Dalet TV Studio featured guest, Barbara Lange, is the former Executive Director of SMPTE and founder of Kibo121, a consultancy firm focused on guiding media tech organizations on their path to sustainability.
Barbara caught up with Marcy Lefkovitz, SVP of Product Innovation at Dalet, and the two also serve together on the TVNewsCheck Awards committee as previous Women in Technology honorees supporting the program, with this year’s winners to be announced during NAB Show 2026.
Barbara discusses why sustainability is a real industry requirement, why efficiency is often the best starting point, and how media and entertainment organizations can make progress without waiting for perfect conditions.
Sustainability starts with responsibility
Lange’s perspective begins with a straightforward reality: sustainability is not optional, and no industry is exempt. While our industry may not be the world’s largest emissions contributor, we still have a very valuable role to play and an opportunity to lead by example and do our part.
That belief is at the center of Kibo121’s mission and also reflects the momentum Lange is helping build through industry education, community programming, and collaborative initiatives that bring media technology stakeholders into the same conversation.
Efficiency makes sustainability actionable
For many organizations, sustainability can feel like another priority layered on top of already demanding production schedules, cost pressures, and technology transitions. Lange acknowledged that resistance is common, especially when sustainability is framed as a complex new initiative. “When you come into this space talking about sustainability,” Lange said, “people’s eyes glaze because it becomes just one more thing I have to worry about.”
Her approach is to connect sustainability to something every organization already values: efficiency. Instead of treating sustainability as separate work, it’s about encouraging teams to look at how operational improvements can reduce environmental impact as a natural outcome.
“When you talk about sustainable energy, it’s really about efficiency gains,” she explained, emphasizing the importance of removing excess waste across workflows. In practice, that means building awareness of how operations run today, identifying unnecessary consumption, and committing to steady improvement over time.
Progress is happening, but measurement is still evolving
Across the industry, sustainability work is already underway, but approaches vary widely. Some organizations are improving products by engineering efficiency into the technology itself, while others are focusing on internal culture and employee engagement.
Lange highlighted the growing number of organizations investing in sustainability research and solutions, including efforts to solve one of the biggest gaps: measurement. Tracking energy use across distributed workflows, supply chains, and hybrid environments remains difficult, and many are still working through how to measure and report this accurately.
For organizations unsure where to begin, a baseline assessment is a good starting point. “The good news is that starting is not that difficult,” she said. One practical tool she often points companies toward is the DPP Commitment to Sustainability Assessment, which helps teams better understand energy, waste, and water consumption and sets the foundation for longer-term planning.
The business case is accelerating
Sustainability is also increasingly being shaped by market forces. Lange pointed to rising investor interest in sustainable companies, along with workforce expectations that are influencing how organizations compete for talent.
People want to work for organizations that align with their values and demonstrate responsibility, she explained. And for younger generations entering the industry, sustainability is becoming a meaningful factor in both career decisions and purchasing behavior.
Lange’s message to organizations was clear: sustainability is not only about environmental responsibility, but it is also becoming a competitive factor in reputation, hiring, and long-term growth.
Cloud, AI, and collective accountability
When asked about how technology decisions connect to sustainability, Lange encouraged organizations to consider their supply chain as a key lever for change, including selecting partners who are implementing sustainable practices such as renewable energy commitments.
She also addressed the growing role of AI in media. While AI is driving new efficiencies and automation across workflows, it also introduces new energy demands, especially during model development and training. Lange emphasized that the focus should be on thoughtful adoption and responsible deployment.
“We have to use it. We have to use it smartly,” she said.
That same mindset shaped Lange’s motivation to launch the Media Climate Accord. While she has seen real progress over the past few years, she believes the pace still feels incremental and that the industry needs a clearer framework for accountability and a committed target.
The Accord is designed to be a shared commitment where participating organizations agree to measure, report, and take action in ways that align with their business strategy, while collectively moving the industry toward net zero by 2040.
Looking ahead
Sustainability progress will come from a mix of practical changes and long-term collaboration. It will require more shared learning across the entire ecosystem and smarter decisions about workflows, infrastructure, and suppliers.
At Dalet, we believe conversations like this will help keep the industry focused on what matters most right now: learning from each other and taking practical steps in the right direction for a greener future in media and entertainment. To learn more about Dalet, visit https://www.dalet.com/.
