12/09/2025 - From 2026, all five Nordic film institutes will adopt the Nordic Ecological Standard (NES), a cross-border sustainability framework supported by 34 organisations across the region

(© Sami Kuokkanen)

The Nordic film and TV industry is preparing to implement a joint ecological framework that will reshape sustainable practices across the sector. From 2026, the newly introduced Nordic Ecological Standard (NES) will be applied in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, aiming to reduce the industry’s environmental footprint, and ensure a more responsible and competitive audiovisual landscape.

The NES has been initiated by The Five Nordics – the collaborative body uniting the five national film institutes in the areas of film promotion, film production, knowledge sharing and sustainable industry development – in partnership with the Nordisk Film & TV Fond. Inspired by the German and Austrian ecological standards, the system has been adapted to Nordic conditions and applies to all stages of audiovisual production, from development to post. The NES covers six overarching categories: general requirements, transport of people and materials, energy use, accommodation and catering, use of materials, and biodiversity. You can read more about the proposed NES standard here.

The search for a joint framework began in 2023 during the Nordisk Film & TV Fond’s Nordic Green thematic year, when the fund and the Nordic film commissions brought together institutes, producers’ associations and green experts to align national strategies. This process later continued within the Nordic Green Action Group, leading to the official development of the NES in 2024, co-financed by The Five Nordics and the Nordisk Film & TV Fond.

Implementation will begin in 2026 via the Danish Film Institute, the Finnish Film Foundation, the Icelandic Film Centre, the Norwegian Film Institute and the Swedish Film Institute, with each member organisation defining its own level of commitment. Other organisations – including broadcasters, producers’ associations and regional funds – will follow with their own schedules. To date, a total of 34 organisations have already committed to supporting the standard. These include Audiovisual Producers Finland (APFI), the Danish Producers Association, DR, Elisa Viihde, Film i Skåne, Film i Väst, Film Stockholm, Filmpool Nord, Filmreg (Arktisk Film Norge, Arktisk Film Norge Invest, Filminvest, Filmkraft, the International Sámi Film Institute, Midtnorsk filmsenter, Oslo Filmfond, Sørnorsk filmsenter, Vestnorsk filmsenter and Viken filmsenter), the Icelandic Producers’ Association SÍK, Norrköpings Film Fund, the Norwegian Producers’ Association Virke, RÚV, Scen & Film and the Swedish Producers’ Association, as well as broadcasters TV 2 Denmark, TV 2 Norway and TV4 Sweden.

“The Nordic film and TV industry is forward-thinking, innovative and quick to adopt new technologies. A common ecological standard is both timely and welcome,” stated Kjersti Mo, CEO of the Norwegian Film Institute and current chair of The Five Nordics. Liselott Forsman, CEO of the Nordisk Film & TV Fond, underlined the cross-border nature of the initiative: “Our Nordic industry is a role model for cross-border co-production, and we must act together for sustainability, too. It is fantastic that this is now happening with The Five Nordics as a strong collaborative force.”

The NES also aligns with the Nordic Council of Ministers’ 2030 vision of making the region the most sustainable in the world. Since autumn 2024, the standard has been developed in consultation with Nordic experts and industry stakeholders. It will remain a live document, and will be continuously updated to reflect new technologies and insights, ensuring that the audiovisual industry can adapt collectively and effectively.