Through the multiple languages of the arts, many ideas about sustainability can be explored with young children. This paper discusses the ethical issues involved in the implementation of a research study that uses artist Chris Jordan's confronting images about sustainability. Jordan's images typically depict tens of thousands of objects such as plastic cups, garbage and threatened species. The specific purpose of this paper is to explore the ethical tensions around presenting such images to children. Confounded by images of large numbers and confronted by traumatic images of dead birds, how might children access the enormity of the sustainability issues explored in Jordan's work? Researchers and educators have a responsibility to ensure children are not harmed through our work with them, so careful planning and ethical practices are essential. However, there are strong grounds for presenting such powerful images as educative tools and for generating useful conversations with children about mass consumption, pollution and unsustainable practices. Conclusions are drawn that the ethical challenges and risks in using Chris Jordan's images are worth taking in order to create new ways of discussing sustainability through the arts.