RTL Group | Potsdam, 05/30/2023

UFA Serial Drama Series ‘Unter uns’ Receives ‘Green motion’ Label

As the second UFA production and first long-running daily TV series, the UFA Serial Drama production “Unter uns” has received the “Green motion” label from the “Green Shooting” working group. It recognizes compliance with specific environmental standards in the production of the TV series.

Following the mockumentary “Irgendwas mit Medien” (BENET reported), the TV series “Unter uns” produced by UFA Serial Drama is the second UFA production and first long-running daily series to be in compliance with the environmental standards for German film, TV and online/VoD productions of the “Green Shooting” working group and has now received the “Green motion” label. The “RTL Spendenmarathon” has also received the label.

The UFA production has been implementing and continuously developing measures for many years, aiming to produce in a more sustainable way and taking a step towards the company’s climate neutrality target set for 2030. For example, plastic bottles were removed from the set in 2017, and production switched over to green electricity in 2020. Filming plans and scripts are largely provided in digital form, and electric vehicles charged with in-house green electricity are used. Thanks to the battery powered operation of the cameras, lighting and sound systems, generators are unnecessary for shooting. The systems are also powered by green electricity. In front of and behind the cameras, “Unter uns” does without single-use solutions and, for example, uses materials repeatedly for stage sets.

“An enormous reward for the entire team”

“Switching a daily series over to verifiable green production during shooting was possible only due to the commitment of our employees in all of our production units,” said Guido Reinhart, Producer UFA Serial Drama. “The fact that we are the first long-running daily show to reach this point is very special, but we will not rest on our laurels. ‘Unter uns’ has always been an innovation driver, and we will continue on this path. Next stop: climate neutrality!” Nina Jansen, “Green Consultant” at UFA Serial Drama, added: “Receiving the ‘Green motion’ label is an enormous reward for ‘Unter uns’ and the entire team. Together, we have questioned our processes, structures and habits over the years and jointly developed ideas about how we can increasingly produce and live in a ‘greener’ way. The environmental standards have made the target even more definitive, and there are specific areas we need to work on and improve. We are constantly developing and are pleased about having taken a big step towards climate-friendliness.”

The environmental minimum standards and the “Green motion” label were developed by the “Green Shooting” working group, which was established in 2017 and is managed by the Filmförderung MFG Baden-Württemberg. In addition to MFG, the working group includes film and TV production companies, with UFA represented for many years, broadcasters, VoD services, and other film funding initiatives and associations. Since January 1, 2022, the members of the working group have set themselves the goal to implement the environmental standards in all or essential parts of their productions or make them the precondition for the award of funding or orders, and they recommend compliance to their members. The “Green motion” label can currently be awarded by commissioning broadcasters, platforms, or sponsors.