‘Footprint’ gives perspective to consumer lifestyle

National Geographic’s most recent film seeks to show Americans every product they’ll ever use encircling their home, the cradle-to-grave consumption of their life laid out before their eyes.

Human Footprint, which premieres April 13 on the National Geographic Channel at 9 p.m., follows the life of an average American boy and girl as they grow up and consume and discard products throughout their lifetime.

Clive Maltby, director of Human Footprint, said that rather than beat people over the head with cold statistics and scary images the film set about to create a visually entertaining way to convey the impact of serious issues.

That means everything from 43,371 cans of soda to 28,433 rubber ducks, each representing one shower, were counted out and displayed in unusual ways to give viewers an experience that would resonate on a personal level.

I think a lot of people feel overwhelmed by trying to live in an earth friendly way, said Elizabeth Vargas of ABC News. Mrs. Vargas anchored the film, which she said has had an effect on the way she lives her life.

Mrs. Vargas, the mother of a one-year-old, said a scene in the film showing a mountain of the nearly 4,000 diapers a child wears over about two and a half years stood out to her.

I’m very aware now when I’m wasting, what I’m wasting… And I’m trying not to, she said.

The film not only dissected the footprint of common products and resources, but also displayed the materials consumed in order to produce and deliver the products.

The purpose of the movie, Mrs. Vargas said, was not to cast aspersions but rather to make people think twice about what they consume.

You don’t think about what you consume until you see it in its aggregate and that’s sort of the drama of this whole thing, she said. [Americans] are the most wasteful people on the planet. … We’re setting an example that’s a tough and almost impossible one to follow.

Mr. Maltby said that many of the products used in the film were donated to organizations, and other were recycled.

Obviously by the nature of the film, we were conscious of our footprint and did our best to minimize it, he said.

Mrs. Vargas said that segments related to the Human Footprint project would be airing on 20/20 as well as other ABC programs.

I have two young children, Mrs. Vargas said. I want my children to enjoy this planet as much as I’ve enjoyed it.