Carbon Measurement Tools in the Creative Industries (CMTCI)

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) helps to drive growth, enrich lives and promote Britain abroad by promoting the UK’s cultural and artistic heritage and helps businesses and communities to grow by investing in innovation and highlighting Britain as a fantastic place to visit. The Department helps to give the UK a unique advantage on the global stage, striving for economic success. DCMS is a ministerial department, supported by forty seven agencies and public bodies.

Dr Peter Oakley specialises in ethnographic research focusing on materials, making, manufacturing, and marketing, especially in relation to the production and presentation of prestige materials, luxury goods and artworks. He has been Principal Investigator for three previous research projects that focus on sustainable and responsible material sourcing and circular economy principles: ‘Thai Textiles’, ‘Ethical Gold and Government Policy’, and 'Sustainable Materials in the Creative Industries’.

Rebecca Lardeur is a creative and researcher focusing on climate change, the urban environment, and agency to design systems and products that are low carbon, circular, mindful and innovative. Her process of discovering new systems is led by a keen approach anchored in research methods and asking questions that identify gaps and challenge the status quo.

Carbon Measurement Tools in the Creative Industries (CMTCI) will be a rapid evidence assessment undertaken to review recent literature on how creative industries carbon footprint calculation tools (CFCTs) and data can be used to provide a more accurate picture of emissions across a range of creative industries sub-sectors: advertising and marketing, architecture, design and designer fashion, jewellery manufacture; film, television, and radio; photography; IT software and computer services; museums, galleries and libraries; music, performing and visual arts; and publishing. This assessment will include reviewing existing carbon footprint calculation tool methodologies against best practice in these contexts, as well as identifying disparities and proposing means to ensure results are comparable. The project team will also scope the current literature and professional sector debates on the current take-up of carbon footprint calculation tools and barriers to adoption across the sectors listed, identifying typical findings and common patterns of practice.

The key project output will be a report for the UK Government’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, which will also be published on the GOV.UK website.