Call to action

Last updated: 18 July 2023 at 14:52

There is a prevailing notion, often unchallenged, that Createch businesses either reduce negative climate impacts (by replacing physical activity or products) or are relatively harmless in terms of their contribution to climate change or broader sustainability issues. This assumption, however, fails to consider the evolving nature and increasing scale of these companies, and the consequent growth in their environmental footprint across the value chain.

As technology advances, the Creative Industries as a whole are increasingly leaning towards more energy-intensive practices, especially with the emergence of trends such as virtual production and generative artificial intelligence. These sophisticated approaches require significant computational power, which in turn drives a higher demand for electricity. Createch companies can grow to become voracious consumers of computing resources, thereby risking exponentially increasing their energy consumption. This growing energy demand is an urgent concern, considering the majority of global power generation still relies heavily on fossil fuels, exacerbating the detrimental impacts of climate change.

Some Createch companies also extend their environmental impact through their physical infrastructures. Large-scale facilities necessary for various operations - be it studios for production, data centres, or simply offices for the workforce - contribute to substantial energy use. These facilities often require round-the-clock energy supply for lighting, heating, cooling, and running high-tech equipment.

Additionally, the nature of work in the Creative Industries often demands extensive travel. Employees might need to attend meetings, conferences, support location shoots, or live events, requiring them to travel frequently. This kind of mobility significantly contributes to the carbon footprint of these companies, through the burning of fossil fuels for transportation, particularly in aviation.

With the ongoing evolution of the Createch sector, and its resultant growing carbon footprint, there is an immediate and clear need for action. This call for change doesn't only stem from an ethical standpoint but is increasingly recognised as a business imperative. The advent of sustainable practices within the industry is not only beneficial for our planet but can also drive innovation, enhance brand reputation, attract talent, and align with the growing demand for sustainable products and services from consumers and investors alike.

Given these considerations, we invite you to watch the accompanying video. It offers further insights into the relationship between the Creative Industries, their growing use of energy-intensive technologies, and the critical role they can play in advancing sustainability. It underscores the urgent need for Createch companies to recognise and address their environmental impacts, emphasising that every effort, big or small, can contribute to a more sustainable future.

This information is brought to you by the Centre for Sustainable Design (CfSD) at the University for the Creative Arts in the UK. CfSD was established in 1995 in Farnham, Surrey, UK and is based within the Business School for the Creative Industries (BSCI). The Centre has led and participated in a range of high-quality research projects and has organised hundreds of conferences, workshops and training courses in Europe. CfSD works with partners in Europe, Asia, and North America to deliver high quality results.

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