With the adoption of the UK Sustainability Reporting Standards (SRS) set to take effect in April 2025, businesses are preparing to disclose detailed information on their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices. These standards require companies to publish transition plans and ESG-related disclosures, driving a more structured and professional approach to sustainability reporting.
A key focus of these efforts is decarbonisation and the journey to net zero. The UK has set a legally binding target to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, prompting companies to take meaningful action. Businesses are starting to cut their carbon footprints by shifting to renewable energy sources, optimising electricity usage and adopting energy efficiency technologies.
The media and entertainment industry is no exception. While innovation in content creation and delivery continues to accelerate, so does the push for more sustainable production methods. As studios, production houses and post-production teams look for ways to reduce their environmental impact, Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) and private cloud solutions are emerging as powerful tools in the shift towards greener production. By minimising reliance on physical infrastructure and optimising energy consumption, these technologies are driving a more efficient and eco-friendly future for media production.
The Environmental Challenge in Media Production
From high-powered rendering farms to extensive on-premise storage solutions, traditional media workflows consume vast amounts of energy. The need for high-performance computing, multiple backups, and extensive data storage often leads to an over-reliance on energy-intensive, on-premise infrastructure that contributes to high carbon emissions.
At the same time, production teams must deal with increasing e-waste from outdated hardware and inefficient resource allocation. With sustainability becoming a key concern across industries, media companies are under pressure to adopt more eco-friendly workflows without sacrificing performance.
How IaaS and Private Cloud Reduce Carbon Footprint
- Lower Energy Consumption
By shifting from on-premise infrastructure to cloud-based solutions, studios can significantly reduce their energy consumption. Traditional data centres often run 24/7, consuming power even when underutilised. IaaS providers optimise resource allocation dynamically, ensuring that energy is only used when needed. Many private cloud providers also prioritise sustainability by using energy-efficient hardware and renewable-powered data centres.
- Reduction in Physical Infrastructure
The need for large server rooms and on-premise storage is drastically reduced when companies move to an IaaS model. Private cloud environments allow studios to store and manage their assets without maintaining massive physical infrastructure, leading to a lower carbon footprint from manufacturing, cooling, and equipment disposal.
- Efficient Remote Workflows
Cloud-based production allows artists, editors, and post-production teams to work remotely from anywhere in the world, reducing the need for travel and on-site production. This not only decreases the carbon emissions associated with commuting and international travel but also makes it easier for teams to collaborate in real time without being tied to physical office spaces.
- Optimised Resource Scaling
One of the major benefits of IaaS is its on-demand scalability. Studios no longer need to maintain excessive hardware that sits idle between projects. Instead, they can scale up during peak production and scale down when demand is low, ensuring that resources are utilised efficiently, and waste is minimised.
- Sustainable Data Management
Massive amounts of data are generated in the media industry, from raw footage to final renders. Cloud-based storage solutions optimise data retention, archiving, and retrieval, eliminating the need for excessive replication and reducing energy-intensive physical backups.
The Future of Sustainable Media Production
As studios continue to embrace digital transformation, the move toward cloud-based workflows and IaaS solutions will play a pivotal role in building a more sustainable industry. By reducing reliance on on-premise infrastructure, lowering energy consumption, and enabling remote collaboration, IaaS and private cloud solutions are paving the way for a greener future in media production.
For studios and production houses looking to enhance efficiency while reducing their carbon footprint, now is the time to explore sustainable cloud solutions that align with both business and environmental goals.
Ready to Make the Shift?
If your studio is looking to adopt more sustainable workflows, our private cloud-based solutions provide the flexibility, scalability, and efficiency you need—all while helping reduce your environmental impact. Get in touch to learn how we can help your transition to a greener production environment.
ERA’s Commitment
We are committed to building a passionate and diverse team dedicated to providing innovative yet dependable hosted services to the creative industries. Our mission is to safeguard people and the environment by offering our client infrastructure powered by 100% renewable energy sources. This will help to reduce carbon emissions and foster a future that is both powerful and sustainable.
Our aim is to work on our ESG performance and improvement plans to allow us to submit our B Corp Business Impact Assessment with the hope of certifying this year.
