justice” (ARTE France/Seppia) are examples of this commitment, having both obtained the “Ecoprod-Pioneer” label (certified by French standardisation organisation AFNOR and recognised by French ecological transition agency ADEME). Several “360° Reportages” programmes (ARTE/Medienkontor) have been awarded the Green Motion label, including “360° Reportage: Canada’s Women Helicopter Pilots” and “360° Reportage: Bulgarian Kukeri”. These labels are a guarantee of ecoresponsible production standards.
ARTE-supported films are also regularly recognized at the Cannes Film Festival’s Ecoprod Awards, which reward productions that are exemplary in terms of their environmental approach or subject matter. Past winners include “All of a sudden” by Ryûsuke Hamaguchi (ARTE France Cinéma, 2026), “Drifting Laurent” by Anton Balekdjian, Léo Couture and Mattéo Eustachon (ArteKino Productions 2025), “Jim’s Story” by Arnaud and Jean-Marie Larrieu (ARTE France Cinéma 2024) and “La Chimera” by Alice Rohrwacher (ARTE France Cinéma 2023).
ARTE’s German shareholders, ARD and ZDF, which provide 40 % of ARTE’s programming, are also stepping up their commitment to the environment. Following ARTE’s example, ARD and ZDF are also committed to the Green Shooting initiative and are gradually extending these standards to all their productions, whether in-house or commissioned:
ARD is steadily working to align its in-house productions and commissioned programmes with ecological standards, promoting resource efficiency and environmental responsibility.
Since 2022, ZDF has been producing more than half of its fiction programmes according to recognised environmental standards.
Ultimately, the aim is for ecoproduction standards to apply to all programmes.
