Later this year, Netflix will release The Witcher season 5, which will be the final season of the fantasy series. The show is one of Netflix's most expensive original series to produce. Season 4 was the most costly so far, with an estimated budget of $221 million, equivalent to around $27 million per episode.
For a show like The Witcher, utilising eco-friendly methods of production is a massive win, especially for Netflix in the streamer's ongoing quest to drastically cut Greenhouse Gas emissions, reducing its carbon footprint. As a company goal, Netflix plans to cut emissions 50% by 2030 — a challenge that demands streamlining of its biggest productions and the hiring of a dedicated sustainability officer. Some ways that Netflix has achieved reducing its carbon footprint includes hydrogen-power units for Bridgerton, mobile batteries on Virgin River, and solar battery systems on Stranger Things.
According to Netflix (per Variety), the production of The Witcher season 5 in Surrey, England saw reduced fuel usage in the U.K. by almost 90%. To put that into numbers, it works out to savings of 130,000 gallons of fuel. The production combined tried-and-tested methods that Netflix has used to reduce emissions on other shows, such as by a 100% renewable energy grid and hydrogen-battery powered generators.
How did The Witcher achieve such ultra-sustainability? Well, the production had its own dedicated sustainability adviser. “You don’t just snap your fingers and it happens,” said Netflix's sustainability officer Emma Stewart, who joined the company in 2020. "We’ve been chipping away at this over several years.”
“It’s fantastic to have Netflix right behind us,” The Witcher producer Mark Birmingham said in a statement. “I’m not just blowing smoke — I don’t know of another studio that’s embracing sustainable technology like they are.”
The sustainability methods utilized were certainly an educational experience, not least the hydrogen plant. “That took some education to let people know how safe and efficient it was,” Birmingham explained. “People hear ‘hydrogen’ and they think ‘bomb.’ It’s a very volatile substance. … Hydrogen fire is very difficult to put out.”
The Witcher is another showing of intent from Netflix to embrace and push forward a new era of sustainable productions. In fact, filming of Netflix's upcoming sci-fi drama The Boroughs, produced by Stranger Things creators Matt and Ross Duffer, is the latest show with a crowning sustainability achievement, becoming the cleanest Netflix production in U.S. history.
With Netflix's status as a streaming titan, if they push forward a new era of sustainable productions, other streamers will no doubt follow.
The Witcher season 5 is expected to arrive on the streamer in late 2026. It will be the final season of the fantasy show.
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