Environmental film festivals in local communities are few and far between. They tend to pop up around Earth Day, and if you have prior engagements, you miss out on the action—the opportunity to engage in deep, meaningful conversations with fellow community members and learn about critical topics in sustainability and climate change.
But the good news? You don’t have to miss out entirely. The conversation doesn’t have to end with the festival. Extend Earth Day, Earth Week, Earth Month and bring the environmental film fest to your living room. Below are five SUS-nominated must-see documentaries you can stream from home. Invite your friends and family, pop some popcorn (preferably in a reusable silicone bag), and get ready to be informed and inspired.
THE STORY OF PLASTIC (2019)
Available on: Discovery+, Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video*
This eye-opening documentary takes a deep dive into the global plastic pollution crisis. Rather than simply focusing on plastic as a consumer issue, The Story of Plastic pulls back the curtain on the entire lifecycle of plastic—its extraction, production, and the companies behind it. It challenges viewers to rethink the systems driving the pollution problem and asks us to push for accountability and systemic change.
KISS THE GROUND (2020)
Available on: Netflix, Vimeo, Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video*
Narrated by Woody Harrelson, Kiss the Ground dives into the power of regenerative agriculture and the incredible potential of soil health to reverse climate change. It introduces viewers to farmers, scientists, and activists working together to rebuild our relationship with the earth—starting right under our feet. With a focus on hope and practical action, this film reframes the climate crisis as not just a carbon problem, but a soil solution.
2040 (2019)
Available on: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play
Australian filmmaker Damon Gameau travels the world in this hopeful and solutions-focused documentary. He asks the question: What would the world look like in the year 2040 if we embraced the best climate solutions available today? From regenerative agriculture to renewable energy to rethinking education, 2040 is a powerful antidote to climate anxiety, offering optimism rooted in real possibility.
SIX INCHES OF SOIL (2024)
Available on: Six Inches of Soil Website*
This brand-new British documentary follows the journeys of three young regenerative farmers as they take on the challenge of transforming the UK’s food system. Six Inches of Soil digs deep (pun intended) into how sustainable farming practices can restore biodiversity, rebuild communities, and offer real, scalable solutions to the climate crisis. It’s both an urgent call to action and an inspiring story of hope, land stewardship, and grassroots change.
MY OCTOPUS TEACHER (2020)
Available on: Netflix*
This Academy Award-winning documentary follows filmmaker Craig Foster as he forges an unlikely bond with an octopus in a South African kelp forest. Beautifully shot and emotionally resonant, My Octopus Teacher is a love letter to the natural world and a reminder of how much we still have to learn from ecosystems we often overlook. It’s a quiet but powerful meditation on connection, conservation, and coexistence.
At SUS, we believe that sustainability is a conversation that belongs everywhere—on city streets, in classrooms, and yes, even in your living room. Our mission to reduce waste through recycled materials and initiatives, like the Reborn Initiative, are rooted in the same values these documentaries highlight—rethinking systems, valuing community, and honoring our planet. Whether you're donating an old backpack, buying upcycled gear through SUS’s Reality Collection, or simply watching a film that challenges the status quo, you’re joining a movement of people choosing progress over passivity.
So grab that reusable popcorn bowl, pick a film, and make this Earth Month every day count— starting from the comfort of your couch.
*Available streaming services subject to change.
