Animation Industry Strengthens Sustainability Efforts with Launch of ANiMPACT Certification Program
European animation is set to receive its own environmental certification with the introduction of the ANiMPACT program. This initiative aims to enable animation studios to demonstrate their commitment to environmentally responsible production practices, a capability that has long been available to the live-action film sector.
Overview of ANiMPACT
ANiMPACT is a collaborative effort involving three key organizations: CineRegio, which represents a network of 53 regional film funds across Europe; Ecoprod, a French nonprofit dedicated to sustainable filmmaking since 2009; and Green Film, a certification system for live-action productions that began in Italy’s Trentino region in 2017 and has certified over 340 films and shows in approximately a dozen countries. The pilot program officially launched on June 25 at the international animation film festival in Annecy, following two years of development and a public feedback period that garnered input from more than 100 organizations across 18 countries.
Addressing a Long-Standing Gap
The ANiMPACT program addresses a significant gap in environmental certification that has persisted since such initiatives began. While live-action films have utilized programs like Green Film, the U.K.’s Albert, and Ecoprod’s Carbon Clap calculator to measure and certify eco-friendliness, animation has lacked a similar framework. Despite its substantial role in the film and television industry, animation carries its own environmental costs.
Luca Ferrario, head of the Trentino Film Commission and a key figure in the development of both Green Film and ANiMPACT, noted that animation had been overlooked in discussions about sustainability. He emphasized that animation producers have been excluded from incentives related to sustainable filmmaking due to the absence of a means to demonstrate environmentally friendly practices.
Collaboration for a Unified Standard
The project was initiated in 2024 when Ferrario’s team and Ecoprod recognized their parallel efforts to tackle the same issue. Instead of creating separate, competing systems—similar to the fragmented development of environmental certification for live-action films in Italy, France, and Germany—the organizations opted to collaborate on a unified European standard from the outset, with support from CineRegio.
Ferrario remarked on the importance of establishing a cohesive approach, stating that the animation industry wanted to avoid the disarray seen in live-action certification processes.
Challenges in Measuring Environmental Impact
Determining the environmental impact of animation has proven more complex than for live-action films, primarily because few attempts have been made to quantify it. The only existing tool for animation is a French calculator, known as Carbulator, developed by the industry group Anim’France. The fragmented nature of animation projects, often involving multiple studios, countries, and external vendors, complicates the measurement of environmental impact.
Ferrario explained that the fragmentation across various players and locations makes management more challenging. Additionally, the lengthy production timelines for animated features, which can span several years, further complicate the assessment of total environmental impact.
Key Environmental Factors
While live-action productions typically generate emissions from travel and location filming, the primary environmental cost in animation arises from electricity consumption. Ferrario indicated that electricity usage accounts for approximately half of a typical production’s environmental impact, with additional factors including the lifespan of computer equipment, digital data storage, and travel for international co-productions.
The focus on electricity consumption also extends to the increasing use of artificial intelligence in animation production. AI is being integrated not only for image generation but also for rendering and workflow automation, tasks that require substantial computing power. Currently, ANiMPACT encourages studios to adopt basic ethical and environmental guidelines regarding AI, with expectations for evolving requirements as AI utilization in animation expands.
Certification Framework
The ANiMPACT certification framework encompasses seven broad areas: organizational management and social responsibility; energy use in office buildings; digital workflow and data storage; travel; food; merchandise; and communication about sustainability. Studios can be evaluated as individual projects or as companies, with standards weighted according to their environmental impact. Some criteria are mandatory, while others offer optional extra credit.
Ferrario emphasized the importance of not only measuring impact but also actively working to reduce it, stating that mere measurement does not equate to reduction.
Financial Incentives for Certification
For studios and producers, the motivation to pursue certification extends beyond environmental responsibility; financial incentives are increasingly available. Public film funds at regional, national, and European levels are beginning to offer financial benefits for productions that can demonstrate environmental responsibility, with some making certification a requirement rather than an option. This shift is anticipated to influence budgeting and planning in animation, similar to its impact on live-action productions. Ferrario highlighted that legitimate certification necessitates independent third-party verification, distinguishing it from self-proclaimed sustainability claims.
He noted that many funding bodies are now requesting certification, and the only way to validate such claims is through independent verification, which is crucial for public funding.
Endorsements and Future Plans
The ANiMPACT initiative has received broad support from various industry groups, including Animation Europe, Cartoon Italia, CEE Animation, Anim’France, and Cartoon. The network of regional funds associated with CineRegio provides a robust framework for the program’s implementation across Europe.
The pilot phase of ANiMPACT is set to continue until May 2027, with organizers aiming to finalize the standards by that summer. Although currently in a testing phase, the certifications being issued are considered legitimate, backed by the same external audits and verification processes that will be employed in the permanent program.
Ferrario confirmed that demand has exceeded expectations, with approximately 40 requests from productions in multiple countries received in the first month following the pilot launch. Additionally, over 90 studios, producers, and organizations have publicly expressed support for the initiative. To qualify for certification, a production must be completed or sufficiently advanced by June 2027.
Alongside the certification program, Ecoprod and Eurimages, the European co-production support fund, have introduced a free online course on “Green Animation” via the StepUP training platform. This course aims to educate industry professionals about the environmental impact of animation and how to implement the new standards effectively.
As reported by www.hollywoodreporter.com.
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Published on 2026-07-17 12:00:00 • By FAME Delivered News Desk