Netflix helps save the planet

One topic which we Impatient Sufferers find ourselves talking about frequently is media distribution. While the DVD format has provided us with a better quality and more features than any previous means of distribution, we think that it is time to move on.

The DVD is in many ways a perfectly awful format and it’s problems won’t be solved by switching to Blueray disks. The environmental impact of plastic DVDs is devastating.

The chemical used in jewel cases, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), is especially damaging to the environment. It often contains a variety of additives, including lead, making it is the least recyclable, and least recycled, of the major plastics. The EPA estimates that less than one percent of post-consumer PVC is recovered or reprocessed. That means the remaining 99% either ends up in landfills or is incinerated, a process that releases damaging dioxins into the air.…

Every $100,000 spent on commercial software reproduction creates the global warming potential of approximately 29 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents as well as 38 kilograms of toxic waste. This estimate does not include related materials such as printed manuals, nor does it include the impact of shipping, etc. required for distribution. There is no reason to assume that in-house software reproduction would have a lower environmental impact, and in fact, would likely be higher due to less efficiency in shipping, batch processing, etc.

Each year 5.5 million jewel cases hit our nation’s landfills. The CD and the DVD account for 100,000 pounds of waste in the US. Still, we have yet to see a move towards a usable digital distrobution system that is affordable. Apple TV will rent you movies for more money than they cost in stores and Netflix has Watch Now which allows you to play movies from a PC (not a Mac however and not on your TV).

The lack of a combination of a usable device and a quality affordable service led to a long fight between HD DVD and Blueray discs. The Blueray format eventually won, but the victory ought to be short lived. Digital downloads offer advantages beyond the lesser environmental impact. They are fast. Instead of driving to a store or waiting for a DVD to be mailed, you simply turn on your TV and pick the film you want to watch. The film will begin downloading and with many technologies can be watchable almost instantly.

Digital downloads also don’t take up physical space. In fact, with some services it isn’t even necessary to have a digital copy stored on a hard drive as the film simply streams to the playback device.  The lack of a physical product and the need to physically distribute the films also means that movies can be sold for a lower price without cutting into profits.

Hacking Netflix just brought us word that Netflix is likely close to bringing its Watch Now service to a new device, the Xbox 360. With almost 20 million 360’s in the market, it’s powerful video processor, it’s internet connection it is the perfect device for a service like Watch Now. With a subscription based movie service with no limit on the number of films you can watch in a month tied to it, the 360 would instantly become the center of many living rooms.

While we Impatient Sufferers enjoy one of the 9,000+ titles now available through Watch Now, the planet will enjoy the decrease in pollution.