Theatre Green Book PRODUCTIONS Toolkit – Designing and Making

Prop Making

• Whenever speaking to a supplier, ask what their sustainable/environmental policies are so making suppliers aware of what your priorities are. Ask if they’d take empty bottles/cans once used to be recycled i.e. tins of paint, gas cannisters etc.
• When possible, try to source from local/UK based suppliers to keep your carbon footprint as minimal as possible.
• Consolidating deliveries as much as possible from regular suppliers – Flints, Creffields etc.
• When using recycled material, make sure you have certification or confirmation of what the original was, what treatments have been applied and where the material came from – e.g. is recycled foam fire rated? What paint/finishes have been used? Is the wood/timber from responsibly sourced suppliers (i.e not using hard woods like teak or Far Eastern plywood)?
• Be mindful of waste from recycled materials and what their onward journey is – try and link waste disposal with the wider building waste companies and local authority guidance and find out if there are specific waste streams that you can use.
• When making paper props, try to use recycled paper, and ideally recycled paper that is made in the UK.
• Try to minimise the use of polystyrene as much as possible. This product is good alternative (although it doesn’t seem to be suitable for fine carving/detailed work).When possible, swap new plastic for recycled/sustainably made plastic – Amari now offer a range.

   

• Reduce toxic cleaning chemicals (which also supports COSHH) and try to use eco-products instead. You can find many alternatives from this book: Nancy Birtwhistle, Clean & Green.
• Bring in old food/product pots from home to use as paint kettles/storage jars.
• Invest in sustainable tools to reduce waste of chemicals and single use plastics (i.e silicone spatulas for mixing instead of plastic spoons and stirrers)

Prop Buying

• Try to source as many props from your own stock/stores to keep your carbon footprint as low as possible.
• Make connections with other theatres/communities in your local area and borrow from them as much as possible.
• If you need to buy, source from second hand dealers – antique fairs, second hand shops, car boot sales etc.
• There are also many online auctions/companies where second-hand props and furniture can be found. Be mindful of location to try and keep carbon footprints down.
• Online recycling/repurposing companies and individuals (e.g. Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree etc) are also a good source. Be careful with safeguarding, carrying cash, travelling alone and lifting/carrying heavy objects.
• Prop hire houses/companies are another good alternative – these can be found across the country. Adaptations are sometimes permitted but always check what the parameters are.
• If the only option is to buy new, then try and source the item locally and/or within the UK as much as possible.

Consumable Props

1. Reduce the amount of real food and drink being used onstage as much as possible to minimalise our waste
2. Where and when possible, substitute real food and drink for fake items.
3. If food and drink have to be used onstage, plant based and environmentally sustainable products should be chosen, to reduce your carbon impact.
4. When and where possible, real food and drink should be sourced locally and produce from outside of the UK should be kept to a minimum.
5. Considerations need to be made when supporting actors’ dietary requirements
6. Manage food waste responsibly – donate to food banks, minimise waste and compost where possible

Prop Get Outs

• Eco packing system for show to packed with recycled or recyclable materials:

RK Resource

Ropes Direct

Tarpaflex

Flints

Kite Packaging

The Box Warehouse

UK Packaging

• Pallets are free!
  
• Donate any props not being kept by you to charities, schools, colleges, youth theatre groups etc. This allows you to build relationships with a wider network and create a circular economy.