Steve (2025)

The BAFTA 2026 nominated Steve is a British drama directed by Tim Mielants and starring Cillian Murphy. It follows a single, chaotic day in the life of a headteacher at a last-chance reform school who struggles to keep the institution open while battling his own mental health issues. On Steve, sustainability was embedded across departments – from energy use on set to costume design and crew engagement. Working closely with the sustainability team, the production introduced practical measures to reduce emissions, test new approaches to energy monitoring and prioritise reuse throughout the costume department.
Practical sustainability across production
The BAFTA 2026 nominated Steve is a British drama directed by Tim Mielants and starring Cillian Murphy. It follows a single, chaotic day in the life of a headteacher at a last-chance reform school who struggles to keep the institution open while battling his own mental health issues. On Steve, sustainability was embedded across departments – from energy use on set to costume design and crew engagement. Working closely with the sustainability team, the production introduced practical measures to reduce emissions, test new approaches to energy monitoring and prioritise reuse throughout the costume department.

Why is it effective?

01.

Energy monitoring and real-world testing
A monitoring system was installed on traditional generators to compare usage with the hybrid setup. This collaborative trial with Location One provided valuable data on energy consumption and potential inefficiencies – offering insights that could help encourage wider adoption of hybrid or battery-powered generators across the industry.

02.

Hybrid generator use and skills development
The production hired a hybrid generator for a significant portion of the shoot. This supported reduced fuel consumption while also giving location crew hands-on experience working with hybrid technology – building transferable skills for future productions. The hybrid system also proved more cost-efficient overall when factoring in reduced fuel use.

03.

Costume reuse and upcycling
Approximately 99% of costumes (excluding personal items) were second-hand or upcycled. The costume department prioritised avoiding fast-fashion purchases and instead reused, repurposed or donated clothing to charities, schools and a small textile brand.

04.

Crew engagement initiatives
Additional actions included using compostable catering products, installing composting bins on set, hosting a second-hand fashion day, and sending weekly newsletters to keep the crew informed and involved in sustainability practices.

The Impact

Hybrid generator use helped lower overall fuel use during production.
Fuel
The generator monitoring trial provided practical research data to support future sustainable production decisions.
Energy
99% costume reuse. Almost all costumes were sourced second-hand or upcycled, significantly reducing the need for new materials.
99%
Composting systems, reusable catering materials and donation pathways supported broader waste reduction efforts.
Waste
“Having an albert certificate on Steve is an important reflection of the work we did to make the production as genuinely sustainable within our means. When integrated properly, sustainability has the power to change workflows, update crew skill sets and save the production money. From reusable water bottles and implementing a printing policy to offering a full range of recycling and utilising low-emission vehicles and generators, all actions have a positive domino effect when performed on an industry level. Beyond these logistics, sustainability also has the power to shape how we write stories, build sets and choose locations. This was essential to our approach on Steve and demonstrates how long term change must continue to be developed on the ground level, where mindsets shift and new sustainable habits emerge.”
Jacob Barton, Sustainability Coordinator on Steve

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