Theatre Green Book PRODUCTIONS Toolkit – Designing and Making

 

Harmful Materials and Alternatives

The Theatre Green Book does list some suggested materials to avoid, due to their potential to harm the environment, or high-carbon levels. The below list is not exhaustive, and different organisations will make different decisions about what materials they do or don’t recommend – but please see below for a starting point.

If you have any suggestions, or further information on any of the materials, please do get in touch. For inspiration on sustainable materials, please see the guide made by the Society of British Theatre Designers here.

Item Issue Alternative
Polystyrene Non-biodegrable and often breaks down into microplastics which make disposing of safely difficult

Ideally avoid completely but if used, source pre-used polysytrene rather than buying new. Or source polystyrene from suppliers who recycle it like companies such as Robocarv.

Consider alternatives such as mycelium, or Composta Bloc. Try to save offcuts and waste to be sent to a company who can recycle it, which reduces amount going into landfill.  

You could also try experimenting with Eco Resins.
PVC (especially check if any large items like projector screens are PVC) Non-biodegrable and can release microplastics. There are also concerns of impact on human health. For screens, can a reused, or cloth material be used?
Try to avoid using vacform as much as possible. Could stencilled canvases be used for brick work? Could CNC timber moulds be used instead? Try and source second hand PVC doors and windows on scenery.
Virgin steel Steel has a high carbon impact to make and is often shipped a long way There are a lot of modular scenery items out there, and companies you can hire steel structures from if needed. Use these to form the main bulk of your flats/stages/revolves etc and then make timber/steel infills as necessary.
Tropical hardwood Tropical hardwoods can be associated with deforestation Look for FSC accredited wood, use reclaimed wood, and research where your timber is coming from. Try to avoid Far Eastern plywood.
Harmful chemicals including aerosols, parabens, and triclosan Chemicals in cosmetic products can have negative effects on environmental and human health.

There are a wide range of cosmetic products which avoid harmful materials and use non-aersol application such as gels or solid products. Use the Yuka app to help guide you on this.

Avoid spray paints as much as possible. When necessary, try to use water-based sprays. 

 

 

 

There are also some solvent-free adhesives available such as Aquilim.

 

For adhesive filler, the yellow Gripfill is less harmful than the green.
Avoid environmentally harmful detergents, like 1,4-Dioxane, Sodium Laureth Sulphate, Bleach and Formaldehyde. Chemicals in laundry or cleaning products can have negative effects on environmental and human health Look for Eco-label certification or similar. For more on laundry and looking after costumes see here. Seek inspiration from Nancy Birtwhistle on green/eco cleaning products, methods and practices.
Clothing bought from fast fashion companies Fast fashion clothing can be hard to trace the source of, contain cheap plastic materials, and concerns over the working conditions in which they are made Good on You can be a starting point for researching clothing companies.
Helium balloons If they end up released outside they can cause major issues for wildlife. There is a finite amount of Helium in the world.

Paper decoarations can often achieve the same effects for party and celebration asthetics.

Foil balloons can be recycled using the right waste stream. Latex balloons are biodegradable but do not hold gas as successfully so end up needing to use more. Where possible, avoid using helium. If it’s vital for a show for a balloon to float/fly, use balloon gas which is a mix of CO2 and helium – and then opt for the lowest quantity of helium. 
High VOC paints Volatiles Organic Compounds are chemicals that evaporate into the air during and after painting and can have negative impact on human and environmental health Low-VOC paints are available, or lime-based paints. See the Scenic Art toolkit for more suggestions.
Glitter Small plastic or foil pieces can be hard to dispose of responsibly. If glitter must be used, there are biodegradable products available, such as BioGlitter available from Flints
Sticky-back plastic Is non-recyclable due to the mixed material nature of it There are plant-based or water-activated tapes available
Tape Can be used in large quantities and not recyclable or biodegrable There are plenty of eco tape options out there including double-sided tape from Eco-Craft, and gaffer from Le Mark
CO2 canisters for fog and smoke effects Releases CO2 directly into the air, although is often sourced as a byproduct You can use water-based fog machines with biogradable, non-toxic fluids.
Single-use plastic  Often hard to recycle or dispose of responsibly There are some products for PPE such as Biotech plastic gloves which have biodegradability claims.

 

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