Each Earth Day has a different theme. Last it was “Climate Action,” and before that, “Protect Our Species,” in 2019. Earth Day 2021’s theme is “Restore Our Earth.” Each year people around the globe spend a day focusing on the chosen theme and acknowledging the day through events and activities designed to bring awareness and address environmental issues.
Did you know…Earth Day has been celebrated on April 22nd every year since 1970, when a junior Senator from Wisconsin proposed the idea in the wake of the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill. While Earth Day was originally designed to engage college students—in fact, the date was chosen because it fell halfway through spring break and final exams—the event became much bigger.
Earth Day 2021
Per the Earth Day Network, the organizing body that chooses the annual theme, “Restore Our Earth focuses on natural processes and emerging green technologies that can restore the world’s ecosystems.” The theme, which was announced last May, has a connection to the COVID-19 pandemic; Earth Day Network points out that the virus originally spread through wildlife-to-human contact, and that deforestation is creating conditions for more of these potentially dangerous interactions to happen.
This year, the new administration is tying its environmental actions to Earth Day. President Biden plans to host a Leaders’ Climate Summit on April 22. The summit is expected to include leaders of nations that are responsible for the most carbon emissions, as well as leaders of some of the countries that are suffering the greatest effects of climate change. Administration officials also say that they plan to announce a new U.S. target for emissions reductions during the summit.
This Earth Day is also the fifth anniversary of the signing ceremony of the Paris Agreement, when more than 165 countries agreed to work toward limiting global climate change.
Earth Day 2021: Actions to Take
Individuals and businesses can observe Earth Day 2021 in any number of ways. The celebration falls on a Thursday this year, so some business owners may decide to incorporate Earth Day events into the workday. Let onsite staff participate in a group event, such as planting trees or picking up trash along popular walking paths. Consider letting remote workers clock out early if they commit to using that extra time for Earth Day activities. Keep an eye on the “Find an Event” page on EarthDay.org to see if organized public events are happening near you.
Not every business can afford to stop everything for Earth Day celebrations. Here are some small ways you can do your part, 365 days a year.
- Whenever you have the choice, opt for paper over plastic. Whether at the grocery store, takeout counter or coffee shop. Minimizing these hard-to-recycle, single use items keeps them out of landfills.
- Set achievable sustainability goals that involve your entire team. For example, challenge onsite employees to help you cut your energy usage by a certain percentage, or to increase your recycling output by a certain amount. Offer a perk if the goal is met.
- Commit to buying more recycled goods. Supporting recycling efforts is one of the most effective ways your business can do its part for the environment. When possible, buy products that are made with recyclable materials. The more we all recycle the resources we already have, the fewer raw materials have to be pulled from the earth. Spread the word to anyone in your business who makes buying decisions.
- Challenge yourself to recycle more. Earth Day is the perfect time to revamp your business’s recycling processes. Even businesses that are already committed to recycling best practices can improve. Let’s make sure your business is recycling everything that it can recycle, and that you have a cost-effective system set up to make recycling the easiest option.
Miller Recycling will work with your business to create a recycling process that accommodates everyone in your organization. We understand that you’re busy, and that recycling needs to be easy and make sense financially if you’re going to make it a priority. We pay competitively for recyclable materials of all kinds.
I’m always here to answer your questions about recycling and about Miller Recycling’s services. Contact me today!