Looking for educational and engaging films and documentaries about plastic waste? Then you've come to the right place. Every year, around 1,000,000 seabirds and 135,000 marine mammals die as a result of contact with our plastic waste.₁ Plastic waste in the environment is a massive problem. Because we produce more and more of it, do not handle it consciously - and because the plastic is not biodegradable. With in-depth plastic waste documentaries and films, awareness of this problem can be raised.
So in this post, I'm going to give you 10 inspiring documentaries about plastic waste to watch, and show you where you can watch each one for free online. Some you can watch right here or on YouTube.
The ten best documentaries and films about plastic waste
The problem with plastic is one of the biggest environmental problems of our time. As awful as it is, the cool thing about it is that it's such a highly visible problem - as long as you keep the subject of Microplastics is left out of the equation. Also, because you can see the mountains of garbage directly, the following documentaries and films are so particularly impressive and instructive.
1. Werner Boote - Plastic Planet
This film opened my eyes at the time in its just under 90 minutes. Werner Boote shows so impressively how plastic is a real problem in all parts of our planet. Risk for environment, humans and animals is. In my opinion, an absolute "must-see" for anyone who wants to deal with the topic of plastic. Also in school you can show children this enlightening film very well.
Where can you see this plastic waste movie? For example on the Website of the Federal Agency for Civic Education.
2. y-collective - recycling myths and illegal plastic exports, what's the truth?
This documentary is mainly about how the Plastic waste exported abroad from Germany and at the same time embellishes our recycling quotas. To show the extent, the two reporters Patrick and Dennis Weinert travel to an Indonesian village where German garbage is found.
Where can you see this plastic waste documentary? Here in the YouTube video embedded above.
3. planet e. - The plastic curse: How we litter our planet
This film by "planet e." is dedicated to the question "are we suffocating in plastic?" and for this purpose sheds light on the developments of plastic consumption in our society. To find out more about the problem with plastic in the sea, activists, scientists and also water sports enthusiasts were accompanied. Also the topic Microplastics in the sea becomes clear here.
Where can you see this plastic waste documentary? You can watch it for example in the ZDF Mediathek. (unfortunately not available forever)
4. CTRL_F - Plastic waste from Nestlé and Co. - Search in the sea
If you want to see stark and impressive images of plastic waste in the environment or in the ocean, this documentary is for you. The reporters Tobias and David were on the Philippines, to show the extent of the problem. In order to get to the bottom of the matter, they also Responsible persons of the largest corporations confronted, which are mainly responsible for the masses of waste in the environment.
Where can you see this plastic waste documentary? Here in the YouTube video embedded above.
5. WDR - Plastic everywhere: How do we stop the waste problem?
A film that highlights plastic consumption and, above all, the Plastic recycling in Germany. For this, the reporters also visited a waste sorting plant in Krefeld and show exactly what is important in recycling and what major challenges exist. Particularly clear are also the Ways to avoid waste shown. Absolutely recommendable!
Where can you see this plastic waste documentary? Currently not available online.
6th Fascination Knowledge - Plastics: Success Story or Time Bomb?
This 30-minute documentary about plastic waste tackles the problem in a scientific way, highlighting in particular the Material Plastic. In this film you will learn more about the Decomposition and the Advantages and Disadvantages of plastics.
Where can you see this plastic waste documentary? Here in the YouTube video embedded above.
7. NDR - Plastic in every wave - Surfing in the garbage dump sea
Kitesurfing pro Mario Rodwald is the protagonist of this plastic waste documentary and impressively shows how much trash he finds in the sea every day. For this he is in the actual surfer's paradise on the Indonesian island of Ambon. An enlightening, educational film - also for children at school.
Where can you see this plastic waste movie? For example on the NDR website.
8th PULS Report - Plastic waste: What's the point of recycling?
In this free YouTube documentary, Sebastian Meinberg and Nadine Hadad examine the German recycling system for plastic waste. The contribution shows the Everyday life in recycling plants and which plastic products can be recycled particularly well and which not at all. In just under 18 minutes, the documentary gives a really good insight - absolutely recommendable!
Where can you see this plastic waste documentary? Here in the YouTube video embedded above.
9. Plastic Oceans Foundation - A Plastic Ocean
Actually, journalist Craig Lesson was just looking for a blue whale. But the large amount of plastic waste led him to investigate various places in the world's oceans together with scientists and divers in order to find out more about the problem. The film shows impressively, how our oceans are doing - absolute film recommendation!
Where can you see this plastic waste movie? For example, on Netflix.
10. NDR Doku - Plastic: The business with the garbage
This documentary is mainly about the Dealing with plastic in our everyday lives. In just under 45 minutes, the film sheds light on the entire Plastic circuit and also shows solutions in the fight against the environmental problem with plastic waste. Highly recommended!
Where can you see this plastic waste documentary? Again, here in the YouTube video embedded above.
Docs about plastic waste - Make aware and share
In order to solve the waste problem in the long term, it is important to create a greater awareness of waste avoidance in our society. These documentaries and films with their unmistakable images definitely contribute to this. Feel free to share this post or the individual films with others to help raise awareness.
Here are some more articles and recommendations about plastic waste and waste prevention:
- Plastic free living - tips & tricks
- My book Plastic Free for Beginners
- Plastic free in the kitchen
- Zero Waste Online Course "30 Days To Zero Waste".
Do you have any other recommendations for inspiring documentaries about plastic waste? Then just write me a comment with your tips.
Stay clean,
PS.: In addition to documentaries about plastic waste, there is also a whole series of Docs about the meat industry and vegan diet. In the linked post, you'll find a whole bunch of recommendations on this.
References:
₁ NABU - Naturschutzbund Deutschland e.V.: Plastic waste and its consequences. https://www.nabu.de/natur-und-landschaft/meere/muellkippe-meer/muellkippemeer.html. [09.04.2020].
Hi, thanks for the list!
I would like to add 2 documentaries that are also very well done.
45Min The plastic threat
It can be seen on YouTube and it is also intended as an educational film for schools, universities, etc., to raise awareness of the subject; the license can be purchased for about 50€.
Although the film is from 2015, I think it is more current in concept than some new documentaries.
Another very good film, currently in the ARD-Mediathek is the film Plastikland Deutschland.
The filmmaker has also made the film 45 Min - The Truth About Fur and basically makes films about environmental issues and problems.
Take a look at both of them?!
LG Ena
Comments are closed.