When you see a Subaru commercial on TV, you can bet it was created under the greenest

possible guidelines. To do so, we often work with a company called EcoSet. It plots out a
turnkey, green plan for the shoot and oversees its execution. Essentially, the shoot becomes a
zero-waste set, which means that 90 percent or more of the productions discards are kept out
of a landfill through recycling, composting or reuse.

Founded in 2008, EcoSet partners with large companies to minimize the environmental footprint
of their advertising productions. The Los Angeles-based company advises waste-prevention
practices, oversees the zero-waste set practices, facilitates the reuse and repurposing of discarded
production materials, and advocates the use of renewable energy technology.

We create an environment on set where everyone can make responsible choices and use
resources more efficiently as we work hard to redefine the word trash in the minds of the film
crews we work with, EcoSet executive director Kris Barberg said.


EcoSets zero-waste systems align with the Subaru zero-landfill manufacturing process and
reduce the impact behind the scenes of our advertising productions. In one year of partnering
over seven commercial shoots, Subaru and EcoSet kept 4.8 tons of materials from California
landfills. Thats nearly the weight of three Foresters!

Heres the breakdown:
90.7 percent of our total discards were diverted from landfills; thats 9,612 pounds of the
10,592 pounds discarded
36.4 percent (3,859 pounds) of materials were composted
42.4 percent (4,491 pounds) were recycled
11.9 percent (1,262 pounds) were repurposed
Food for Thought


Up to half of the discards on an average production can be related to food service, including plate
waste, disposable products, and beverage containers. A significant component to waste diversion
is composting all of the food waste, soiled paper, and plant-based disposable products. These are
used in place of petroleum-based plastic and Styrofoam.

Another basic practice having a large impact is the use of water refilling stations and stainless-
steel water bottles by crew members rather than single-use plastic bottles. On a shoot without
sustainable practices, an average production discards 300 or more plastic bottles each day
many of them still full of water and forgotten by busy crew.

In seven Subaru shoots, we avoided the purchase of an estimated 6,000-plus plastic bottles. This
dramatically reduced the volume of discards that needed to be managed and also promoted the
mindset of reuse. The stainless-steel bottles will continue to be used by production members in
their daily lives for years to come.

Repurposing for Good

Throughout production, EcoSet works to prevent waste from being created, recycles and
composts the materials that are used, and rescues valuable material that would have been
destined for the dumpster.
EcoSets Eco Crew sorts the discards for proper diversion. Nothing is overlooked, right down to
the custom signage, burlap scraps, plywood, wooden beams, fabric, foam core, and set lighting
expendables.
Castoffs are recirculated into the community for reuse 179 tons to date!


To make the reuse process more efficient, EcoSet opened a community resource center called
The Oasis in Los Angeles where nonprofits, artists, theaters, schools, and individuals can receive
materials at no cost.
Magnifying Possible
On two different Share the Love productions, Subaru was able to extend the goodwill of the
advertising message by donating the remaining wardrobe and props to nonprofits. Even now,
long after the ads have aired, these donations impact organizations, families, and individuals.


At a baby-themed donation event in March, six different groups received baby items and toys
from two Subaru shoots 2014 Subaru Forester Backseat Anthem and Re-Dressing Room.
In Los Angeles, there is a high demand for infant and childrens car seats, especially new
products. We love being the bridge between the items used briefly in the filming process and
nonprofits that greatly need them, Barberg said.
On a 16-day shoot filmed in Los Angeles and northern California, 4,521 pounds of materials
were diverted from local waste streams.
Its gratifying to be doing our work in beautiful natural locations where Subaru ads are filmed,
as well as aligning with Subarus initiatives to protect the environment, Barberg added.
Looking Ahead
Subaru is thrilled to help set new standards for commercial production sustainability. We look
forward to finding alternatives to landfills and focusing on reuse opportunities. From our
experience, its clear that when people are given information and access to these materials, one
productions trash is truly the communitys treasure.