Eco-esti
Eco-Esti is your go-to destination for insightful reviews on the latest climate change books, documentaries, and the best plant-based dining experiences. Join me as we explore sustainable living, eco-conscious media, and plant-based gastronomy - all with a passion for protecting our planet.
Documentary Review: The True Cost (2015)
A decade after its release, "The True Cost" (2015) remains an essential watch for anyone committed to sustainability and ethical living. Directed by Andrew Morgan, the documentary exposes the devastating environmental and human costs of the fast fashion industry, a system build on exploitation, overconsumption and environmental destruction.
Documentary Review: Before the Flood (2016)
Nearly a decade has passed since the release of Before the Flood (2016), the powerful documentary directed by Fisher Stevens and fronted by environmental advocate and actor Leonardo DiCaprio. In many ways the film remains a hauntingly relevant call to action - a mirror held up to humanity, reflecting the environmental crossroads we faced then and still face today. watching it now in 2025 feels like revisiting a warning siren that blared loud and clear, yet was only partially heeded.
Review: Ocean (2025)
Watching "Ocean" (2025), the latest documentary from Sir David Attenborough, feels like bearing witness to a planetary emergency. With haunting underwater footage, the film reveals the brutal reality of bottom trawling—industrial fishing vessels dragging weighted nets across the seafloor, reducing centuries-old coral forests to deserts of broken skeletons. If you haven't watched it yet, it's time...
Documentary Review: Eating our Way to Extinction (2021)
This documentary does not mess around. Released in 2021 and narrated by Kate Winslet, it's the film that says what other food documentaries only hint at: our current food system isn't just unsustainable, it's actively destroying the planet.
Unlike feel-good food docs that focus on individual choices, this one goes straight for industrial agriculture's role in climate breakdown, deforestation, and mass extinction. Four years later, watching it feels like reading a news report that's aging way too well.
Documentary Review: Breaking Boundaries - The Science of our Planet (2021)
I finally got around to watching "Breaking Boundaries: The Science of Our Planet" on Netflix, and honestly, I wish I'd seen it sooner. Released in 2021 and narrated by David Attenborough (because of course it is), this documentary does something most climate films don't: it actually explains what "planetary boundaries" are and why crossing them should terrify us more than it apparently does.
The Poore & Nemecek Study: Food's Environmental Impact
I keep seeing this study mentioned everywhere.The "Joseph Poore study" has become shorthand for "science proves meat is bad for the environment," but I realised I'd never actually read what the researchers found. So I dove in, and wow - it's both more nuanced and more comprehensive than what the general consensus suggests.
Documentary Review: What the Health (2017)
When "What the Health" dropped in 2017, it sent shockwaves through Netflix queues and dinner table conversations alike. The documentary, produced by Kip Andersen and Keegan Kuhn (the team behind "Cowspiracy"), made bold claims about the links between animal products and chronic disease while questioning why major health organisations weren't sounding louder alarms.
Documentary Review: The Game Changers (2018)
If you haven't watched "The Game Changers" yet, this Netflix documentary might just change how you think about food, performance, and environmental impact. Following elite athletes who've adopted plant-based diets, the film makes a compelling case that what's good for our bodies is also good for our planet.
Documentary Review: Forks over Knives (2011)
Forks over Knives is a documentary that advocates for a whole-food, plant-based diet, primarily from a health perspective. It follows the work of Dr. T. Colin Campbell and Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, who argue that many chronic diseases - including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and come cancers - can be prevented or even reversed through a low-fat, plant-based diet.
Documentary Review: Our Planet (2019)
Our Planet narrated by David Attenborough, was a major shift in nature documentaries. Unlike previous series, it directly connected the beauty of the natural world to the reality of climate change and human impact. It showed not just wildlife, but how rising temperatures, deforestation, and overfishing are disrupting ecosystems.
Documentary Review: An Inconvenient Truth (2006) (A Prophecy)
When An Inconvenient Truth premiered in 2006, it did something that no other climate documentary had done before - it turned a PowerPoint presentation into a cultural phenomenon. Directed by Davis Guggenheim and centred around former U.S. Vice President Al Gore's climate advocacy, the film was a sobering, scientifically grounded call to action. Nearly 20 years later, its warning feel less like speculation and more like prophecy.
Hong Kong Vegetarian Food Expo 2025
The Hong Kong Vegetarian Expo once again brought together an incredible mix of plant-based innovation, cultural flavours, and eco-conscious living. We scoped out the place for the best vegan dishes and products on offer.
Review: Cowspiracy (2014) and Climate Today
Climate change is the defining challenge of our time, and addressing it requires a critical understanding of its key drivers. While fossil fuels, energy consumption, and industrial activities dominate the headlines, the role of food systems—particularly animal agriculture—often receives less attention.
Review: Orbital
Samantha Harvey’s Orbital the 2024 Booker Prize winner, offers a unique lens through which to examine our planet's fragility and the pressing issues of climate change.
Set aboard the International Space Station (ISS), the novel follows six astronauts as they complete 16 orbits around Earth, each lasting 90 minutes. This setting serves as a powerful backdrop for exploring themes of isolation, perspective, and the human impact on the environment.
Documentary Review: Seaspiracy (2021)
In 2021, the Netflix documentary Seaspiracy made waves - both literal and metaphorical - by exposing the dark underbelly of the global fishing industry. Directed by Ali Tabrizi, the film ignited passionate debates, garnered international attention, and forced many to rethink their relationship with seafood. Now, four years later, with climate change accelerating and ocean health more precious than ever, Seaspiracy feels less like a sensational expose and more like a chilling prophecy ignored.
Playground - A Reflection on Climate Change
In Playground, Richard Powers crafts a poignant and timely narrative that subtly but powerfully addresses the pressing issue of climate change. While not a traditional climate change treatise, the book weaves environmental concerns into the storyline, making the consequences of a warming planet feel deeply personal and immediate.
Movie Review: Wicked
When I sat down to watch Wicked, I expected dazzling visuals, catchy songs, and a twist on the classic Wizard of Oz. What I didn't expect was a surprisingly powerful message about animal rights, systemic injustice, and the importance of speaking up for those who can't.
Review: The Language of Climate Politics by Genevieve Guenther
Genevieve Guenther's book "The Language of Climate Politics" delves into the intricate relationship between language and climate discourse. As the founding director of End Climate Silence and an expert in climate communication, Guenther brings a wealth of knowledge and insight to the table, making her work a significant contribution to the ongoing conversation about climate change and policy.
The Four Ws of Food Insecurity: A Climate Lens on a Global Crisis
In episode 249 of the J.P. Morgan Making Sense Podcast - titled "The Four Ws Driving Food Insecurity: War, Weather, Waste and Water the complex and devastating drivers of food insecurity are explored.
The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green
The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green is a poignant exploration of the human experience in the context of the Anthropocene, a term that denotes the current geological epoch characterised by significant human impact on the Earth. This book which is a collection of essays adapted from his popular podcast, offers a blend of humour, personal reflection and sobering insights into the state of our planet. I've tried to pick out and look for anything particular to climate change.