Eco-friendly efforts among Hollywood majors have generated an 11% carbon footprint reduction in production of DVDs across all studios between 2006 and mid-2008, resulting in a savings of 130,000 tons of CO2, according to the Digital Entertainment Group at a webinar conducted jointly with Video Business and Content Agenda.

“Green” efforts were spearheaded by the DEG in response to giant retailer Wal-Mart’s mandate for studios to cut a title’s environmental impact by 5% by 2013. By this standard, the studios have already performed better.

Video Business reports that measures taken included switching to lighter weight DVD packaging wrap paper, going from 100 pounds to 80 pounds, using a lighter Amaray case (from 83 grams to 53 grams), and reducing sleeves and inserts.

A number of studios are testing 44-gram boxes, marking another almost 20% reduction from today’s weight. Also, studios are employing lighter wrap paper, as well as using recycled materials made up of 30% post-consumer waste, the article notes.

Being 30% smaller than standard DVD boxes, Blu-ray Disc packaging is already aleviating environmental impacts.

Sceptics have always said there is little point in reducing the carbon footprint of a DVD pack if it is shipped from replicators to retailers in high CO2-emitting transportation, and over long distances. The DEG, thus, encourages rival studios to consolidate shipments to lessen transportation emissions and wear and tear on the environment.

Story filed 06.04.09