Sustainable Set Highlight: Walt Disney Studios’ Lilo & Stitch Live-Action Remake
In June of 2002, a fluffy blue alien with a cute, yet chaotic, personality became a Disney fan favorite. Over twenty years later, computer-generated imagery has been used in conjunction with practical effects to bring this beloved extraterrestrial creature to life. Although the behind-the-scenes creation of the live-action Lilo & Stitch movie did showcase Disney Studios’ technological capabilities, it also demonstrated their commitment to sustainability. By partnering with numerous Hawai‘i-based organizations, the production of Lilo & Stitch featured waste sorting stations to reuse as much as possible. Compost was sent to become nutrient-rich soil, surplus food was donated, funds from recycled bottles and cans were used for local college scholarships, cooking oil was converted into biodiesel, and more.
EMA is excited to be awarding Lilo & Stitch with an EMA Green Seal in recognition of their environmental efforts while filming the movie on the island of O‘ahu. To learn more about how sustainability was incorporated on-set, we spoke with Katelyn Holzer, the Lead Set Sustainability Manager, and Fiona Custer, the Set Sustainability Manager.
What were some roadblocks that the team faced when trying to implement sustainability on set?
Katelyn: Oʻahu doesn’t have a well-established system for recycling and composting, so we had to build many of these systems ourselves. Another challenge was getting each department on board early, and, for instance, encouraging them to purchase used materials instead of new. Over time, it was great to see the crew embrace these practices, especially as our composting efforts with Sustainable Coastlines became more visible. The atmosphere shifted, and most crew members became genuinely interested in minimizing their environmental impact. It was also rewarding to share regular environmental memos showing the volume of waste diverted with pictures and videos of the soil created at the farm.
Fiona: Not all crew members were familiar with a 3-bin system for recycling, compost, and landfill, so it sparked lots of conversations at the waste stations. Slowing down to sort waste was a shift from the fast pace of set life and initially felt intimidating for some. But over time, the mindfulness was appreciated. Some who were initially hesitant ended up celebrating their composting wins with high-fives. Conversations were key to our sustainability success—what began as unfamiliar became habit, with crew members even coming up with their own “green ideas” for their departments.
Photo by Disney/DISNEY - © 2025 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Were any sustainable actions easier to implement than initially expected?
Katelyn: My biggest surprise was the strong support from the producers. I thought it would be a harder pitch, but once they saw the potential to reduce dumping through composting, they quickly got on board and were very supportive. Their early support set the tone for the rest of the crew and gave us the momentum we needed to make a bigger impact across all departments.
Fiona: Working with Aloha Harvest, our food rescue partner, was an amazing experience. They adapted daily to our changing locations and tight pickup windows—no small task with our schedule. Catering helped make it seamless by supplying foil pans and cling wrap for packing up untouched, leftover food for donation. Together, we saved nearly 4,000 lbs of delicious meals from the landfill and helped feed those in need across Oʻahu each day.
Can you describe your experiences partnering with local organizations to ensure that various elements of production are sustainable?
Katelyn: It was exciting to discover and work with various organizations on Oʻahu. Bottles4College, (a fundraising non-profit serving local youth)—connected through Sustainable Coastlines—became part of our contracted efforts, and we also worked with Eco-Feed, which collects food scraps to donate to pig farms.
Photo by Disney/DISNEY - © 2025 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Beyond composting and waste diversion, what other sustainable actions were taken by the Lilo team?
Katelyn: The crew brought reusable water bottles and used the refill systems set up by Crafty, and we added additional chilled water stations to reduce single-use bottles. Lumber was donated to Habitat for Humanity. Although this required extra steps, producers approved the effort, allowing the crew time to properly de-nail and prepare the lumber for donation.
Fiona: It was a joy getting to know our local green vendors—they truly became Ohana. Their dedication to making Oʻahu eco-friendly was inspiring, and they adapted seamlessly to our shifting locations and needs. Each one went above and beyond to support our sustainability goals. By introducing them to our mostly local crew, real connections were formed, paving the way for future collaborations with other productions on the island. One highlight was working with catering and their food truck to collect used fryer oil, which we delivered to a local biodiesel facility to be turned into renewable fuel.
Over the course of the shoot, we also recycled more than 10,000 lbs of cardboard from the set and warehouses—thanks to the teamwork of catering, Crafty, crew, and transportation, who flattened, stacked, and hauled it to the recycling center. At wrap, we collaborated with every department to donate items. A standout moment was donating all the kennels from the dog adoption scene in Lilo & Stitch to local animal shelters, providing real safe spaces for pets in need. We’re incredibly grateful for the dedication and collaboration from every department.
Learn more about our EMA Green Seal and how Hollywood is going green on our blog!
By Sabrina Sugg