Innovation

EcoSet’s innovation centers around its ability to embed circular economy principles into the fast-paced and traditionally wasteful film and production industry. The company offers an integrated system for waste diversion, which includes services like reuse coordination, zero-waste monitoring, composting, and the Materials Oasis, a reuse warehouse where props, set pieces, and wardrobe are collected and redistributed for free to nonprofits, schools, and artists. This approach allows EcoSet to transform materials that would typically be discarded into valuable resources, while helping production teams meet sustainability goals without slowing down their workflows. According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, circular economy models like EcoSet’s are essential for “designing out waste, keeping products and materials in use, and regenerating natural systems” (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2024).

The innovation emerged from founder Kris Barberg’s firsthand experience on film sets, where she was struck by the sheer amount of waste generated for even the shortest scenes. As Reese Medefesser explained, “It all started from that whole transition of them just being on set, just being like, wow, this is a very wasteful industry, and they just do not care.” Motivated by this problem, Kris and her partner (who is no longer with the company) founded EcoSet in 2008 to offer the industry a more responsible, yet practical, alternative. Both founders had backgrounds in film, which gave them a unique understanding of the industry's pace and challenges—knowledge that helped shape EcoSet’s highly flexible, logistics-driven model.

This innovation is deeply connected to a sense of purpose and mission. EcoSet exists not just to manage waste but to change attitudes around sustainability in production. Reese emphasized how this mission affects both the company and its team personally: “Once I got hooked in with EcoSet, my whole worldview started changing… I do want to be part of that change.” The company acts as a bridge between large studios and local creatives, providing free materials to those who need them most and enabling more sustainable, community-focused resource use. Their services are designed to be efficient and cost-effective, allowing productions to stay on schedule while reducing their environmental impact. The World Economic Forum highlights that businesses adopting sustainable practices often see benefits beyond environmental impact, including “cost savings, improved risk management, and increased brand loyalty” (World Economic Forum, 2024), which supports EcoSet’s value proposition to clients.

Reese Medefesser said “Our goal on every shoot is to divert 90% of the waste generated away from landfill and to other useful places,” and “Let us worry about that [sustainability], but let’s get a game plan going so you guys can just implement these practices.” Furthermore, EcoSet’s involvement with initiatives like Green The Bid demonstrates their leadership in shaping broader industry standards for sustainability. Green The Bid is a collaborative movement within the advertising and production community that seeks to accelerate zero-waste practices and responsible production at scale (Green The Bid, 2024), aligning perfectly with EcoSet’s mission.

Inspiration

The original idea for EcoSet came from founder Kris Barberg’s firsthand experience working on film sets in Los Angeles. Originally drawn to LA for creative work, Kris quickly became aware of a troubling pattern while working behind the scenes: massive amounts of perfectly usable materials—props, set pieces, wardrobe, and more—were being thrown away after every shoot. She realized that this wasn’t just an occasional issue but a widespread and systemic problem in the production industry. Our interviewee and EcoSet’s Reuse Coordinator, Reese Medefesser, explained it simply: “The founder thought, ‘Wow, this is a very wasteful industry.’” This moment of awareness sparked the idea for what would eventually become EcoSet, a company that turns waste into a resource rather than a burden.

The motivation behind EcoSet was rooted not just in environmental concern but in deep knowledge of the industry. Because the company was started by people who had actually worked in film and commercial production, they understood how things operated and where sustainable changes could realistically be made. They saw value in materials that others discarded and recognized that, with the right systems in place, these materials could be reused to support future productions, reduce costs, and minimize environmental impact. One of the key insights shared in the interview captured this shift in mindset: “It’s about changing people’s attitudes around waste. People are becoming more aware of waste and recycling.” Medefesser also added, “Where is this stuff going? Trash doesn’t just disappear.” That question continues to drive EcoSet’s mission today: creating more circular, mindful practices in an industry that’s traditionally been very linear in its consumption.

Overall impact

EcoSet’s innovation has transformed the way the film industry handles waste by offering a sustainable, logistics-driven solution. In a field where speed often outweighs environmental considerations, EcoSet provides services like reuse coordination, zero-waste monitoring, and on-set waste management. These offerings help productions meet sustainability goals while saving on disposal costs. As a result, EcoSet fills a critical niche, acting as a one-stop shop for studios seeking to reduce their environmental impact without disrupting production timelines.

Socially, EcoSet plays a unique role by redistributing lightly used materials, such as props and set pieces, to local nonprofits, schools, and student filmmakers. This not only supports creative communities but also fosters broader awareness of sustainability practices. Internally, the company’s culture deeply reflects its mission. As one employee shared, “Once I started with EcoSet… my whole worldview started changing. I take out my trash maybe once every two months now.” The passion within the team often translates to lasting personal change and a ripple effect beyond the workplace.

The environmental impact is central to EcoSet’s mission. Their goal is to divert 90% of waste from landfills on every production they assist, whether through composting, reuse, or donations. By tracking materials by weight, they provide quantifiable proof of their impact. “You see dumpsters of stuff with reused value… people just don’t have time to think about it,” the reuse coordinator explained, highlighting a key industry challenge that EcoSet is working to solve.

In the short term, EcoSet provides fast, adaptive solutions that fit the chaotic nature of film production. In the long term, they’re helping to reshape industry norms and expand sustainable practices into other sectors. With collaborations like Green The Bid and growing demand from production companies, EcoSet is laying the groundwork for a more sustainable future, both in Hollywood and beyond.

Business benefit

EcoSet has carved out a strong position in the production world by offering something most companies in this space don't: sustainability that actually works with the fast-moving pace of the film industry. Productions are under constant pressure to move quickly, and most don’t have the time or resources to deal with waste responsibly. That’s where EcoSet comes in. They take on that challenge and make it easy for productions to meet their environmental goals without slowing down.

Reese mentioned how EcoSet’s team understands how this industry operates because they’ve been in it themselves. That insider knowledge makes a big difference; they can adapt to last-minute changes and still deliver results. Plus, they offer multiple services, from reuse coordination to zero-waste monitoring, which makes them a one-stop shop for any production trying to be more sustainable. EcoSet also helps clients save on disposal costs and shows the actual impact of their work by tracking how much waste is diverted from landfills. That kind of measurable value keeps clients coming back, and it’s helped EcoSet stay strong even through tough times like COVID.

Social and environmental benefit

EcoSet is making a real difference, not just in how productions handle waste but in how people think about it. They’ve helped change the mindset from “just throw it away” to “where is this stuff actually going?” By diverting up to 90% of production waste from landfills, they’re cutting down on pollution and helping reduce the carbon footprint tied to making and dumping new materials. What’s really cool is that they don’t just recycle; they give these materials a second life by donating them to nonprofits, schools, and artists who really need them. That makes a huge social impact by supporting communities and making creative work more accessible.   

EcoSet also plays a big role in helping people inside and outside the industry adopt more sustainable habits. Reese talked about how working there changed his own lifestyle (he barely takes out the trash now), and that kind of personal shift spreads. On a bigger scale, their involvement in efforts like Green The Bid shows they’re not just doing this alone; they’re pushing the entire industry to take sustainability seriously. It’s about creating long-term change, not just for productions but for society and the environment as a whole.

Interview

Reese Medefesser, Reuse Coordinator

Watch video