10 Zero-Waste Documentaries That Will Inspire You To Do More With Less

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By now, you’re probably familiar with the term ‘zero waste.’ It’s been popping up everywhere in the past few years, and it’s a movement that has gained a lot of traction. It’s a simple concept: refuse, reduce, reuse, compost, recycle — and send as little as possible to the landfills. It may seem like an impossible task at first glance. But there are plenty of zero-waste documentaries and books out there to help you understand this movement better. Plus, they’ll help you realize just how much trash we generate as a society. And also, what happens to trash once it leaves our homes.

Must watch zero-waste documentaries to keep you informed and inspired

From trash bags to recycling bins and everything in between, these zero-waste documentaries will inspire zero-waste living, i.e., do more with less and live happier lives while doing it.

1. Blue Planet II

The Blue Planet II is a documentary series that explores the oceans and the animals that inhabit them. It is wonderfully shot and shows us how much we have to learn about our planet. With David Attenborough as the narrator, the docu-series focuses on why and how we should protect our beautiful blue planet. The Blue Planet II is one of the most influential zero-waste documentaries. It has inspired many people around the globe to opt for a zero-waste lifestyle.

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2. Plastic Paradise: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch

The film Plastic Paradise is a documentary that explores the harmful effects of plastic waste floating somewhere in our oceans. The film features interviews with experts, scientists, and everyday people who are all concerned about our throwaway culture. It is an eye-opening look at how much trash humans have generated over time. And also how it’s still affecting us today. It also highlights some of the solutions being implemented by people around the world to help solve this problem.

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3. The Story Of Stuff

The Story of Stuff is a documentary about the environmental impacts of our consumer culture. It’s a shocking look at how we go about our daily lives, what we buy, and how much waste we generate. It provides a detailed account of how companies are making money by selling us products we don’t really need and generating huge amounts of waste in the process.

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4. A Plastic Ocean

A Plastic Ocean follows the story of a single-handed quest to stop the global plastic pollution crisis. This documentary shows how much plastic is ending up in our oceans, how much it takes to make plastic, and how much damage it does to our ecosystems. The environmental film shows just how far off-track we have gone with the plastic issue, especially when it comes to the oceans and how important it is for us all to take action against it. It’s a beautiful film that will make you want to do something about it.

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Related Articles: 5 Everyday Products That Are Polluting Our Oceans

5. No Impact Man

No Impact Man is a zero-waste documentary that follows Colin Beavan and his family’s efforts to live as close to a zero-waste lifestyle as possible. The goal being – to reduce environmental impact by one-third, and they did just that. The film follows them through their journey and shows how they live with little impact on the Earth. It is both shocking and inspiring! It makes us realize how wasteful one can be and how much it weighs on our environment. And it definitely makes you think – ‘If they can make a zero-waste lifestyle possible, why can’t I?’

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6. Bag It

Bag It is a documentary about the life of a single-use plastic bag and other plastic products. From the moment plastics are made, to their use and disposal. The film takes you on a journey through the history of plastics and how they came to be a part of our lives. The environmental film gives us an insight into how bad the plastic problem really is. It also brings up some important questions like ‘What happens to all that plastic after we’ve thrown it away?’ ‘How much energy does it take to make these single-use plastic products?’

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Related Articles: 16 Easy Ways To Reduce Your Plastic Footprint

7. Seaspiracy

If you’re someone who is interested in being more environmentally conscious or just wants to learn more about the sea, then Seaspiracy is a documentary that you should watch. Seaspiracy is one of the most inspiring zero-waste documentaries that focuses on the world’s oceans and how the industry works. This film also explores many dimensions, including seafood-related slavery, ghost fishing nets, the bycatch problem, and asks whether it is a good idea to eat fish. This documentary will not only inspire zero-waste living but will surely fuel some interesting dinner table conversations.

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8. Wasted!

Wasted! The Story Of Food Waste is an award-winning documentary about food waste around the world, and how it affects our health and the environment. The film explores how much food we waste every year, what happens to it and what can be done about it. The film follows the journey of one of the greatest food legends – Anthony Bourdain, who turns his passion for learning about food into a mission to change the world one piece at a time.

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Related Articles: 10 Hassle-Free Ways To Reduce Your Food Waste

9. Just Eat It

Just Eat It – A Food Waste Story is a documentary that takes you on a journey through the food waste crisis. This documentary tells the story of how we have become a nation of consumers and how this has resulted in a culture that has embraced convenience over sustainability. This documentary is a must-watch if you want to be more conscious of the food we waste. It is a funny, and inspiring story of how one man decided to reduce his food waste and what all he did in order to achieve that goal.

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10. Tapped

Tapped is a documentary about the life cycle of plastic bottles and how it affects us all. This documentary explores the reality that plastic bottles are not biodegradable, so they will be around for hundreds of years and affect our environment for generations to come. This is one of the zero-waste documentaries that will definitely make you switch to eco-friendly water bottles.

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These zero-waste documentaries feature the stories of individuals, families, and communities that have made the conscious choice to go minimally wasteful, or even opt for a completely zero-waste lifestyle. While some of their methods may not be immediately applicable in your everyday life, most of them are great learning opportunities by showing exactly how others implement a variety of different strategies for doing more with less.

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