How you can celebrate and make a difference
Are you feeling excited by the arrival of spring and the glorious display of nature in the Northern Hemisphere? Chances tend towards yes, and along with Easter, Passover, Eid al-Fitr, and numerous other celebrations, International Earth Day takes place on April 22, 2024. In 1990, Denis Hayes, originating the first 1970 Earth Day U.S., took the event internationally and organized it similarly in 141 nations. The movement gained momentum in 2016 when many of the countries involved signed the landmark Paris Agreement, enacting climate protection. Around the world, communities began to engage in Earth Day Week actions, tackling environmental issues. On Earth Day 2020, over 100 million people observed the 50th anniversary, now called the most extensive online mass mobilization in history. This year, the United Nations marks the second Mother Earth Day, emphasizing the urgent need for a shift to a sustainable economy aligned with the U.N. 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. How can you help? Read on!
Earthday.org leads the way with a focused theme
While The Nature Conservancy and ecochallenge.org offer fantastic Earth Day and even Earth Month ideas to take action, the advice can seem overwhelming. In recent years, EARTHDAY.ORG developed a theme to spread an attainable goal for Earth Day events. The theme for 2024, Planet vs. Plastics, commits to ending plastics for the sake of planetary and human health. Earthday.org aims for a 60% reduction in all plastics production by 2040. While the EU has made strides in banning single-use plastics, small ways exist you can participate and make better choices every day.
Spring cleaning means rethinking products and fashion
UK-based @BambuuBrush, a Certified B Corporation, is offering one option by making a real impact in the battle against plastic. They recognized that by replacing traditional plastic toothbrushes with sustainable bamboo versions, they could help change the world. You can join, too, since the toothbrush symbolizes a daily activity that could inspire more eco-conscious decisions. @BambuuBrush prevented over 60,000 kilos (132,000+ pounds) of plastic toothbrushes. Sales fundImpact Projects, from cleanups to education worldwide. Partnerships include Virgin Atlantic for the first bamboo toothbrush in the skies and with British-based Lush to stop plastic in sustainable hair products.
With another UK-based initiative in London, retailers in trendy Covent Garden participate in “Shop for Good” Earth Day events, promoting conscious shopping and sustainable zero-waste dining. Nearby, designer Stella McCartney recently launched a campaign featuring model Cara Delevigne holding only a Falabella bag, shot at a Veolia recycling plant in South London. Stella posted, “Our iconic #Falabella bag’s #vegan body is made using recycled materials, lined with ocean plastics, and its chain is made from recycled brass and recyclable aluminum.” Another sustainably minded Madrid-based fashion brand, Ecoalf, makes the mark by working with fishermen to upcycle found plastics.
In addition to toothbrushes and conscious fashion, look straight to your closet and consider German MAWA’s New Eco Collection Hangers rather than plastic ones. MAWA gets committed to the planet on many levels. GUPPYFRIEND is a unique laundry washing bag that prevents synthetic apparel microplastics from entering water supplies. Large-capacity GUPPYFRIEND bags also help keep your fashions in circulation longer.
Companies can also show responsibly. In line with the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act, the CDP recognized Symrise for Environmental Transparency and awarded an “A” ranking. Symrise aims to procure 100% of its strategic biological raw materials from entirely sustainable sources by 2025. Join the global movement to restore our world. Comment below on how you plan to participate in Earth Day 2024!
