Sustainability Efforts Soar on the Set of ‘How to Train Your Dragon’
June 17, 2025
In How to Train Your Dragon, the film’s human heroes discover the extraordinary possibilities that arise when they learn to live in harmony with the awe-inspiring creatures of the natural world. The story demonstrates what it means not only to coexist with nature, but to thrive together.
The production hired an expert to oversee sustainability efforts from prep through wrap, including taking steps to reduce energy and fuel on set, along with implementing recycling and composting initiatives.
This behind-the-scenes featurette will be shared alongside the film’s release, highlighting the production team’s efforts in reducing the environmental footprint and leaving a positive impact on the community.
Energy & Fuel
Prioritizing the use of grid electricity wherever possible, NBCUniversal invested in a permanent electric grid tie at Titanic Studios to reduce the need for diesel generators. This legacy project not only helped to reduce emissions and improve air quality for the cast and crew on this production, but will also support future productions filming there.
In addition, our two main filming locations matched electricity usage with renewable energy certificates. When generators were required, the production was able to reduce diesel fuel by deploying hybrid generators with renewable diesel (HVO) to further reduce emissions and improve air quality.
These combined efforts avoided over 20% of the production’s Scope 1 and 2 market-based emissions.*
The team also emphasized sea shipping over air freight to maximize cargo capacity and reduce environmental impact. EV chargers were made available on set for crew to charge their electric vehicles. And the lighting department transitioned to LED technology across the production to conserve power.
Materials & Waste
The production implemented wide-ranging recycling and composting initiatives to reduce waste, including providing reusable water bottles with water refill stations on set. Surplus catering was donated through a food redistribution partner, and costumes were donated at the end of production to non-profit partners.
The set construction team used recycled timber from salvage yards for furniture and props. Leftover wood chips were repurposed as set dressing, while reclaimed jetty materials recovered from underwater were incorporated into the arena set. The costume department selected sustainable dyes and fabrics to minimize environmental impact.
Celebrating Nature
To celebrate the film’s themes about the power of living in collaboration with the natural world, the marketing team worked with the cast to create a short video highlighting ways to support wildlife protection, featured both in theaters and online as part of the studio’s GreenerLight program.
These actions are all part of NBCUniversal’s work to improve sustainability throughout the filmmaking process.
*Emissions avoided based on the production’s Scope 1+2 market-based carbon footprint, including the usage of clean electricity, fuel from renewable (HVO) sources, and grid-ties, compared to a pro-forma Scope 1+2 market-based carbon footprint calculated with 100% grid electricity, no renewable fuels, and additional diesel generator usage.
