A Note from our Founder
My Passion For Sustainable Video Production
I’ve loved video, film, and cinema since I was 12 years old. I love seeing greats like Verner Herzog, Akira Kurosawa, and Christopher Nolan tell compelling stories with mesmerizing cinematography. I love the way video connects with people to change hearts and minds, and communicate complex and rich messages.
But one of the big issues that we’re seeing in the modern world is that film and video are having unintended consequences. These happen in a lot of different areas of our life, largely around sustainability. And while I am talking about the planet, it’s not just about that.
Merriam-Webster bases its definition of sustainability off the definition of sustained, or effort that can be “maintained at length without interruption or weakening.” With that broader definition, sustainability also involves our health and well-being as individuals, creatives, business owners, community members, and members of the human race.
pillars
Our Four Pillars of Sustainability
Product
A better product is one that the client is more satisfied with and yields more ROI. This allows it to be used longer and for more diverse purposes. Less waste is generated with a better product!
Process
A better process also leads to less waste! Projects are produced more quickly and efficiently, which lowers the amount of resources they require and their environmental impact. A better process is also less stressful and easier to keep up!
Culture
A better creative culture means that artists are happier and more engaged, so your product turns out better. There’s less employee turnover, more time for continuing education and growth, and the product is always improving.
Relationship
A deeper relationship between agency and customer means less time spent in each project on intake and discovery, so it requires less resources. Your media reflects your company and target customer more deeply, and everyone has a more satisfying digital and artistic experience.
We want to create a product with higher longevity.
A thoughtfully, intentionally, and efficiently produced video requires less resources and generates less waste. It’s designed to be as effective as possible for as long as possible, reflecting your rich and unique identity and in a way that resonates with your target audience on a profound level.
We are creating something your audience like to watch that also nourishes them.
We try to be mindful of the content and the format of that content we post. We want to help people solve real problems they are experiencing, not create more out of thin air to make a profit. We only work with purpose driven brands who are trying to do real good in the world. We create high quality brand videos that create genuine relationships between our clients and the people they are equipped to serve.
We want to create an environment where our artists can thrive.
We want to create an environment where our artists can thrive, produce meaningful work, and maintain a healthy work-life balance. We do this by focusing on:
Quality Over Quantity: Emphasizing quality over quantity means that artists can put more of their creative energy into individual products. They can explore their artistic abilities to create a higher quality product that is more fulfilling for them, our clients, and our viewers. There is less pressure to constantly churn out new projects.
A Balanced Work-Life Culture: When artists have time to relax and rejuvenate their creative energy, they can create higher quality art. We encourage our artists to set boundaries with work and prioritize their physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Skill Development: We want to help our artists to continue developing their skills and creative talent. We provide opportunities for continuing education to empower our artists.
Job Stability: Creative professionals usually work as freelancers and are paid by the project. We want to work towards providing our artists with opportunities for long-term contractual employment to provide more security in their careers.
SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES
Let’s strive toward sustainability, hand in hand.
Or maybe just in close proximity…
You’re a purpose-driven business and your production house should be too. At 262 Creative, we’re young, idealistic, maybe a little bit naive, and we’re starting the journey of hard-wiring our small business with sustainable practices.
Our Business Is Carbon Negative
Call us Nancy, but we think being negative can be a good thing. As of January 2024, 262 Creative is 25% carbon negative. We imagine a world where every business is cooling the planet with their operations.
Care to join us? Jump on in! The water’s nice and warm, but we’re trying to do our part to cool it down.
Your Production Will Plant Trees
When we work together, we track all of your project emissions and offset them by 125% through partnership with One Tree Planted.
Call us tree-huggers, hippies, or ecoNazis (actually, please don’t call us that…). We feel great knowing that your next production will help plant planet-cooling forests perfect for hiking, biking, running, exploring, and otherwise enjoying. And you should too!
One Percent For The Planet And Your Community
Using video to grow your organization can also mean growing and improving the world and community around you!
For every production we work on, we donate 1% to a nonprofit that focuses on environmental reclamation and an additional 1% to a nonprofit of your choice in your local community.
We know people pleasing isn’t the best way to live your life, but working with us will make a lot of people happy. Just saying…
Local, Sustainable Production Practices
On set, we do our best to use sustainable production practices like using vegetarian craft services, recycling, composting, and buying local whenever possible. We’re not lovin’ it when it comes to McDonalds, but we do love the idea of finding a local gem for lunch. We’re suckers for well-brewed local coffee blends and honestly, if you’ve had one Big Mac, you’ve had em all.
Your production will be more sustainable for the planet and it will support local businesses in your community. It’s a win-win-win (unless you’re really invested in keeping your neighborhood McDonalds afloat).
The Path To Benefit Corporation
Keep An Eye On Our Progress
Current Score
The B-Corporation certification is the standard proving a company puts it’s money where it’s mouth is regarding commitment to sustainability. And total transparency, we’re not there yet. As of November 2023, we’re still beginning our B-Corp journey. We have a long way to go and grow before we join the honored ranks.
That said, we’re a small team with big goals and B-Corporation is the direction we’re growing towards. When you work with us, you can be confident that you’re working with a video producer who is making the B-Corporation certification their standard of excellence.
We’ll keep you up to date about our progress!
contact us
Lets Start A Virtuous Cycle Using Video
You care about your business being a force for good, and so do we. If you want a video production partner who will match your passion for using business to promote progress and prosperity, you should message us. We’re quite friendly (if a little pale) when we come out of our post-production caves, and we’d love to help you to do more of the good you’re doing through practicing the craft we love.