Sustainability documentaries to binge

Mar 17, 2021 | SAMU Blog

Sustainability blogs were written by the Community Assistant, Karman Ngan

Looking for an easy way to learn about sustainability and the impacts we have on our earth? Check out this list of my top 10 favorite sustainability documentaries to binge! 

  1. A Life on Our Planet

David Attenborough, English broadcaster and natural historian, explores the history of life on Earth and our current impacts on the planet, with the loss of wild places due to climate change. He offers his vision for the future and hopes to save our environment and natural habitats before it’s too late. Available on Netflix.

 

  1. Broken

Broken is a docuseries investigating the means of production for everyday consumer products and their impacts on society and the environment. It speaks on consumer habits, overbuying and the effects of this global crisis. There are currently four episodes in season one available on Netflix, which explore different aspects of consumerism and its products.

 

  1. There’s Something in the Water

This Canadian-centric documentary brings attention to the struggles of rural and minority communities and their fight against corporations and the dangerous effects of industrial waste. The exposé calls for government action against environmental hazards that disproportionately affect low-income POC communities in Nova Scotia. Available on Netflix.

 

  1. Fools & Dreamers

Fools & Dreamers is a 30-minute long documentary about Hinewai Nature Reserve in New Zealand and botanist Hugh Wilson’s work in regenerating this native forest. Hugh spent 30 years turning degraded farmland into a 1,500-hectare forest where wildlife and waterfalls are abundant. This is an excellent documentary about conservation and allowing the planet to restore itself, one forest at a time. It is available for free on YouTube and Vimeo.

 

  1. The Biggest Little Farm

This documentary follows a Los Angeles couple’s 8-year journey in turning a 200-acre abandoned, depleted farmland into a biodiverse and sustainable farm. It provides insight into the world of farming and the Chester’s efforts in living in harmony with nature. Available on Netflix.

 

  1. Chasing Coral

Chasing Coral follows a group of scientists, photographers, and divers in their work documenting our coral reefs’ disappearance and its impact on our ecosystems. This documentary shows the effects of coral bleaching and the coral reefs’ death but offers hope in saving our oceans and preserving nature. Available on Netflix.

 

  1. A Plastic Ocean

A Plastic Ocean is another great documentary that explores our pollution and environmental impacts on the ocean. When filmmaker Craig Leeson ventures out to film the blue whales, he’s instead met with plastic waste. This documentary urges us to think about the plastic we consume and how it affects our ocean. Available on Netflix

 

  1. Where the Future of Fashion is Headed

This documentary explores the world of fashion and how destructive fast fashion is to our planet. It focuses on the future for sustainable fashion and how we can stay trendy yet environmentally friendly and supporting a circular economy. Designers use plants and organic goods to create fabric and textiles, rather than contributing to the tonnes of fashion waste that ends up in our landfills. Available to watch on YouTube and documentaries.io.

 

  1. Down to Earth

Zac Efron and wellness expert Darin Olien travels the world to explore healthy and sustainable ways to live. This series shows how different places in the world tackle sustainability differently and may give you a new perspective on helping our planet. Available on Netflix.

 

  1. Kiss the Ground

In this documentary, science experts and activists look at how we can preserve our planet by fighting climate change in examining the importance carbon and earth’s soil has on our environment. Regenerative agriculture could be the key to saving the world and solve the soil erosion crisis. Available on Netflix.

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