‘Dope Thief’ Donates 260,000 lbs of Materials Using Sustainable Production Strategies

Take a peek behind the scenes at how Apple TV+ worked with Earth Angel to film Dope Thief sustainably — Rehoming approximately $145,000 worth of materials to the local community!

Our Strategy

The successes of our sustainable production strategies on Dope Thief are, in no small part, thanks to the hard work of the Earth Angel-trained Eco Reps we had executing our on the ground strategy. Due to the 2023 strikes, this show presented a unique opportunity to showcase our service team’s adaptability as we made creative pivots to accommodate the unpredictable circumstances at hand.

Donations

We made heavy food donations to the local Philadelphia community every day, totaling over 250 meals redistributed to those in need. At wrap, we were presented an extraordinary material recovery opportunity — And our sustainable production experts executed one of our most impactful donation strategies to date.

Together, we donated 260,077 lbs of materials worth approximately $145,000. This avoided the use of 30 yard C&D containers — Saving ‘Dope Thief’ an estimated $21,869 in avoided waste hauling costs.

Earth Angel worked with organizations like Habitat For Humanity to redistribute construction materials, clothing, and set decoration that would otherwise end up in a landfill. In facilitating our material donations, our green film strategists also worked with smaller local organizations who often get overlooked in a rush — Transforming the show’s trash into much-needed treasure for the local community.

Zero Waste Strategy

Unfortunately, not everything can be re-homed or reheated — So where does it go? Taking steps to divert this waste from ending up in a landfill is foundational in strategizing for eco-friendly production.

Our team of experts deployed innovative zero waste strategies, initiating single source metal recycling dumpsters and working with Clean Harbors to dispose of hazardous waste.

A Note from the Eco Coordinator

One more story about the downstream impacts of our sustainable production strategy on Dope Thief — The public center we used regularly pre-strike as holding (a designated rest area for the cast) initiated a community composting program inspired by their experience with our excellent Eco Rep after the show. We were successful in making a lasting positive impact in the community in which we worked, which should always be our ambition.