Member Article

The Planet Mark certifies the new Long Way Up production, by Long Way Productions

The latest Long Way Up production by Long Way Productions, available on Apple TV +, featuring Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman experiencing the open road from Argentina to Los Angeles on custom electric Harley-Davidsons to support the brand’s new direction to sustainability, has been certified by The Planet Mark.

The certification was awarded by measuring and reducing the carbon emissions associated with the intrepid 13,000 mile journey, which was undertaken on the prototype LiveWireÔ electric motorcycles, which Harley-Davidson modified to enable Ewan and Charley to cope with the unforgiving landscapes, challenging terrains and extreme temperatures, from glaciers to deserts, and jungles to barrios. The support crew drove Rivian R1T electric trucks.

The Long Way Productions team measured their carbon footprint of the planning and production of the journey, between February to December 2019, including the UK production offices through to the journey launch in Ushuaia, Argentina to the event finale in Los Angeles.

The total carbon footprint was 212.4 tCO2e and the relative carbon footprint was 0.2 tCO2e per ’000 km travelled. The Long Way production achieved a total carbon reduction of 38.0 tCO2e, a decrease of 15 per cent, through the use of electric motorcycles and support vehicles and avoiding flights by using videoconferencing.

To avoid air travel in the planning stages, the production team used video calling, mitigating the need for around 20 international flights, giving a carbon saving of 26.3 tCO2e.

Long Way Productions has chosen to mitigate the impact of the production’s carbon emission by helping to protect 81 acres of rainforest with Cool Earth and its partners in the Asháninka community, which was visited by Ewan and Charley on their Long Way Up journey. This represents 100 times more than their actual carbon footprint through the carbon found in the incredible rainforest environment. It also represents an area helping to protect 19,440 trees, 21,060 CO2e carbon stores, providing support to 2,151 people and shelter to 19 endangered species.

Steve Malkin, CEO and founder of The Planet Mark, says, “The production, from its planning to completion in Los Angeles, recognises the level of commitment and engagement from the team and the significant wider benefits provided by the Long Way Up in the promotion of sustainability, creating a better way of living.

“We also recognise by far the biggest positive impact may come through the dissemination of the documentary via Apple TV+ itself, reaching many millions of people to tell the stories of the communities most affected by climate change, deforestation and biodiversity loss.”

He adds, “The project is a shining example of the increasing importance of our relationship with technology and nature. It sets a fantastic precedent to the industry that entertainment and environment can work in harmony.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by James Walerych .