One of my 2020 intentions is to learn as much as I can about the environment. I want to learn more about the science behind the climate crisis, how different industries are impacting different parts of the environment, and solutions that are being developed. My introduction to issues with sustainability in the fashion industry was through the documentary The True Cost (which was sadly removed from Netflix in 2019). So I took some time during the first few months of this year to see what other resources are available online. This post is a list of my favorite Netflix sustainability documentaries, including episodes from Netflix original series and full-length documentaries.
Climate Science Resources
Decoding the Weather Machine
1 hour and 50 minutes
This documentary gives a great scientific explanation of how climate change is different from warming cycles and how climate is different from weather. It’s something I could imagine watching in one of my environmental science classes: think scientists analyzing ice cores, forests and shells for information about changes in temperature and atmosphere. This documentary also talks through a number of different solutions to stop and slow the climate crisis. Though it’s a long and dense documentary, it is a great starting point for people looking to learn more about climate science.
Patriot Act – Oil (volume 1 episode 4)
21 minutes
This episode touches on many topics related to oil – offshore oil spills, the increase in oil production in the US, the way the US media discusses fossil fuel production, and this history of the global oil industry. Hasan Minhaj as always gets his point across with humor and has some extra fun facts sprinkled throughout this episode. Did you know Jimmy Carter installed solar panels on the White House roof?
Broken – Recycling Sham (season 1 episode 4)
1 hour
This documentary is all about the broken promises of recycling. We have long been taught that recycling is our way out of plastic pollution. But our solution in the United States – shipping our plastic abroad to be recycled – is no longer an option. It brings you inside materials recovery facilities and to countries like Malaysia that are impacted by plastic pollution. This documentary dives into health issues caused by the chemicals in plastic, the growth of global plastic production and global plastic pollution, and the issue of wishcycling. If you want to learn more about how plastic is made and the business forces behind global plastic pollution, this is the documentary for you
Netflix Sustainability Documentaries About Food
Kiss The Ground
1 hour and 24 minutes
Kiss The Ground is all about regenerative agriculture and why it is an important climate solution. It is a very optimistic documentary about the climate and the future of our planet and the species on it. It has received some warranted criticism, especially with the lack of recognition of Indigenous wisdom and farming practices, though there is still much to learn from the activists, scientists, farmers, and politicians interivewed in the film.
Seaspiracy
1 hour and 29 minutes
Seaspiracy took Netflix by storm when it was released in 2021. The film explores the human impacts on marine life, specifically through commercial fishing, and encourages viewers to stop consuming fish. Though it is an interesting watch that touches on some major issues with commercial fishing and sustainably sourced seafood labels, some parts are absolutely sensationalized. Before (or after) watching make sure you read the criticisms from marine scientists to get a less biased take on the issues.
Sustainable Fashion Resources
Patriot Act – The Ugly Truth of Fast Fashion (volume 5 episode 5)
30 minutes
I absolutely loved the Fashion: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver episode (which you can watch on YouTube), and this Patriot Act episode about fast fashion has some great updated information. Hasan Minhaj has a great way of getting across the facts about this complex issue while keeping things light with his jokes. If you are new to sustainable fashion, this is definitely a great place to start. Hasan touches on topics like textile waste, garment worker rights, and the growth of the fast fashion industry.
Netflix Sustainability Documentaries About Oceans
A Plastic Ocean
1 hour and 40 minutes
The documentarians originally wanted to create a film about blue whales, but once they saw how much plastic was in the oceans they shifted their direction. This documentary has a great balance of visuals of ocean micro-plastic pollution and scientific explanations of the impact of this plastic on other ecosystems and animals (and ultimately humans). Beware, though, this is one of those documentaries that cuts open the stomach of a dead bird to show its stomach completely full of plastic.
Chasing Coral
1 hour and 30 minutes
This documentary is about coral and the global bleaching events that have been destroying coral and fish ecosystems. It follows scientists who photograph coral reefs for an extended period of time to monitor bleaching as a result of the climate crisis. For such a depressing topic, this documentary ends on an uplifting note. One of my favorite quotes from this documentary was: “I didn’t make enough noise when I realized what was happening”.
Netflix Sustainability Documentaries About Water
Dirty Money: Point Comfort (season 2 episode 6)
1 hour
I have long been a fan of the Dirty Money series on Netflix, but this episode is one of my favorites. It follows former employees of a plastic production plant in a small town in Texas as they collect evidence of plastic pollution and bring a Clean Water Act case against their former employer. This episode shows the more human side of the climate crisis and the impact pollution has on communities.
Explained – The World’s Water Crisis (season 1 episode 2)
18 minutes
This short episode gives a great overview of the water crisis, why water is such a valuable resource, and how it has become so scarce.
Waterschool (documentary)
1 hour, some portions in another language with subtitles
This documentary is one of the most uplifting sustainability documentaries I’ve ever seen. Waterschool follows young people throughout the world that participate in Swarovski Waterschool where they learn all about the importance of water. The documentary shows the experience of Waterschool students in Brazil, Austria, India, China, Uganda and the United States. As a young person passionate about climate action, it’s always inspiring to see even younger people – the next generation after me – that have a deep passion and understanding for such complex issues at such a young age.
Though ecofeminism is next on my list of things to learn about this year, teachers throughout this documentary point out the unique role women play in the fight for climate action.
Rotten – Troubled Water (season 2 episode 3)
1 hour
This documentary is all about the bottled water industry. It not only touches on the environmental issues caused by bottled water, but it also touches on some of the hard hitting ethical questions – like whether Nestle donating bottled water to residents in Flint Michigan is the right response.
