Stuck in quarantine mode? Found some more hours in your day? It is the perfect time to think about life, our planet, and get inspired. But how do you get inspired at home? There are some truly incredible, sustainable documentaries on Netflix which can teach us all important lessons about the best ways to move forward.
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From how we travel to what we purchase and consume, here is a list of the best sustainable documentaries in 2024 to inspire climate action.
Table of Contents
Ocean Inspired Sustainable Documentaries
Our oceans seem vast and powerful from afar. But up close, they are a fragile series of living organisms trying to survive. These documentaries highlight the real issue faced under the sea.
Chasing Coral
If you are a lover of the sea, this heartbreakingly real documentary is going to shock you and inspire you. Chasing coral focuses on the impacts of global warming on one of the planet’s most important and vulnerable ecosystems, coral reefs.
Mission Blue
Mission Blue follows the journey of oceanographer, explorer, scientist, and teacher Sylvia Earle (some call her the Jane Goodall of the sea). With amazing underwater cinematography and an incredible lifelong story of ocean activism, this documentary highlights actions that have already been taken and what else is required to protect our oceans.
A Plastic Ocean
The shocking reality of our ocean’s plastic pollution. This sustainable documentary displays some hard realities of the plastic issues our planet is facing. The focus is on how our society’s plastic ends up in the ocean, its impacts on the marine world, and how plastic is making its way up the food chain into humans.
Documentaries About The Natural World
Looking at the natural world through new perspectives helps us all appreciate what we really have. A beautiful, spherical home shared by amazing species of all shapes and sizes.
Our Planet
The soothing sounds of Sir David Attenborough coupled with the world’s best environmental cinematographers make you feel like you have stepped into a national geographic magazine. This eight-part documentary series focuses on a different environmental realm in each 50-minute episode. From jungles to deserts and deep oceans, these are the most up-to-date conditions of our natural world.
Animal Exploitation Documentaries
Not for the fainthearted. Our animal kingdom is under serious threat. Not only from the general exploitation and destruction of habitat but also from human’s desire for precious products. Palm Oil fields have been wiping out vast areas of highly dense rainforests and the animal tourism industry has a very dark side.
The Ivory Game
Exposing the Ivory trade. Those who poach, buy and sell the exploited animal product. This film is hard to watch in some instances. But it’s not all negative. It is a heartwarming story about the people risking their lives to save the animals under threat.
Born to Be Free
Exposing the ugly truth behind the very lucrative marine animal show business. This documentary is risky and will have you in a total state of disbelief. With never-before-seen footage (most on handheld video camera), this film really takes you behind the curtain of animal exploitation like never before.
Sustainable Documentaries About Consumerism
One of the biggest issues we face as a species is overbuying. From Times Square in New York to Hong Kong city, our desire to have more stuff, the newest technology, and fashion is driving resource exploitation and waste through the roof.
The real impacts on our planet are hard to fathom. These sustainable documentaries highlight the real issues caused by our consumerist societies.
Minimalism
An incredibly well-put-together a sustainable documentary that delves into the human psyche. How did we end up caring so much about what stuff we have over what really matters in life?
This film looks at the real costs (environmental and psychological) associated with overconsumption and what some people out there are doing to counter it. As someone who has lived out of a backpack for 12 years now, this one was great to watch and to learn about other people who think the same way as I do.
American Factory
You can’t talk about consumerism without considering just how stuff is made so cheaply. This is thanks to places like China and Bangladesh. But what happens when a real mass production factory comes to the United States?
This clash of cultures is a perfect example of why the world is so dependant on China for our cheap consumables.
Tiny House Nation
A fun look at a new generation of homes. While this series is very much light-hearted it is highlighting an important message about consumerisms. How much stuff and space do we really need?
The tiny house movement is reshaping the way people look at homes which could have significant environmental and financial relief on our planet.
Vegan Documentaries
What’s the link between the food we eat, the healthcare system, and our environment? These sustainable documentaries delve into these controversial subjects, exposing some ugly truths about the food system and ways in which we can all live a healthier life (humans and nature included).
Cowspiracy
Don’t let the name deter you. This is not one of those whacky conspiracy movies. This is the real-life impact on our planet and health caused by the meat industry, specifically beef.
Dietary requirements or preferences aside, there are some irrefutable environmental impacts that cannot be ignored. In taking huge personal risks to create this documentary, the filmmaker has exposed some huge gaps in the mainstream ways of thinking about the world’s interconnectivity. You can watch the cowspiracy full movie on Netflix.
Game Changers
Not convinced that a vegan diet is an acceptable way to achieve health? This sustainable documentary might change your mind.
Delving into the details of scientific studies and reflections of real-world, high-performance athletes (Arnold Swrazaneger included), this film certainly makes the idea of switching to a plant-based diet more appealing. Be prepared to feel inspired.
What the Health
This controversial documentary explores the links between mass food production, government organizations, pharmaceutical companies, and environmental impacts. There are some big claims which health experts are criticizing, however, the documentary does make you think about what you choose to buy and eat, and the impact it has on our world.
Rotten
This two-season docu-series exposes the ugly truth behind the mass-produced food industry.
To what lengths will companies go to make the most profit? At the risk of human health? Environmental wellbeing and sustainability? From the almond industry in California that’s killing bees, to the Avocado war in Mexico, there seems to be no end to the bottom line.
If you’re buying any kind of food product and don’t know exactly where it came from and who made it, then this show is sure to be one to make you question everything.
Climate Change Documentaries
One of the biggest global issues we are all facing together. Our planet is changing, fast. These sustainable documentaries look at the science of what’s happening and what we can do about it.
An Inconvenient Sequel
A powerful 10 year follow-up by Climate Change activist, Al gore.
In 2006 they thought his predictions were crazy. This sustainable documentary not only looks at how those predictions have come true, but what else we should expect if we don’t change human activity and take the proper actions. The link between global connectivity and selective political decisions are what make this film a must-see.
How to Change The World
The amazing, historical story of Greenpeace. Why it was so important to start, the struggles to get a movement off the ground. And why it is just as important now as it was then to stand up for and take positive action for our environment.
Chasing The Sun
This sustainable documentary has never been more relevant. The solar power energy movement has the power to address two major global issues. Economic instability and green power.
Training and employing those in need to install solar panels across the USA. A winning combination. But will it receive the government help it needs?
Bonus Sustainable Documentaries (Beyond Netflix)
Netflix is a great source of sustainable documentaries. However, what if you run out of sustainable streaming?
Don’t worry. There are more amazing sustainable documentaries waiting to be watched on Amazon, Google, and Apple TV, and you can try these platforms out with a free trial. Here are some notable films that you can buy or rent online.
Before the Flood
Leonardo DiCaprio brings climate change into pop culture unlike anyone else. This beautifully shot film covers melting icecaps, burning forests, and the people out there coming up with ways to combat climate issues (both industry and politicians).
River Blue
What is the true cost of fast fashion? The fashion industry has a hugely negative impact on our environment. But just how bad is it? Really bad.
Our limited freshwater sources are being polluted at an incomprehensible rate. This film looks at some of the worst contributors and ways in which we can curb our impact by making better purchasing choices.
No Impact Man
Can we live in a modern society without having an environmental footprint? Colin Beavan and his family attempt to do so in Manhattan.
No TV, elevators, plastic, fossil-fueled travel. How possible is it? And what could it mean for our planet? This film delves into the possibilities.
Tapped
The bottled water industry exploits our most precious water at the expense of human well-being and our environment.
In the name of profit, this industry is literally suffocating the planet in plastic pollution while sucking it dry. This sustainable documentary is a must-watch for anyone not already avoiding bottled drinking water.
Free Ted Talks on Sustainability
There are more and more amazing people out there focusing on sustainability and looking at ways in which we can adapt our policies and daily choices to create a better world.
If you run out of Netflix shows to watch there are plenty more streaming resources for free that provide insightful information and ideas on sustainability.
Ted Talks attract some of the greatest minds and thinkers of our generation. In this free-to-air platform, you can listen in to new ideas and concepts in small, digestible pieces of time. Each talk is approx 15 minutes. Here are some notable Ted Talks about sustainability.
Sustainable Development Goals
This talk looks at companies taking a stand against environmental impacts and implementing cost offsetting for ecological programs and education. This could be the blueprint that more businesses should be looking at.
How to Save Tourism from Itself
This is a perfect time for the tourism industry to reflect on itself. Never before has there been such a huge impact on one of the world’s biggest industries.
The ideas laid out in this talk could help reshape the tourism industry once the cloud of COVID-19 passes.
The World Can Change, Fast.
It’s already happening (and not that surprising). When people don’t travel to work every day or go on holiday, there are fewer carbon emissions. What we’re seeing is a radicalized drop in typical carbon levels in major cities. In NYC it has been stated that up to 50% reduction has occurred in the air’s carbon monoxide levels (compared to the year before).
Nitrogen Dioxide levels in air drop significantly with changes in worlds activities
Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) enters our atmosphere from burning fossil fuels. That could be cars, factories, lawnmowers, or generators, etc. Scientific evidence shows that exposure to NO2 (anywhere from 30 minutes to 24 hours) can cause adverse reparatory effects:
- Airway inflammation in healthy people
- Increased respiratory symptoms in people with asthma
There is generally far too high a level of NO2 in large cities. The huge drop in fossil fuel burning (for now), could be adding to the recovery of our lungs and atmosphere.
Unfortunately, animals don’t reappear that quickly.
While we’d all love to believe that the Venice waterways could magically clean themselves and have wild dolphins visit after a couple of weeks of isolation, this is not the case.
The widely shared “Venetian” dolphins were filmed at a port in Sardinia, in the Mediterranean Sea, hundreds of miles away. It will take more than a few weeks in self-isolation for the world to heal itself of human influence. How long?
The infamous Chernobyl site in Ukraine was evacuated in 1986 after the nuclear meltdown. 30 years later the site is thriving with wildlife. Is that how long it takes to recover naturally? Potentially.
What we (humans) do, does make a difference to our planet
So, you watch a couple of sustainable documentaries on Netflix. How does that make a difference? If we all use this time to educate ourselves on ways to live more sustainably and make real, eco-conscious action. We can make a huge difference in our future.
Ready to Take Action?
After watching all (or some) of these sustainable documentaries and talks you’re probably ready to make some changes.
Eco-living is something we should all be striving towards. In this time of social distancing and quarantining, use these resources to make real, positive changes in your life.
If you regularly post on Instagram, change your captions from beach quotes or sunset quotes to powerful climate action quotes. Try some of these save water quotes and save earth slogans.
Where do I start?
There are a lot of subjects and categories covered in the above-mentioned documentaries about sustainability. How do you pick where to make changes and where to begin?
The easiest way to make sustainable changes is to start at home, making small, yet notable changes.
We’re all going to be spending a lot of time at home over the coming weeks. Let’s use this time to improve the way we live in our home environment. Here are some easy ways you can make sustainable choices/changes:
Reduce Your Waste
- Compost your food waste – we use the Vitamix Foodcycler, an electric composter that turns food waste into fertilizer in a few hours
- Say no to plastic – one of the biggest decisions we make every day is to use or consume a product in some kind of packaging. But there are plenty of plastic-free alternatives.
- Choose single-use plastic alternatives
- Swap out your bathroom with eco-friendly toiletries
- Create a zero-waste kitchen
- Try plastic bag alternatives for your bins
Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
- Try switching to solar-powered water heater (solar geysers)
Zero Waste Shopping
- Learn how to zero waste shop (choosing sustainable and ethical products with plastic-free packing).
Do you have any eco-documentary recommendations? We would love to hear about documentaries about self-sustainable living, sustainable architecture documentaries, and other food sustainability documentaries.
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Thanks! Hope you enjoy these
I’ve been looking to watch more documentaries recently and this is a great list for me to use as reference!