D2.3 Report on Industry's best practices

This report, produced within the framework of the StreamSCAPES project, examines how Video-on-Demand platforms and audiovisual professionals approach and implement the Sustainable Climate Transition across the value chain. Combining primary evidence from a dedicated survey of industry professionals and eighteen semi-structured interviews with a comprehensive review of academic and grey literature, the study maps current practices, challenges, and policy needs.

The analysis reveals that while environmental sustainability is increasingly recognised across the sector, its integration remains uneven. Content production is prioritised and benefits from more systematic approaches, such as carbon accounting and renewable energy, among larger platforms, though smaller providers lag behind. Distribution and data processing involve significant energy impacts, yet transparency, harmonised methodologies, and detailed reporting remain limited. Consumption and user behaviour are often deprioritised by stakeholders, though leading platforms leverage environmental storytelling and curation to raise awareness. Furthermore, Artificial Intelligence is expanding across operations, but its environmental footprint remains poorly understood and difficult to assess systematically.

Finally, skills and knowledge gaps spanning production, IT, distribution, and policy, along with resource constraints, hinder the uptake of sustainable practices, particularly for smaller companies. Ultimately, the report highlights key industry demands, such as harmonised environmental standards, better carbon-measurement tools, infrastructure transparency, and targeted research and development support, concluding that advancing the sector's climate transition requires a mix of industry-led action, technological innovation, and clear public policy frameworks.