ResouRces

Sustainable Materials

We know it sourcing materials can be exhausting at the best of times. We encourage you to consider what sustainable materials you have easily at your disposal as your design starting point, rather than trying to source materials and make compromises in the middle of the build. Below you will find a variety of info to help you out!

Materials Scorecard

This table is a useful reference point for prioritising which raw materials to use in your productions. Ultimately, materials that are not brand new are of top priority. As an example: while polycarbonate or PVC products are in the DO NOT USE category, they are encouraged if they have been sourced second-hand or repurposed, however ensure you are able to repurpose them post-production, as many of them cannot be recycled.

We also understand that in the independent arts, we don’t always have the luxury of choice when it comes to materials or suppliers (whether due to time or money). That is okay! This is intended to guide your decisions where you can.

The below information has been primarily adapted from Mo’olelo Performing Arts Company’s Green Materials Scorecard, with additional info from other sources (see the bottom of the page). The original scorecard was from 2009 so it may no longer be as accurate a representation of how environmentally friendly these materials are. We have also condensed and adapted it for brevity and an Australian context, so if you feel anything here is incorrect or inaccurate, please let us know.

WOOD PRODUCTS

EARTHERN MATERIAL

METALS

PLASTICS

TEXTILES

  • Reclaimed or recycled plastics

ADHESIVES

SOLVENTS

PAINTS & COATINGS

GLITTER

USE freely

  • Reclaimed or recycled materials

  • Materials with a recycled content over 75%

  • Unfired clay products

  • Scrap, reclaimed or recycled metal

  • Reused or recycled textiles

  • Textiles with a recycled content over 75%

  • Certified organic fibers (excluding cotton and wool)

  • Certified organic bio-polymers

  • Textiles that are Oeko-Tex, and Cradle-to-Cradle certified

  • For more comprehensive info regarding sustainable textiles options see GigNation Australia’s guide.

Bongo Ties

  • Use For: tidying and securing cables

  • Where to get them: primarily online, but some hardware stores

  • You can also make your own from elastic and pieces of dowel.

Download PDF version

USE Where necessary

  • Bamboo

  • MDF

  • MDO

  • Plywood

  • Chipboard

  • Fiberglass (with non-formaldehyde resin)

  • Granite

  • Drywall (gypsum)

  • Polyethylene (if recyclable)

  • Polyester/PET (if recyclable)

  • Polypropylene (if not sent to landfill)

  • Hemp

  • Linen

  • Jute

  • Sustainably and ethically sourced cotton

  • Sustainably and ethically sourced wool

Hazardous Materials

Tips

  • Only use adhesives that have low or zero levels of VOCs (volatile organic compounds).

  • Hot glue and contact cement will often damage materials so they cannot be disassembled, recycled or reused.

Tips

  • Most industrial solvents are incredibly toxic. Solvents to primarily avoid are acids, acetonitrile, acetone, formaldehyde, dioxane, and tetrahydrofuran.

Tips

  • Look for a Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA), or Global GreenTag certification on your paints, lacquers, and finishes.

  • Only use paints and varnishes that have low or zero levels of VOCs (volatile organic compounds). Low-VOC paints generally have a shorter drying time which can result in an uneven finish, but can be avoided by following some easy steps.

  • Try using varnishes and lacquers that are based on non-petroleum wax, pure (not boiled) linseed or tung oil, or even water.

  • Remember to dispose of any leftover paint at an approved disposal site, instead of pouring it down the drain or in the bin.

Tips

  • Unfortunately, most brands labelled as “eco-friendly” or “biodegradable” glitter should be avoided as they are still demonstrated to have an impact on aquatic ecosystems.

Paper-based Tape

  • Use For: stage mark-up, labeling props and set-pieces

  • Where to get them: most good hardware stores

  • Only use certified recyclable tapes. Be wary, as just because a product is ‘paper-based’ doesn’t mean it’s recyclable. ‘Biodegradable’ is also a very broad term, and doesn’t mean it is environmentally safe.

  • Generally paper tapes come in brown, so aren’t great for spikes/stage marks.

Twine/Rope

  • Use For: tying almost anything to almost anything

  • Where to get them: supermarkets and hardware stores

  • Ensure the rope is graded to the weight you are securing, and knots are regularly checked and tightened.

Builders Chalk

  • Use For: Stage mark-up, labeling props and set-pieces

  • Where to get them: most good hardware stores.

  • Normal chalk is also useful, but quality varies and some chalks won’t write on some materials.

Do not use

  • Melamine laminate

  • Imported or Tropical hardwood

  • Non-certified wood products

  • Concrete

  • Glass and epoxyresin laminates

  • Leaded glass

  • Virgin steel

  • Lead

  • Aluminum

  • Latex

  • Silicone

  • Acrylic

  • PVC, Polycarbonate, Polystyrene, Polyurethane

  • Melamine

  • Single-use plastics

  • PVC textile

  • Cotton

  • Acetate

  • Nylon

  • Rayon

Eco-Options

  • Where you have to use glue, try to use lox toxicity glues like PVA, or waterbased adhesives.

  • For structural fixings, use reversible fastenings like screws or nuts/bolts.

Eco-Options

  • The best option is to remove the need for solvents altogether by minimizing or carefully considering your use of paints, glues, resins and the like.

  • In a pinch, simple alcohols like ethanol and methanol are preferred over other chemical solvents.

Eco-Options

  • Most major brands like Dulux or Wattyl have paint lines that meet the above certifications.

  • Bauwerk paints are made from entirely natural pigments (meaning no plastic at all!), are certified by GECA, and use 100% renewable energy in production.

  • Ecolour is both certified by GECA, and certified carbon neutral. o

  • Suppliers like Tint Paint may not be certified yet, but they do claim to be very low VOC and run their operations entirely using renewable energy.

Eco-Options

  • The only independently certified freshwater-graded biodegradable glitter available in Australia can be found at The Glitter Tribe.

TAPE ALTERNATIVES

Gaffa, electrical, masking, packing… single-use tapes of all kinds have long been thought to be essential to live performance production. But in many cases, that just ain’t true. Have a look at these game-changing alternatives to plastic tape and cable ties that aren’t single use.

Velcro Straps

  • Use For: tidying and securing cables

  • Where to get them: most good hardware stores, and online

Clamps

  • Use For: rigging, securing set-pieces

  • Where to get them: most good hardware stores.

  • Check with your venue if they already have a stock of them.

Sash Ties

  • Use For: tying almost anything to almost anything

  • Where to get them: Just cut up some old clothes or get some scraps from your production designer!

  • Avoid using near lights or heating elements.

Chalk Pens

  • Use For: Stage mark-up, labeling props and set-pieces

  • Where to get them: hardware stores, craft supply stores, most big department stores

  • Ensure you test the pens on a surface first, as some brands may leave residue or discolor certain surfaces.

References

Buro Happold (2021). “The Theatre Green Book 1: Sustainable Productions”. London: Buro Happold & Renew Theatre. Accessed January 16, 2022. https://theatregreenbook.com/wpcontent/uploads/2021/03/THEATRE-GREEN-BOOK-ONE_beta1.pdf GigNation (2021). “The Best Eco-Friendly Stage & Event Fabrics”. Published 23 September, 2021.

Gig Nation Australia. (2021) “The Best Eco-friendly Stage & Event Fabrics”. Accessed December 15, 2021. https://gignation.com.au/the-best-eco-friendly-stage-event-fabrics/#:~:text=Stage%20Drapes%20%26%20Skirting,to%20pure%20new%20woollen%20curtains).

Green, D. S., Jefferson, M., Boots, B., & Stone, L. (2021). “All that glitters is litter? Ecological impacts of conventional versus biodegradable glitter in a freshwater habitat.” Journal of hazardous materials, 402. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124070

Julie’s Bicycle (2013). “Set Design, Scenic Art and Construction” in Sustainable Production Guide. London: Julie’s Bicycle. Accessed January 16, 2022. https://juliesbicycle.com/wpcontent/uploads/2022/01/Sustainable_Production_Guide_2013.pdf

Mo’olelo Performing Arts Company (2009). “Green Theater Choices Toolkit: Green Materials Scorecard”. San Diego: Mo’olelo Performing Arts Company. Accessed March 16, 2022. http://www.sustainablepractice.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Toolkit.pdf