(and Still Make Money)
Carnival, film sets, fashion runs, studio sessions – creativity moves people. But it also creates waste, energy use, and reputational risk. The good news? Environment Sustainability Governance (ESG) isn’t just “big company business.” For creative enterprises in Trinidad & Tobago, ESG can be a simple, practical advantage that helps you win sponsorships, grants, partnerships, and financing, because it signals professionalism and lower risk.
And the shift has already started. In T&T, Carnicycle has been pushing costume recycling and reuse to reduce Carnival waste, and stakeholders are also being encouraged to rethink materials used in mas. This includes a programme promoted with the Basel Convention Regional Centre for the Caribbean (BCRC-Caribbean) and partners to reduce harmful chemicals in supply chains for the protection of human health and the environment. Creatives are also turning “trash to treasure” through upcycled art and design, proving sustainability can be part of the aesthetic, not a buzzkill.
A simple ESG checklist for creatives
E — Environment (save cost, cut waste):
- Measure one thing monthly: bags of waste, electricity spend, or printing volume
- Use reusable cups/containers backstage; reduce single-use where possible
- Choose safer materials; design for repair/reuse (costumes, props, set pieces)
S — Social (people-first is brand):
- Clear, respectful working conditions: safety basics, fair scheduling, and on-time payments
- Apprenticeships and skills transfer (mas, pan, production, digital)
G — Governance (be sponsor-ready):
- Contracts with usage rights, cancellation terms, and payment milestones
- Clean records: invoices, receipts, job costing, tax reserve
For artists, photographers, videographers, and digital content creators, ESG can be simple and powerful: use contracts that protect copyright and licensing, keep client data secure, choose energy-efficient workflows (lighting, editing, backups), reduce waste through smart printing and packaging, and build social impact by hiring fairly, crediting collaborators, mentoring interns, and supporting community projects. Even your content choices matter—promote respectful representation and ethical partnerships.
As CreativeTT drives business development and export for the sector, Moore TT can help creatives match ambition with structure through ESG-lite scorecards, reporting basics, cost controls, and “sponsor-ready” financial packs.
