No Impact Man

About the Project

Global Warming! The headlines scream it; the thermometer confirms it; but few of us do much to address it. Author Colin Beavan and his family are pictures of liberal complacency--sophisticated, takeout-addicted New Yorkers who refuse to let moral qualms interfere with good old-fashioned American consumerism. Then Colin turns things upside down. For his next book, he announces he's becoming No Impact Man, testing whether making zero environmental impact adversely affects happiness. The hitch is he needs his wife, Michelle--an espresso-guzzling, Prada-worshipping Business Week writer--and their toddler to join the experiment. A year without electricity, cars, toilet paper, and nonlocal food isn't going to be a walk in the park. Or is it? As Michelle contends with caffeine and shopping withdrawal, compost worms, and defending her dreams in the face of Colin's household hegemony, she's gradually transformed by this life-without-wastefulness. Meanwhile, Colin's numerous media appearances unleash a viral rash of criticism among bloggers and friends, raising doubts about the project's integrity. Is it ostentatious or altruistic? Hypocritical or visionary? Whatever the conclusion, no one can deny we're going to have to alter our habits radically to achieve sustainability. Through the intimate prism of conflict within a contemporary marriage, No Impact Man the Documentary suggests that individual change can be the first step in a quantum leap toward a systemic, societal shift. And the temporary discomfort just might be worth it.

Colin's experiment in lifestyle redesign is the subject of his book, No Impact Man, and he also maintains the provocative environmental blog www.noimpactman.com.

The entire No Impact Project - including the audience engagement for the film, the book and the blog - is an exciting addition to the existing environmental movement. Colin uses the lessons from his experiment and its aftermath to encourage a more sustainable lifestyle. The audience engagement consists of encouraging citizens around the country to make small and large lifestyle changes and to participate as engaged citizens in their communities.

The Fledgling Fund Impact

The Fledgling Fund is pleased to support the No Impact Project and its use of creative media - a documentary film, blog and book - to engage new and existing audiences in the movement to create a healthier, happier and more sustainable planet. We believe this project is infusing new ideas and energy into the movement and has begun a new dialogue across traditional boundaries - political affiliation, geographic, age and income level - about solutions that we can all live with.