Sustainability can feel like a vast and overwhelming topic when you first start learning about it. For many of us, this can turn us off from learning about it altogether. However, if you love learning about things in a visual format, documentaries are a great place to start.
They can open your eyes and give you lots of information without you getting overwhelmed. Whether you are an avid documentary consumer or haven’t really got into them yet, here are five documentaries that are a good watch for anyone interested in sustainability.
- “The True Cost“
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This documentary investigates what is happening behind the scenes of the fashion industry. It looks at the environmental and social impacts that fast fashion specifically has on our world. It tells the stories of real people working throughout the supply chain and shows many perspectives on the issue. “The True Cost” came out in 2015, but it still has a lot of relevant information; the statistics shown might have changed since then.
- “The 11th Hour“
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This documentary covers the ways humans have negatively impacted the planet and what can be done and needs to be done to save it. The “11th Hour” refers to the final time something can be done to save the planet. It interviews scientists, scholars and world leaders to get their opinions on what can be done to help the planet heal from the human damage that they define in the documentary. This film came out in 2007, but it is a good starting place for more research on the subject.
- “T-Shirt Travels“
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This documentary examines the fate of secondhand clothing that isn’t given away or sold in the Western world. It specifically shows unsold clothes being shipped to Zambia and examines the impact on that country. It provides unique insight into a lesser-known sustainability issue. The documentary was released in 2001.
- “Buy Now! The Shopping Conspiracy“
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This documentary reveals the strategies employed by large companies to encourage customers to purchase more items, drawing on the experiences of former employees from prominent brands such as Apple, Amazon, Adidas and others. It also looks at the impact of over-consumerism on the planet. The visuals of this documentary are very unique in the way it tells the story, which makes it very engaging to watch for a modern audience. It came out fairly recently in 2024, so the information in it is pretty fresh.
- “Before The Flood“
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This documentary covers climate change specifically, talking about what it is, how it affects the planet, why it is happening and how it can be fixed. It shows what the effects of climate change actually look like on animals and ecosystems and how world leaders are and aren’t doing to fix it. This documentary came out in 2016.