Native to Earth: Our Sustainability Top 10

Here at Native to Earth, we do things differently to most media companies. In fact, we always have! Our founder started this company with the proviso that it could run sustainably and positively contribute to solutions to some of the Earth’s greatest challenges.

Claiming that we’re sustainable isn’t enough in our eyes, and we know that lots of companies out there claim to be ‘green’, ‘clean’ and ‘sustainable’ with very little to justify exactly how. At Native to Earth, we are committed to being sustainable, as a company, and as individuals. We exist to protect and restore, not to leave a trail! We’re only in our first year as a company, so we’re not quite ready for any official certifications, but here are 10 things we’re doing to be as sustainable as we can:

1) We’re working to produce wildlife conservation documentaries that engage audiences with the challenges of the biodiversity crisis, how and by whom these are being addressed, and we want to empower our audiences to contribute to specific solutions unique to the issues in everything we produce.

2) We are  raising money alongside every project we’re working on to support specific wildlife conservation projects that we collaborate with, and we’re following their progress to be able to share the amazing impact that this fundraising is having.

 3) We donate footage that we capture of wildlife conservation project teams for them to enhance their social media presence, attract more funding, and grow their conservation projects.

4) We contract and collaborate with creative professionals for the production of our documentaries within the country in question, reducing the number of people we fly across the world, minimising our carbon footprint, and supporting the eco-industries and the local economy.

 5) We request legal and courtesy permissions to film in all natural areas and indigenous communities, taking care not to negatively impact anyone or anything. To paraphrase the Borucan philosophy, we can admire the fruit without trampling the tree’s roots.

 6) We don’t have a central HQ and we complete most of our work remotely so that we don’t travel unnecessarily for in-person meetings. The only time we meet in-person is to film as a team!

 7) We travel responsibly, packing lightly with the lightest equipment we can use, packing cosmetics that are completely natural and leaving anything harmful to the environment at home, including single-use plastics. 

 8) We do not accept donations or sponsorship of any kind from companies or foundations that do not prioritise their environmental impact and corporate social responsibility. We only accept financial support from entities whose ethics align with ours - to be as sustainable as possible.

 9) We actively support businesses, organisations, charities, and individuals that promote climate action, wildlife conservation and lifestyle change to reduce our environmental impact. 

 10) We avoid printing promotional materials at all costs, but if we do need business cards or leaflets, we print them using vegan inks on plantable or recycled paper. Every one of our business cards equals less paper in landfill or wildflowers for the bees! 

You can also read our Sustainability Pledge here: https://nativeto.earth/index.php/en/about/sustainability-pledge

Article written by Native to Earth Founder, Jordanne Wood

Facts and statistics were correct on the publication date.

Sources available upon request.