Earth Day: An Opportunity to Help the Planet and Your Organization
April 18, 2024
Every April 22nd since 1970 we have come together as individuals and organizations to celebrate Earth Day and acknowledge our shared responsibility for the quality of our environment.
The first Earth Day helped usher in the modern environmental movement and the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the National Environmental Education Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Clean Air Act, and the Clean Water Act.
This year’s Earth Day theme is “Planet vs. Plastics,” with an ambitious goal of a 60 percent reduction in plastic production by 2040 through:
- Raising public awareness of plastic’s harm to human health and biodiversity
- Proposing the phasing out of single-use plastics by 2030
- Fighting the use of synthetic fashion materials that use plastics, such as polyester and nylon
- Calling for finding sustainable alternatives to plastics, which are made from oil and toxic chemicals
U.S. organizations and businesses do their part for a healthier planet through what’s called “environmental stewardship.”
Reducing hazardous and other waste materials, conserving energy and water, practicing sensitive land management, and combating pollution are some of the ways in which organizations practice environmental stewardship.
Here are some things that organizations can do to celebrate Earth Day and as good stewards of the environment:
- Support environmentally friendly commuting options such as carpooling, biking, and public transportation
- Sponsor a Community Clean-up Event at a local park, beach, etc.
- Plant trees and native species around their facility
- Maintain an energy-efficient workplace
Concern for the environment is not only ethical in the larger sense, it’s good for business. From having a positive impact on the bottom line to improving public perception of the organization as a responsible and caring one, practicing environmental stewardship is a win for everyone.