Earth Day - Invest in Our Planet

Did you know Earth Day has happened every April since 1970 and yes we are in it now - it is a time to bring awareness to celebrating our planet and taking action to protect it. Both Earth Day and Earth Month have roots in the environmental movement of the 1970s and has grown into a worldwide campaign to raise awareness about environmental issues and encourage collective action across the world.?Sometimes though it has been utilized as a greenwashing tactic by companies large and small to make their product and work look more green then they actually are.

Earth Month originated from Earth Day, which was first celebrated on April 22, 1970. The brainchild of Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, Earth Day was envisioned as a "national teach-in on the environment," aiming to harness the energy of student anti-war protests to bring environmental concerns to the forefront of national discourse. The first Earth Day saw 20 million Americans, approximately 10% of the U.S. population at the time, participating in rallies, demonstrations, and educational programs across the country. This unprecedented mobilization marked the beginning of the modern environmental movement, leading to significant legislative action, including the establishment of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the passage of the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and Endangered Species Act.

Earth Day Facts

• Earth Day's original date, April 22, was selected to maximize participation on college campuses, as it purposefully fell between Spring Break and final exams.
• The Earth Day flag, created by peace activist John McConnell, features a photo of the Earth taken from space, symbolizing the need to care for our shared planet.

• Guess what else Earth Day? led to? The creation of famous story "The Lorax" by Dr. Seuss, a children's book that highlights the importance of environmental conservation (now also an animated film).?
• The first Earth Day in 1970 remains one of the largest single-day protests in human history, with an estimated 20 million Americans (10% of the U.S. population at the time) participating across the country.

Making an Impact as a Business

Earth Month is meant to serve as a reminder of our collective responsibility to protect our planet. It's a time when communities come together to clean up litter, plant trees, and engage in various activities aimed at reducing their carbon footprint and promoting sustainability. Schools and organizations host educational events and workshops, and businesses often launch initiatives to demonstrate their commitment to environmental responsibility, and sometimes companies share their commitments to sustainability responsibility and sometimes fall into the greenwashing trap. If you are interested to see what activation you can take on individually or perhaps as a team at your business download Earth Day’s Toolkit.?

As Earth Month continues, it's essential to remember that every action, no matter how small, contributes to the larger goal of preserving our planet for future generations. Whether it's reducing waste, conserving water, or supporting renewable energy, the choices we make can have a profound impact on the health of our environment.

Earth Day/Earth Month serve as reminders for businesses to reassess their environmental strategies and commitments (and if they dont have any - to get going on these). This day is not just about reflection; it's about strategic action. For businesses, the celebration of Earth Day provides a critical opportunity to conduct thorough environmental assessments, strategize for sustainable practices, and implement actionable changes that have real-world impacts (not just pretty Earth Day social media posts).

Businesses can leverage Earth Day to launch comprehensive environmental audits that identify key areas where they can reduce their ecological footprint, from energy consumption to waste management and supply chain processes. With these insights, companies are better positioned to develop robust sustainability strategies that align with global standards and consumer expectations for environmental responsibility.

In business lets make sure to transform environmental visions, ideas, into real commitments and then into tangible actions.

As a business ask yourself what will you contribute, genuinely, this Earth Month and Earth Day.