The Future is Plastic Free was born one Sunday evening following a 3 episode binge of a BBC documentary called ‘War on Plastic‘. We were shocked by two points in particular. The first being the amount of plastic waste that developed countries transport to developing countries, with the misguided belief that the waste is being recycled, more often than not it simply is not recycled and just ends up littering the land of these poorer, undeveloped countries.
The second takeaway from the documentary and a point far more specific was just how terrible wet wipes are for the environment. Like a lot of people, we were guilty of never really understanding that they are primarily made from plastic. Millions of which are discarded to landfill or even worse flushed each year.
We were so shocked by what we had seen that we felt absolutely compelled to find some sort of opportunity where we could try to have a positive impact on the environment and help ordinary people like ourselves halt our planets imminent demise due to our insatiable consumerist appetite and the inconsiderate buying habits of people.
In recent years there has been a surge in the popularity of Documentaries tackling the issues of human impact on the environment and climate change. You may or may not be a fan of the big entertainment subscription services such as Netflix and Amazon but we can universally agree that they do a fine job of thrusting such topics into the mainstream. Many of the “facts” and figures presented to us do have to be taken with a pinch of salt as there are always two sides to every story. However, if you have an appetite for wanting to educate, inform and maybe even inspire yourself to act on all things environmental and climate crisis-related, then our list of The 11 Best Must-Watch Environmental Documentaries should not be missed
Table of Contents
WAR ON PLASTIC – BBC iPLAYER
In this three-part series, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Anita Rani explore where this decades old problem of plastic pollution is really coming from, and what we can all do to help solve it before it is too late. They challenge big businesses to do more to reduce the plastic in their products and question the government about what they are doing to address recycling and plastic production. They also challenge an entire street in Bristol to try and significantly reduce the amount of single-use plastic in their homes in four months to discover how easy or difficult it is to make such changes
A LIFE ON OUR PLANET – NETFLIX
There are few men that have seen more of the natural world than David Attenborough. In his 93 years, David Attenborough has visited every continent on the globe, exploring the wild places of our planet and documenting the living world in all its variety and wonder. Now, for the first time he reflects upon both the defining moments of his lifetime as a naturalist and the devastating changes he has seen. Produced by WWF and award-winning wildlife film-makers Silverback Films, David Attenborough: A Life On Our Planet is a first-hand account of humanity’s impact on nature and a message of hope for future generations
OUR PLANET – NETFLIX
A Netflix original documentary series and groundbreaking collaboration between WWF, Netflix, and Silverback Films, Our Planet showcases the world’s natural wonders, iconic species, and wildlife spectacles that still remain.
The habitats that make up our planet are connected and reliant upon each other. The astonishing diversity of life on earth depends on these global connections. We’re all a part of this amazing planet, but we’re changing it like never before. Discover the story of the one place we all call home
COWSPIRACY – THE SUSTAINABILITY SECRET – NETFLIX
Hollywood A Lister Leonardo Di Caprio puts his name to yet another climate change documentary in this 90 minute reveal all about the Agricultural industry and in particular the impacts of animal farming on the planet. The Documentary feel well researched, convincing and presents a compelling argument for all of us needing to reduce our consumption of meat.
The film sheds some shocking light on just how powerful the US agricultural industry really is and how anyone or even how the big international charitable organisations can be silenced
Most that view this will at the very least question their conscience about eating quite so much meat in the future
SEASPIRACY – NETFLIX
Another shocking insight into an industry we all rely on so heavily for our dietary requirements and yet again an industry that does not come off well at all. If Cowspiracy put you off eating meat then without a doubt Seaspiracy will invoke a very similar emotion towards your consumption of seafood
AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH – AMAZON, YOUTUBE
Director Davis Guggenheim eloquently weaves the science of global warming with Al Gore’s personal history and lifelong commitment to reversing the effects of global climate change in the most talked-about documentary at Sundance. An Inconvenient Truth makes the compelling case that global warming is real, man-made, and its effects will be cataclysmic if we don’t act now. Gore presents a wide array of facts and information in a thoughtful and compelling way: often humorous, frequently emotional, always fascinating. In the end, An Inconvenient Truth accomplishes what all great films should: it leaves the viewer shaken, involved, and inspired
AN INCONVENIENT SEQUEL – POWER TO TRUTH – AMAZON, YOUTUBE
An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power, released in 2017, picks up 10 years later following in the same presentation format as an Inconvenient Truth with new, sobering data, and with Gore hitting the ground and traveling to key locations like Florida, where extreme weather events have gotten worse
KISS THE GROUND – NETFLIX
Kiss the Ground is a full-length documentary narrated by Woody Harrelson that sheds light on a “new, old approach” to farming called “regenerative agriculture” that has the potential to balance our climate, replenish our vast water supplies, and feed the world.
The solution to Climate change is “right under our feet”. Soil. Due to it’s vast scale and ability to absorb greenhouse gasses it could be the solution to the climate crisis.
The documentary takes a familiar direction with a motivating premise to understand the damage caused by industrial agriculture and encourage us all to eat healthier food grown in nutrient-rich soil.
BEFORE THE FLOOD – DISNEY+, AMAZON, YOUTUBE
In Before the Flood, Hollywood A-lister Leonardo DiCaprio, who is well known for his passionate stance on tackling the climate crisis, and his team travel across the globe to witness first-hand the devastating effects of climate change and what can be done to stop them. Spanning three years, we learn what some of the leading scientific experts say about current impacts and what we can do to avoid catastrophic climate change on a global level.
A PLASTIC OCEAN – NETFLIX
A Plastic Ocean 2016 was praised by Sir David Attenborough as “one of the most important films our time”.
What started as an adventure to Film a Blue Whale, quickly turns into a shocking discovery of the plastic pollution problem blighting oceans around the world. The beautiful shots of marine life are in stark contrast with the growing problem created by decades of irresponsible plastic production and how our own personal choices and consumption can severely impact the planet.
The Documentary was the catalyst for igniting mass consumer awareness to the problem of Plastic Pollution in our Oceans.
THE TRUE COST – AMAZON
If you only have the stamina to watch one documentary about fast fashion, this is our choice. The True Cost is a 2015 documentary film about the clothes we wear, the people that make them, and the impact of fashion on the planet. The price of clothing has decreased for decades whilst the untold human and environmental costs have grown dramatically.
This industry exposé has prompted many to revaluate their shopping habits and ask who really pays the price for our clothing. Does our love of fashion justify human rights violations and environmental destruction?
