What Open Planet does

Open Planet is a UK-registered Community Interest Company (non-profit social enterprise) founded in 2023 and launched globally in 2024, operating a free digital media library of environmental and climate footage at openplanet-library.org. Its core product is the Open Planet Library, which hosts more than 12,000 rights-cleared clips spanning ocean, biodiversity, land restoration, urban resilience, and climate-and-health themes, alongside curated themed collections and EarthTime data visualisations sourced from Carnegie Mellon University's CREATE Lab. The library is freely accessible for educational, environmental, and impact storytelling, with content contributed by award-winning filmmakers through its co-founding partnership with Studio Silverback (part of All3Media).

The platform is built on Veritone's media management technology, supporting browse, search, and download of video, image, and structured-data assets. Open Planet extends beyond the library through an affiliated production arm, Open Planet Studios, which co-produces films for institutional partners. Distribution is amplified by a partner network including Wellcome, UNDP, UNEP, the UN SDG Media Compact, the World Economic Forum, National Geographic Society, and regional impact partners in Kenya, India, South Africa, Brazil, and Malaysia. The platform reports 1,300+ active storytellers across 107 countries, with single-campaign reach figures as high as 400 million people (Planet India, JioCinema) and engagement with 12,000+ decision makers at events such as COP28 and the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting.

Revenue is generated through a mix of philanthropic donations (processed via Stripe), grant and partnership funding (e.g., Wellcome), and commercial clip licensing handled by All3Media Clip Sales Limited. The entity is led by Co-Founder and Director Colin Butfield (also Director of Ocean with David Attenborough), with Emily Renshaw-Smith as Executive Director of Operations, Kate Goldman-Toomey as Executive Director of Partnerships, and a Global Advisory Board anchored by climate and policy leaders including Prof. Tim Lenton (University of Exeter) and Prof. Dr. Jemilah Mahmood (Sunway Centre for Planetary Health). The organisation is recognised with the 2024 MIP SDG Innovation Award and is structured to scale impact rather than maximise profit distribution.

Name

Open Planet

Legal name

Open Planet Community Interest Company

Website

https://openplanet.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Open Planet is a UK non-profit operating a free global digital library of over 12,000 environmental and climate footage clips, plus EarthTime data visualisations, serving educators, filmmakers, NGOs, and storytellers across 107 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Media Library

NAICS

Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512), Motion Picture and Video Industries (5121), Software Publishers (5132)

SIC

Miscellaneous Publishing (2741), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822)

akta.pro primary industry

Open Multimedia OER (video, audio, podcasts, animations) (EDAGAJAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

OER Authoring, Remixing & Publishing Tools/Platforms (EDAGAJAM), Open Accessibility & Inclusive OER (UDL, alt formats) (EDAGAJAJ)

Keywords

• Environmental footage library
• Climate storytelling resources
• Nature documentary content
• Impact media assets
• Planetary data visualization

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Free Library Access: The core library is free for educational, environmental and impact storytelling use. This is the primary value proposition and community engagement model.
2. Donations: Open Planet accepts financial donations to support its mission of keeping the library free and accessible. Donations are processed through Stripe and are treated as irrevocable gifts with a 14-day refund window.
3. Commercial Clip Sales: Separate commercial licensing of footage for paid productions, advertisements, and commercial exploitation. Contact via [email protected] for commercial use licensing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Open Planet operates a free, open-source digital library of world-class environmental footage (over 12,000 clips) covering climate, nature, biodiversity, ocean, and land issues. The library combines cinematic footage from award-winning filmmakers (Silverback Films, Studio Silverback) with EarthTime data visualizations from Carnegie Mellon University's CREATE Lab, freely available to educators, NGOs, content creators, and changemakers for non-commercial educational and impact storytelling. A separate commercial clip licensing stream is offered for paid productions and advertising use.

Product overview

Open Planet is a digital media platform built around the Open Planet Library as its core product, offering free access to world-class environmental footage for educational and impact storytelling. The platform operates as a unified library with multiple curated content collections organized by theme (Ocean Recovery, Land Restoration, Biodiversity, Climate Health, etc.) and geographic focus (South Africa, Kenya, India, Amazon). Key components include the Open Planet Library for searching and downloading assets, thematic collections featuring curated footage, and EarthTime data visualizations providing interactive climate and population data storytelling. The platform was created by Studio Silverback in partnership with Carnegie Mellon University's CREATE Lab and is operated by All3Media Clip Sales Limited on behalf of Open Planet Community Interest Company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Open Planet Library A global digital media library providing world-class footage of environmental issues and solutions (over 12,000 clips), freely accessible for educational, environmental, and impact storytelling purposes. Users can sign up to browse, search, and download footage via the openplanet-library.org platform.
• Commercial Clip Sales Separate commercial licensing of Open Planet footage for paid productions, advertisements, and commercial exploitation. Available via [email protected] for production companies, broadcasters, and advertisers needing premium environmental footage for commercial use.
• Storytelling for Ocean Recovery Collection

Quantifiable outcome

• Reached 10 million+ people through Wellcome partnership content
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

29 partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• World's Largest LessoncoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 February 2026Educational partnership creating 'Wild Futures for Storytelling' classroom resources for students aged 8-14. Launched as virtual live lesson reaching nearly 3,000 students across 31 countries.
• Silverback FilmsflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2025World-class cinematographers who contributed footage from Ocean with David Attenborough. Open Planet Studios and Silverback Films captured exclusive footage during filming of the landmark feature film.
• National Geographic SocietyflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2025Coordinating free non-commercial screenings of Ocean with David Attenborough globally through their Pristine Seas program.
• Revive Our OceanflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2025Co-producer of Ocean with David Attenborough and partner coordinating global screenings initiative.
• Protect Our Future (1851 Trust)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 February 2025Climate education programme partnership delivering the 'Use Your Voice' competition for young people. Winner Lenzie Academy received £1,000 prize for school apiary project.
• United Nations SDG Media CompactflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2024Open Planet joined the UN SDG Media Compact - a global alliance of 400+ media and entertainment companies committed to accelerating action on the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.
• Studio SilverbackcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2023Award-winning filmmakers for impact, part of All3Media, who co-founded Open Planet. Studio Silverback produces content for the library and manages the Open Planet Studios production arm. Colin Butfield serves as Executive Director of Studio Silverback and Director of Open Planet.
• Carnegie Mellon University CREATE LabcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 September 2023Co-founder of Open Planet, creators of the EarthTime platform. The CREATE Lab produces data visualisations that combine huge data sets with satellite imagery to document changes to our planet over time.
• WellcomeflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2023Major funding partner supporting climate and health storytelling. Funded filming in Kenya, including Kibera, and supported the Climate and Health in Kenya collection. Partnership reached 10 million+ people.
• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on the Transforming our Land for the Future collection to support storytelling for change. Partnership supporting global biodiversity and land restoration communications.
• Global Advisory Board MemberscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThought leaders steering Open Planet's impact including Amanda Ellis (Arizona State University), Marie-Claire Graf (Youth Negotiators Academy), Brad Irwin (Project Everyone), Prof. Tim Lenton (University of Exeter), Prof. Dr. Jemilah Mahmood (Sunway Centre), and Emily Wanja (Doc Society).
• Crtve DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfrican production company commissioned to work with local crews in Kenya. Delivered #KiberaUnmuted film series and community film screening programme engaging 4,000+ community members.
• DocuboxcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImpact partner delivering climate and science-centric film screenings in Kenya, including at Kenya Science & Engineering Fair reaching 1,000 young innovators.
• PlucTVflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndia's leading creator economy platform co-created the Planet India campaign. The campaign reached 400 million people in its first two weeks with content on India's leading streaming platform JioCinema.
• Earthshot PrizeflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerContent partnership showcasing Earthshot Prize innovators' pioneering solutions across nature, air, oceans, waste and climate themes. Films produced by Open Planet Studios.
• The ONE CampaigncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerImpact partner sharing stories of local communities, including Kibera climate and health story, reaching audiences globally.
• World Economic ForumflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent partnership at WEF Annual Meeting 2024 in Davos where Open Planet footage provided scene setting for high-profile climate and nature sessions.
• Environmental Justice FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerUsed Open Planet footage to illuminate struggles of fishing communities in Liberian waters at International Conference on Fishing Communities.
• Built By NaturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDocumentary exploring sustainable timber innovation, narrated by Kevin McCloud, featuring Open Planet footage. Premiered ahead of COP30.
• Nature Positive InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production of 'Becoming Nature Positive' documentary featuring Open Planet Studios and top voices in science and conservation.
• Planetary GuardiansflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported launch of first ever Planetary Health Check report at New York Climate Week 2024 with Open Planet footage.
• ICLEI AfricacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with University of KwaZulu Natal helping community members in Durban informal settlements cope with flood trauma and build climate resilience.
• University of ExeterflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCurated the Global Tipping Points collection in partnership with University of Exeter's Global Systems Institute. Prof. Tim Lenton leads the research.
• See Through StoriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production with Capacity Foundation of THE CHIEFS documentary showcasing Indigenous leadership in Brazilian Amazon. Premiered at COP30.
• PIK Potsdam InstitutecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerUsed Open Planet footage to illustrate escalating risks of climate tipping points in video drawing on Global Tipping Points Report 2025.
• UN Environment Programme (UNEP)flagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerUNEP used Open Planet footage for adaptation gap report and calls for urgent action on adaptation funding.
• Wildlife Conservation SocietycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerUsed Open Planet footage for announcement of increasing wild tiger populations ahead of Bhutan Tiger Summit 2024.
• UNDP (Tiger Conservation)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerUNDP used Silverback Films footage from Open Planet for International Tiger Day 2024 film.
• Taskforce on Nature-related Financial DisclosuresflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerCreated opening film for TNFD event at New York Stock Exchange using Open Planet footage, reaching financial sector leaders.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Emerging players

• Pexels: Pexels is a large free stock photo and video library with significant nature and environmental footage under permissive licences. It overlaps with Open Planet's free, rights-cleared model but lacks curated climate storytelling collections and EarthTime data visualisations.
• Coverr: Coverr provides free stock video for creators, overlapping with Open Planet's free footage model, though without the curated environmental focus, data visualisations, or institutional partnerships that anchor Open Planet.
• Pixabay: Pixabay offers free stock photos, videos, and audio including nature and climate footage. Comparable to Open Planet's free library model for non-commercial use, but with broader creative content beyond environmental focus.
• Videvo: Videvo provides free and paid stock video footage including nature categories. Comparable to Open Planet's free-for-non-commercial footage distribution but lacking mission-specific curation and data-driven storytelling features.

Broad incumbents

• Storyful: Storyful is a social media content licensing and verification company serving news organisations, comparable to Open Planet's role as a curated source of credible, rights-cleased environmental footage for institutional storytellers.
• Getty Images: Getty Images is the world's largest commercial stock footage and imagery library, including a substantial environmental and nature collection. It competes with Open Planet's commercial clip sales for paid productions while lacking Open Planet's free tier and EarthTime data integration.
• Shutterstock: Shutterstock is a leading global stock footage platform serving advertising, media, and education customers with broad environmental content, comparable to Open Planet's commercial licensing and educational use cases but at much larger scale.

Others

• Internet Archive: The Internet Archive hosts a vast open-access video collection including nature and environmental content. It shares the open-access ethos with Open Planet but operates as a generalist archive without curated climate storytelling collections or commercial licensing.
• EarthTime / CMU CREATE Lab: EarthTime is Carnegie Mellon University's data visualisation platform for planetary change and a co-founding technology partner of Open Planet. It is directly comparable as the integrated data storytelling layer powering Open Planet's unique technical moat.

Direct peers

• Climate Visuals: Climate Visuals is a free, evidence-based library of climate change imagery licensed for non-commercial use, directly comparable to Open Planet's free environmental footage model for storytelling and education.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@OpenPlanetOrg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/open-planet
• Instagraminstagram.com/openplanetorg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Open Planet