Leaders from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment (WDSHE) and Disney's Environmental Affairs (DEA) completed a carbon footprint calculation for a basic, single-disc DVD packed in the standard, black plastic "Amaray" case. WDSHE engaged Technicolor, the principal DVD manufacturer, to help calculate the GHG emissions related to the following activities: design of the packaging and contents of DVD, manufacture of materials and packaging, delivery of raw materials to the replication facility, replication of the DVD, delivery of manufactured DVD products to Technicolor distribution centers, and the transport of DVD products from distribution centers to North American store shelves. Technicolor, WDSHE, and DEA collected data and completed calculations to determine that the final carbon footprint value of a single DVD is 0.77 pounds of carbon dioxide.
WDSHE has a number of initiatives underway that will reduce the footprint of DVD's. For example, Disney is producing Blu-Ray DVD's, which have less packaging and a lower footprint than standard DVD and Amaray cases. Redesigned Amaray cases will be lighter and will have less plastic content. Additionally, WDSHE, through their membership in an industry group, is participating in a supply chain committee to study environmental and related matters.
