Α greener and more sustainable 66th TIFF experience

The Thessaloniki Film Festival acknowledges its environmental impact and has adopted a comprehensive environmental policy, which is being detailed and systematized into an action plan,
meant to constitute an integral part of our administration, daily operations and overall organizational culture. The action plan, which is regularly revised and re-evaluated, focuses on:

• Our people. A green team was formed, a series of workshops took place and more are scheduled. A Festival executive has been assigned with the role of green officer/coordinator and the Festival teamed up with a specialized advisor and specialized collaborators(This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
• Buildings & Operations. A carbon footprint analysis and energy audit for the entire organisation, on a year-long based operation, are underway. The results and recommendations are to be presented in the next few months. Energy upgrade works have already been realized and others are planned for the immediate future, while other green initiatives, regarding the daily operations and behavioural measures, were also implemented.
• Materials & Procurement. We are revising our procurement policy, with the aim to explore possibilities to green our supply chain, and we have already taken measures towards this direction.
• Travel & Hospitality. Taking into account the geographical location of the Festival and the limited opportunities for more sustainable travel choices, TFF is pursuing a greener travel policy, without undermining the artistic and social dimension of the Festival’s and AGORA’s events.
• Waste Management. We have already taken many steps towards reducing waste and diverting as much waste as possible from landfill, by working with experts and constantly learning how to optimize our waste management system.
• Content. The Festival always aims to host stories that address urgent environmental issues of global impact, and our industry event AGORA is taking steps in supporting green initiatives in the film industry.
• Green Charter. TIFF is also a co-signatory of the Green Charter for Film Festivals, a European initiative of the Festival Network MIOB. The Charter includes a carbon assessment tool, through which data on energy, transportation, food, waste, etc. is submitted and measured for each festival event, with the possibility to compare environmental performance over time.
• Certification. TFF has invited a private company to audit its environmental management system against EN ISO 14001:2015 requirements. The second stage of the audit will be executed in the next few months.
• Communication & Collaboration. We strive to communicate our green initiatives and share knowledge with our audiences, partners, collaborators, the cultural sector in Greece and abroad and the wider community we serve. In this frame and in order to support the commitments of our environmental policy, we established -since November 2023- a 10-euro “green fee” for accredited guests and pledged to reinvest the collected amount towards our sustainability action plan. The initiative was warmly embraced by accredited guests, who -like all the participants and the audiences- are always on our side in our efforts to be as green and sustainable as possible.

Additional information is available through TFF’s website https://www.filmfestival.gr

HERE ARE SOME THINGS WE CAN DO TOGETHER DURING THE 66th TiFF:

TRAVEL
Think about your arrival to and departure from the Festival. When you can, opt for walking, cycling or car-pooling, which can be quicker, more practical, and beneficial for our health. It will also lower our carbon emissions. Mass transportation options are available too.

WATER CONSUMPTION & SINGLE-USE PLASTICS
We are continuing our effort to avoid single-use plastic and we encourage you to use your own reusable water bottle. Across the Festival venues you will find installed several water coolers. You can also buy the Festival’s reusable bottle, available at the Festival shops and canteens. Still, if you have a single-use plastic water bottle, you can recycle it at our plastic recycling stations.

PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS
We have limited our promotional materials, mindful of the energy consumption required to recycle them, and the environmental footprint they entail. A “merch drop-off” option will be available this year, as well as last year, at Warehouse C. If you don’t want it, return it!
More and more of our printed materials are printed on FSC certified environmentally friendly paper, and will be recycled or repurposed at the end of our activities. Instead of throwing paper away, recycle it!

FOOD AND BEVERAGE
We are relying as much as possible on reusable cutlery and products.
Opt to buy and consume seasonal and local food and beverages, available at all venues for the duration of your stay in Thessaloniki. This action will help minimizing the energy spent on transporting materials, as well as strengthen the local economy and diversify your experience!

WASTE MANAGEMENT
The 66th TiFF continues its efforts towards the goal of zero-waste management. In collaboration with VIPA GREECE S.A., InCommOn, and Cigaret Cycle, there will be a daily collection, sorting, and circular management of the waste generated from all the event across the Festival venues. You will find separate recycling bins for paper, plastic, glass, aluminum, cigarette butts and organic waste. Additionally, all coffee residue from the canteens and any food leftovers from the AGORA lunches will be collected daily and placed into special storage bins. Along with the rest of the produced refuse, these materials will be transferred to each company’s waste management facilities to be weighed, recorded and will then be responsibly recycled, composted or gain a second life.

Sustainable Waste Management Collaborators