Why local talent makes Global Media smarter

Faster. Greener. More resilient.

Why we need a new way of working...

We are living in challenging times. Wars, COVID, inflation, and climate change. There are many reasons we are reshaping the way we live and work.

The media industry moves from one crisis to the next. Audiences expect news in real time. Digital platforms push for instant coverage. At the same time, business models are fragile and distribution channels keep shifting.

And now, there’s another challenge: cutting emissions without cutting quality. Can high-quality journalism and sustainable production truly go hand in hand?

We believe they can.

The Climate Cost of Travel

Flying your team across borders creates a disproportionate environmental impact. In film and TV, travel and transport make up more than half of a typical production’s footprint. By rethinking how we work, we can drastically cut emissions without sacrificing quality.

Rising Costs,

Shrinking Budgets

Every flight ticket, hotel night, and transfer adds pressure to production budgets. These costs often exceed the actual cost of hiring skilled local professionals. Choosing local reduces overhead and frees resources for what matters most: telling stories.

Time Matters More Than Ever

Delays from visas, flight cancellations, or logistics can mean missing the moment entirely. Local professionals are already there, ready to respond immediately. A new way of working means faster, more resilient productions — with stories told as they unfold.

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Case: Documentary production Filming in Rural Thailand

A production house in Valencia needed footage from Bangkok. 
Through Sustainalists, they hired a local photographer within hours.
No flights, no hotels — just authentic material delivered on time,
with thousands saved and tonnes of CO₂ avoided.

How Sustainalists Makes It Possible

Traditional production relies on moving crews across borders — wasting time, money, and emissions. 

Sustainalists flips the model: instead of flying people to stories, it connects companies directly with skilled freelancers already on location. This means faster response, lower costs, authentic local insight, and a fraction of the carbon footprint. By combining global reach with local expertise, Sustainalists makes media production more resilient, more efficient, and more sustainable

Faster by design

Stories don’t wait for flights. With freelancers already on location, assignments can begin within hours — keeping you ahead of deadlines and the news cycle: Instantly browse profiles in 75+ countries,

Leaner & More Reliable

No flights, no hotels, no excess logistics. Sustainalists streamlines production so budgets stay focused on the work itself.
Contact freelancers directly through the platform and define your requirements in seconds.

Sustainable & Authentic

Every local hire avoids unnecessary emissions and brings deeper local knowledge. That means greener productions and stories rooted in real context. Start directly — lowering both costs and carbon.

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Join us now

Sign us today and become a vital part in the growing Sustainalists network around the world. International media houses searching for crew in your area will find and contact you.