Celebrating Green Crew Heroes! Diego Martinez, Producer at Mister in Spain.
Green The Bid Crew Heroes is a series that highlights individuals who bring sustainable practices to any area of the production process, and seek to inspire others to do the same. Production can’t happen without all crew-members (both on set and off), and the same is true of their support of Green The Bid.
This week Green The Bid’s Jessie Nagel spoke with Diego Martinez, Producer at Mister in Spain, about how Madrid is becoming a leader as a green city, and the incredibly complete work that Mister are doing to eradicate their own climate impact.
J.N. Can you describe how Madrid, where you are based, is a city that in many ways supports an environmentally mindful lifestyle?
D.M. Five years ago, Madrid began a path to be a sustainable city, partly due to the obligation of European laws and partly on its own initiative, as it is one of the European cities with the most recorded air pollution. Different governments have put different programs into operation, currently Madrid 360.
This Environmental Sustainability Strategy was born to reduce emissions from the capital, transforming it into a sustainable city.
Among other preventive measures, it limits vehicular access to the central zone, except for zero-emission transportation and authorized cars.
It creates new routes in the central area with new electric buses, and promotes and integrates public transport by developing new metro lines (Madrid has 293 km, rank 8 in the world).
Recently Madrid developed a public electric bicycle service, which adds more kilometers of bike lanes (130 kms).
The number of clean points for recycling and managing all types of waste has grown, in each neighborhood there is a community composting area, and new battery recharging points for electric cars are beginning to be installed.
The main objective is the declaration that the entire city is becoming a Low Emissions Zone progressively until 2025.
Madrid also currently has 5 electric carsharing companies, which allows another option for sustainable mobility.
These are some remarkable items for daily life.
Then there are other measures and laws related to industry, food, logistics, toxic waste management, clean energy and sustainable and efficient architecture that are in full development.
This is a work in process, there is still much to do.
J.N. It feels like the Spanish industry is making a big push toward sustainable practices. What are some key things you've implemented at MISTER?
D.G. Due to the pandemic we started working remotely and were able to do better development and planning on our projects.
At the beginning of this year Mister decided to close our office to start another more sustainable and flexible way of approaching our projects.
As a company policy, we decided to work temporarily when each project requires it, using coworking spaces and sets for filming that are responsible for the transition towards sustainability and social awareness with environmental certifications (Cert B Corp / Cero C2 / C02 Nulo), carbon footprint compensation, the electricity consumed is 100% from renewables and that they are located in the central area and close to public transport - Madrid Impact Hub and Triple Ferraz.
We have also implemented making the trips of our clients and talent whenever possible by train. If it is by air, we have chosen to use airlines certified with ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems and EMAS Registration that have a sustainable commitment to efficient aircraft, the elimination of plastic waste on board, responsible catering and a footprint reduction program exact carbon generated by contracted flights to reduce the environmental impact.
The transfers of our clients, agency and production crew are carried out in electric carsharing cars and for the lodging of our clients and agency we use hotels that appear in the ETIC Green Score.
With regard to production, we have canceled the use of printed paper in all processes. We use comprehensive digital audiovisual management software such as Yamdu Arri, Blender, Scriptation and we view the content on ipads, tablets and notebooks.
For proper planning so that a project is sustainable and measurable in its carbon footprint, we have the support and collaboration of K is for Knowledge that educates and guides us to implement its K Filming program in our productions based on rigorous scientific research to reduce and compensate the carbon footprint.
Beyond preparing our green book of responsible practices and implementing it in each stage and area of the projects, our real challenge is to work together with suppliers so that they have some type of certification of environmental quality and sustainability in their products, processes and services. Therefore, it is a path in which we have to establish commercial links of trust to transfer our commitment to sustainability and develop synergies with them in their transition process to make our industry that is collaborative and friendly to the environment.
Our commitment:
2022 30% of our suppliers certified
2023 50% of our suppliers certified
2024 80% of our suppliers certified
2025 100% of our suppliers certified.
Mister maintains its commitment to sustainability by offsetting the CO2 generated by its activity by collaborating with the organization Treedom (Certified B), in the acquisition of trees for the reforestation of forests around the planet.
J.N. What areas of sustainability are important but sometimes get missed?
D.M. The catering area is very sensitive, especially due to the way we waste food, and how ordinary rubbish and recycled items are treated.
It is important that these suppliers work with Eventsost Certificates (Sustainable Event), Environmental Management System Certificates (SGA), Intereco Certificate, etc. and verify the way in which they deposit, donate or recycle their leftovers.
They need to really know if a compost system is being used and if the food and its ingredients come from nearby suppliers and that the packaging material are recyclable.
It is really important to generate zero waste and be able to have the origin and end of all catering audited.
J.N. What is your greatest motivation when it comes to pushing for transformation? .
D.M. Understanding that you can have a sustainable life respecting the environment in a collaborative way. The results can be seen in the short term in our daily lives! Do things the right way.
J.N. Do you have a hero that inspires you? Who and why?
D.M. My heroes are those scientists and communicators who dedicate their lives to studying climate change and carrying out reports and research, so that we all become aware of the reality of our environment and take action.
J.N. Why did you decide to join Green The Bid?
D.M. Oliver from K is Knowledge recommended your website to see all the work and information you have been developing regarding our industry and sustainability. I like the collaborative philosophy of the organization.
J.N. What's your hidden talent?
D.M. I ride my bike very well.
----- Are you a crew hero or do you know one? We want to hear from you!
