Originally founded in 1970 to raise awareness about environmental issues, Earth Day has evolved into a global celebration, often extending into Earth Week with seven days of green-focused events.
While every day offers an opportunity to care for our planet, April 22nd marks Earth Day—a time to demonstrate gratitude and adopt new habits if necessary. Here are five ideas to celebrate and contribute to Earth's well-being:
Opt for Eco-Friendly Transportation. Ride your bike or explore other transportation alternatives to reduce your carbon footprint.
Plant Trees. Planting trees not only cools the environment (trees can decrease a city’s temperature by up to 10 degrees) but also purifies the air and enhances oxygen levels, among other benefits.
Use Reusable Bags. Combat plastic waste by utilizing reusable bags. Americans consume an estimated 100 billion plastic bags annually, contributing to environmental harm.
Choose a Refillable Water Bottle. Swap out disposable plastic bottles for refillable ones. The production of plastic bottles consumes over 1.5 million barrels of oil annually and generates millions of tons of plastic waste that ultimately ends up in landfills each year.
Support Local Farmers' Markets. Purchase produce from local farmers' markets to not only support local businesses but also reduce carbon emissions associated with long-distance food transportation.
Discover Earth Day activities in your area by visiting www.earthday.org. From festivals and tree-planting events to parades and fashion shows, there are countless ways to engage and contribute to the Earth's preservation.
