Internal focus

ITV has formalised its net zero target in an annual production plan. ‘We’ve installed an environmental data platform which provides transparency on our carbon emissions,’ says Braun. ‘It’s very detailed work and quite painstaking: we need to look at emissions from offices based in 13 territories around the world which might have multiple sites. In the UK, we have more than 110 sites.’

Garber outlines BT Sport’s approach. ‘It’s important to start from the top down,’ he says. ‘We put our senior leadership team through carbon literacy awareness training, which has an immediate impact on how they view their place in the world and how they can help. Training is extremely important to get everybody on board. Train the senior team, then work down. Albert was very helpful because they provide free training to the media industry. Once that happens, everybody is playing for the same team in trying to make a difference. Then you do simple things, like giving everybody a flask and a coffee cup. 

‘Our core business is sports production. How do you produce the content? The first thing is to apply everything you do in the studio to when you’re out on the road or making programmes – at outside broadcasts, things like catering, single use plastic.’ It’s really important to bring your supply chains with you, he notes. ‘The worst thing is to say to your suppliers: we’re sustainable now, so you’ve got to be. End of conversation. That’s not the way to do it. Instead, tell them: we’re a sustainable company now, or certainly trying to be, we’d love it if you were too. Let’s see how we can work together to get you to a point that we’re all happy with.’ Going green ‘isn’t free’, he notes, ‘it costs someone money somewhere.’ 

This year, Garber received a press release from Sky Sports about their target to go 100% Green D Plus biofuel in outside broadcast generators in a matter of weeks. ‘I sent an email to the head of sustainability at Sky and said: this is amazing, how are you going to do it? She sent me the details of their action plan. I phoned Telegenic – our outside broadcast supplier – and said: Can we do what Sky is doing? Telegenic said: yes, we can. Six weeks after their initial press release, we hit the same target as Sky. It’s so important that we share knowledge across the sector even if we’re competitors.’ But, Garber cautions: ‘We’ve got to be careful not to preach. We recognise we’re not perfect and shouldn’t pretend that we are. The crime is saying nothing because you’re too frightened you will be caught out.’ 

At a practical level, both ITV and BT Sport would ideally like their staff and freelancers to use electric vehicles. But until the up-front cost drops and the range of EVs increases this is not yet feasible.