This article is the second in a series exploring how different film production departments can implement sustainability practices on set. Follow the author of this article, Jasmine Alkire, and follow Prodigium Pictures’ Medium publication for more articles on how film productions can be made more sustainable.
Hollywood is known for the “glitz and the glamour,” from stunning costumes to elaborate makeup looks. However, clothing and cosmetics can be major sources of waste on set. In America alone, the EPA reported that 11.3 million tons of textile waste ended up in landfills in 2018. Plastic waste, a common form of waste from beauty and cosmetic products, is also harmful to our planet and oceans: National Geographic reported that “8 million metric tons of plastic ends up in the oceans every year.”
Luckily, most wardrobe ensembles, hairstyles, and makeup looks can be achieved sustainably. From second-hand shopping to donating, there are many accessible ways that productions can reduce their carbon footprint whilst still bringing characters to life.
Here are 5 ways you can make your HMU and wardrobe departments more sustainable in 2021:
1. Source wardrobe from second-hand shops and sustainable brands
Sourcing a character’s outfit from a consignment or second-hand shop not only gives clothes a new life, but also brings out the individuality of a character. Vintage shops are a great option for sourcing unique pieces to help bring a character to life. Consignment stores such as Buffalo Exchange, Crossroads, and Wasteland have locations in most major cities, and are great places to find higher-end items in good condition. They sell “pre-loved” pieces from past and current trends from the same stores that wardrobe pieces are typically purchased from. Making a purchase from a sustainable brand, such as Reformation, or a local business is always a good choice, too.
2. Sustainably packaged and Cruelty-Free Makeup and Hair products
“Hair and Makeup”- everyone uses it on set, but it can seriously increase your production’s carbon footprint. In 2018, Zero Waste Week found that globally there were 120 billion units of cosmetic packaging produced, contributing to 18 million acres of forest annually and at least 8 million tons of plastic enter the world’s oceans each year.
Luckily, brands such as ILIA, Axiology, Exa Beauty, use eco-friendly packaging materials, making it easier to properly dispose of or reuse on set. If you want, you can to start making the switch to sustainable hair-styling with a bamboo comb and/or hairbrush. Then opt for hairstyling brands such as Aveda, Prose, and Sienna Naturals. These brands are dedicated to creating professional hair styling products all while being clean of toxic chemicals that could harm the ecosystem.
3. Where to donate/dispose of makeup and hair products
When it comes to recycling HMU products, TerraCycle is a great resource. TerraCycle accepts hard-to-recycle products such as razors and spray bottles, and ensures that they are reused, repurposed, or recycled if at all possible. Check in with your makeup and hair brands, as many eco-conscious companies have programs that take back used products to be recycled. You can also call up a local women’s shelter that may be accepting hair and makeup products.
For Disposable Makeup Wands:
To prevent the spread of COVID-19, many productions have resorted to using single-use items, such as disposable makeup wands. These wands are non-recyclable items, but a company called Wands for Wildlife is bringing new life to these used mascara wands by using them to clean and care for wildlife.
4. Where to Donate and Sell Wardrobe
After your production wraps, depending on the scale of the production, your wardrobe is often taken to warehouses where it can be reused for future productions. In the case that there is excess clothing on set that cannot be taken to a wardrobe warehouse, donating is a great option. Elizabeth Cline, a journalist from The Atlantic, shared that “there is an estimated 10.5 million tons of clothing and textiles that Americans throw out instead of donating each year.” Instead of landfills, selling clothes to consignment shops such as the aforementioned Buffalo Exchange, Wasteland, and Crossroads not only makes your set more sustainable, it can also bring in a few extra bucks back to your production. If consignment shops won’t accept your excess wardrobe, donating to local high school and college theater programs, or even letting your crew take a few pieces home, are great ways to ensure the clothes will be put to good use.
5. Eco-friendly cleaning
When the time comes to reuse the same outfit, or if an outfit gets stained, often many articles of clothing are taken to a dry cleaners. Green America emphasizes how toxic dry cleaning practices are at most cleaners, noting that “85 percent of the more than 35,000 dry cleaners in the United States use perchloroethylene or perc for short.” Perc is a toxic synthetic that can impose health risks on those with minimal contact and can contaminate the earth’s water and soil, Green America goes on to mention.
Productions can clean their wardrobe safely with methods like wet cleaning when possible, reserving dry cleaning for items with “dry clean only” tags.
Creating beauty on-screen while minimizing excess waste and toxins is more than possible.
Every day, more brands and companies are becoming more conscious about their carbon footprint and switching over to more sustainable practices. From plastic-free packaging, to donating wardrobe pieces, opting for these practices is a simple and sustainable choice for HMU and wardrobe departments.
Follow Prodigum Pictures for more insights on on-set sustainability, purpose-driven marketing, social impact entertainment, video production, and more! You can also visit our website www.prodigum-pictures.com to view our past work and learn more about our mission.
