Green Charter 2023

green charter for film festival

For the 2021 edition, Les Arcs Film Festival has signed the Green Charter for Film Festivals, which commits it to measuring its consumption and publishing a progress report each year. This is the report for the 2023 edition, which took place from 16 to 23 December.

As we make clear every year, awareness of our impact, the commitment we make to following the charter and our actions in no way negate the fact that organising an event such as ours is a form of pollution. The progress we are making should not blind us to all the progress still to be made. However, we strongly believe that organising a cultural event is important in many ways, and we also believe that we have the power to influence our festival-goers. It's not just a question of CO2 at any given moment; spreading our philosophy and generating debate on the subject is just as important!

In line with the Green Charter, we have put in place a charter for our team, one for our partners and one for our participants. We have also put in place a charter and a process to combat sexist and sexual violence.

In 2023, we decided to support the local branch of the National Forestry Office (ONF), involved in protecting the Black Grouse and reforesting three hectares of forest affected by drought over the past two years. For 2024, thanks to your donations and our compensation efforts, we will continue supporting the ONF to help them replant clearings with species better adapted to new climate conditions.**

Beyond these specific commitments to local environmental and biodiversity protection organizations, we achieved the REEVE Level 2 certification for the 2023 edition. The association works to raise awareness among cultural actors about environmental issues, offering training, online resources, and consulting. Their label aims to recognize and identify cultural events committed to exemplary eco-responsibility in France and Europe.

Energy consumption (5% of total consumption)

Our offices are heated with electric radiators, which account for the majority of our electricity usage. We achieved a significant reduction through heating optimization and limiting temperatures to a maximum of 19°C. We use a 100% renewable electricity supplier.

➡️ 17,087 KWh in 2023 vs. 16,905 KWh in 2022, a 1% increase

We estimated indirect electricity consumption, primarily from the streaming servers used to view films for our selection process, at 2.5 KWh per film. We estimate that our consumption in 2023 was the same as in 2022. Our IT equipment mainly consists of refurbished laptops or devices we've used for several years.

➡️ 3,375 KWh in 2023 – stable

In 2022, we obtained new electricity consumption estimates for residences, which we could not acquire in 2023.

In 2023, however, we managed to measure the electricity consumption of two fully dedicated cinemas.

➡️ 32,690 KWh for the Taillefer theater and 3,100 KWh for the festival hall

 

Food consumption (4% of total consumption)

Meat-based food significantly impacts our footprint. While guests and teams would likely follow their usual diets regardless of the festival, we feel responsible for what we serve, especially to our teams. We requested that all partner caterers systematically include vegetarian options in their menus, allowing attendees to choose freely. While it is difficult to verify details about their suppliers and food quality, we raised awareness as much as possible.

For team catering, we implemented a 100% vegetarian policy. However, not everyone was pleased, particularly older volunteers. We had to add some animal proteins to accommodate specific needs while quadrupling the number of vegetarian meals overall. Individually packed meals remain the most practical option in some cases, but we reduced their quantity. Our cocktails became vegetarian, and most of the guest meals we controlled were vegetarian as well.

Lastly, while we did not control the kitchens, we sourced local cheese, organic yogurt, and apples.

👍 2,487 vegetarian team meals served in 2023 vs. 655 in 2022, a 280% increase
👍 395 individual meal packs served in 2023 vs. 739 in 2022, a 46% decrease
👍 530 vegetarian meals served to guests in 2023 vs. 313 in 2022, a 69% increase

Waste
We did not calculate the CO2 equivalent impact of waste (recovery, treatment, etc.), as it is complex and not as significant compared to other factors. However, reducing waste, making the right material choices, and recycling remain key goals for us.

Paper
We continue to print materials for participants, as paper remains an ideal and practical medium in specific situations. Since ceasing automatic distribution of brochures and catalogs to digitally-savvy attendees, we've halved our printing needs. Our printer, based in Bourg Saint Maurice, is certified for sustainable practices.

👎 683 kg of paper used in 2023 vs. 467 kg in 2022, a 46% increase (due to distributing programs to mailboxes)
👍 33 kg of paper (office use) in 2023 vs. 51 kg in 2022, a 35% decrease
👍 62% recycled paper in 2023 vs. 60% in 2022

Marketing materials
For years, we’ve created undated, neutral communication materials (banners, signage, etc.) to reuse until they degrade. Most new materials were replacements for damaged items.

👍 2 kg of marketing materials produced in 2023 vs. 6 kg in 2022, a 66% decrease

Carpeting
Each year, we use “expo” carpet provided by the Bourg Saint Maurice municipality. It is reused for other events until worn out, though we are exploring more sustainable solutions together.

➡️ Estimated 500 kg of carpet in 2022 and 2023

Plastic bottles
Partnering with the local Bonneval mineral water brand, we eliminated plastic bottles, replacing them with fountains or recyclable glass bottles.

👍 0 plastic bottles (50 cl) in 2023 vs. 466 in 2022

Recyclable waste
For the first time, we weighed recyclable waste from festival venues.

➡️ 153 kg in 2023 vs. 281 kg in 2022, a 45% decrease

 

Transport consumption (91% of total consumption)

Transport remains the largest source of consumption and impact, constrained by polluting technologies and participants' travel choices. Optimization efforts include promoting trains over flights, filling vehicles, and maximizing bus use. Alpine regions close to the festival have been highlighted in recent editions.

Train (less than 1% of total impact)
👍 161,586 km traveled by train (team) in 2023 vs. 128,789 km in 2022, a 25% increase
👍 155,662 km traveled by train (guests) in 2023 vs. 175,186 km in 2022, an 11% decrease

Plane (60% of total impact)
Our team primarily uses trains, though flights are sometimes necessary, e.g., for festivals. We significantly reduced air travel in 2023.

👍 6,405 km (team) in 2023 vs. 17,562 km in 2022, a 63% decrease

Guest air travel, however, increased due to international attendees and special events like the Women in Cinema Prize.

👎 115,504 km in 2023 vs. 74,330 km in 2022, a 55% increase

Cars and buses (24% of total impact)
Official transport decreased thanks to optimized routes (e.g., waiting for more passengers).

👍 6,646 liters of fuel in 2023 vs. 7,255 liters in 2022, an 8.3% decrease

However, individual car use increased significantly, reflecting broader participation.

👎 22,550 km traveled in 2023 vs. 3,524 in 2022, a 539% increase

Conclusions

For our 15th edition, the festival welcomed a significant number of participants, increasing pollution to 75 tons CO2 equivalent (vs. 72 tons in 2022). However, except for transport (the most polluting factor), we’ve made progress in most consumption categories. Emissions per participant decreased by approximately 10%, aligning with our goals.

We are proud of these improvements, proving we can achieve more together. We thank our teams, participants, and partners for their efforts and commitment, and we pledge to continue on this path!