The Incredible Hulk is an excellent example of a film production that strived for a reduced carbon footprint when it shot at Toronto Film Studios last summer.

Its star Edward Norton and its producer Gale Anne Hurd are environmentalists who seized the opportunity to make the Hulk a truly green shoot. Hurd says that TFS embraced and accommodated the initiative, and Marvel Studios paid for it (see story opposite).

What follows is a sampling of California’s Environmental Media Association checklist, used by the production. It’s easy to follow and can be found on EMA’s website (www.ema-online.org).

EMA’S GREEN CHECKLIST

EMA’s checklist of green choices, includes:

Energy
• Replace standard-watt bulbs with energy-efficient, long-lasting, compact fluorescent light bulbs. Turn off lights when not needed

• Unplug DVD players, TVs and other electronics with a standby mode when not in use

• Use Energy Star-rated/labeled energy-efficient computers, copiers, fax machines, refrigerators and other appliances. Turn off and unplug any equipment when not in use

Waste
• Recycle everything you can; provide recycling bins

• Print and copy double-sided whenever possible, and reuse single-sided, used paper

• Discard hazardous waste at an appropriate drop-off center

Food
• Encourage the use of personal, reusable dishware and mugs when possible; avoid disposable plastics or Styrofoam

• Arrange to have leftovers from catered meals picked up by a food bank that donates to local shelters

• Support organic farming and buy organic food, shade-grown/organic and fair trade coffee and tea

Other
• Use nontoxic soap and cleaners; supply or ask the janitorial staff to stock chlorine-free toilet paper, paper towels and tissues

• For logo tee shirts and accessories, consider clothing made of organic cotton and/or recycled materials

• Purchase used office furniture when possible

• Reduce or eliminate the use of rainforest wood such as lauan

HULK’S GREEN CHECKLIST

The Incredible Hulk’s actual implementation checklist of green initiatives through all levels of the production:

• Production purchased 500 biodegradable pens for cast and crew

• Plastic grocery bags were eliminated with the use of cloth bags for craft shopping

• Used paperless distribution wherever possible; all printing was double-sided; and accounting approved a final use of double-sided paper as petty cash receipt backing

• The purchase of stainless steel mugs to issue to the entire crew to eliminate all plastic water bottles and take-out hot beverage containers

• Construction sourced and used sustainable-forest harvested yellow pine wood in place of rainforest lauan, wherever possible

• Scenic used a zero VOC set of paint products wherever possible

• Transport sourced two to three hybrid cars (Toyota’s Prius) as heavy-use production vehicles

• Production vehicles were ‘downsized’ in general, to emphasize the use of the most fuel-efficient models available (such as Toyota’s subcompact Yaris)

• Transport also found a source of ultra-low-sulfur diesel for all diesel vehicles and generators

• Transport drivers were encouraged to observe the ‘no idling’ bylaw, with some success

• With the cooperation and assistance of Toronto Film Studios, the production office had an organics/compost collection program

• All offices were cleaned with environmentally friendly products

• Craft (Focused on Food) and caterer (By David’s) were both committed to sourcing local products for food as much as possible

• Production coffee products were ‘fair trade’

• Sound department used rechargeable batteries wherever possible

• A local supplier was used for biodegradable take-away containers for the production office, craft service, and catering

• Recycling: a contractor was put in place to remove recycling bins at every location and set, incorporating paper, plastic, glass and cans