Netflix is an American streaming service that offers a wide variety of films, series and documentaries on internet-connected devices. It works on a subscription basis e.g. a standard monthly plan is £10.99 in the UK and $15.49 in the US.
Using data from Impaakt, Netflix’s impact score rests at 0.13 i.e. on the cusp of being negative. Let’s look into how Netflix is or isn’t contributing to a sustainable future.
The website indicates climate goals such as cutting emissions “in half by 2030 according to [their] validated science-based target,” but it’s unclear what this validation entails…
Streaming one hour of Netflix emits around the same amount of CO2 as charging 12 smartphones, according to the environmental blog Brightly.
As of 2022, Netflix is continually investing in carbon capture as part of its net zero plan, yet a report by Clean Energy Wire claims it’s far from climate neutral. The main cause of its vast carbon footprint is the production of its own media, which has dramatically increased in recent years. For example, Netflix recorded an almost 50% increase in CO2 in 2021, mainly due to a jump in post-pandemic film production.
In comparison with competitors, Netflix’s impact is better than Apple’s, a company which has recently been called out for its greenwashing by European think tanks such as Carbon Market Watch, who implied that Apple lacked climate action plans with “reasonable integrity.” However this isn’t directly related to Apple TV, of which the latest 4K product is made with recycled metals and fiber-based packaging.
Disney Plus is also “greening production” through waste reduction and alternative energy sources, so Netflix needs to step up its game if it wants to remain appealing to modern consumers.
Netflix can be commended for its curation of climate-related media, of which 165 million households worldwide chose to watch in order to better understand environmental issues (e.g. Down to Earth with Zac Efron, Don’t Look Up).
The company’s sustainability officer published a progress report in March 2023, detailing four main strategies they intend on using: Energy Efficiency, Electrifying Vehicles, Clean Mobile Power and Renewable Energy. They will also continue the idea of “making sustainability entertaining,” by adding green contributions/moments to more of their media.
Overall, Netflix requires more conscious effort towards SDG 13 on Climate Action, and we can only hope its net zero plans are rigorous enough to bring positive impact.
Author: Safeena Khan
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