Thursday, May 2, 2024
While many might recognize the terms “go green” or “eco-friendly,” Earth Day provides an important reminder that there are opportunities to put those phrases into action.
Every year, Earth Day is observed on April 22. The purpose of the event is to raise awareness about environmental concerns and encourage people to take part in more sustainable practices.
Although the first Earth Day did not take place until the 1970s, the seeds of the environmental movement started in the 1960s following the publication of Rachel Carson’s bestselling book “Silent Spring,” which highlighted the link between pollution and public health.
When former Wisconsin senator Gaylord Nelson launched the first Earth Day alongside activist Denis Hayes, the founder of the official EarthDay.Org, on April 22, 1970, around 20 million people from across the nation stepped out in support of more environmental regulations. This led to the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as well as the passing of several pieces of legislation to protect the environment, including the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act.
Now, the worldwide movement aims to inspire others to not only become more environmentally conscious, but also act on issues such as climate change, plastic pollution, extinction of species, among others.
This year’s Earth Day theme, Planet vs. Plastics, highlights the organization’s goal to reach a 60% reduction in the production of all plastics by 2024.
Plastics are not only harmful to plants and wildlife but have also been linked to health problems in humans. According to recent studies listed on EarthDay.Org, commonly used plastic products are known to carry toxic chemicals that can lead to serious health issues if ingested or inhaled, including cancer and birth defects.
“Plastic is not just an environmental issue, it is also a human health issue,” said Aidan Charron, director of EarthDay.Org’s End Plastic Initiatives. “It’s important to recognize it now. We don’t want it to end up becoming the next lead, or the next tobacco, and the next smoking of our generation. We want to stop production from ramping up and we want to protect people’s wellbeing as best as we can.”
While there are several ways to reduce environmental impacts, Charron offers a few practices individuals can start using to limit the use of plastics and live more sustainably:
Phase out single-use plastics
Charron recommends starting with a plastic audit of your home to see what kind of plastic you use on a daily basis. Phasing out plastics can start small, such as swapping to reusable water bottles, glass or stainless-steel food containers, or using reusable bags at the grocery store.
“Those tiny things do add up and they do help, and they also push the market in a certain direction,” Charron said.
Avoid fast fashion
According to the EPA, the fashion industry is one of the leading causes of carbon emissions – it is estimated that 14.5 million tons of textiles, mostly clothing, were landfilled in 2018. Clothes created from synthetic materials like polyester can also cause shedding of microplastics into the environment.
Charron explains that synthetic materials might not only contain dangerous chemicals, but they also tend to break down easier, leading to the need to purchase more clothing. Choose more sustainable fashion options, such as thrifting or purchasing clothes made of natural fabric, such as cotton, wool, and hemp fibers.
Reduce, reuse, and recycle
One of the best ways to limit waste and save money is by repurposing or reusing items such as clothing, furniture, or appliances. The EPA also recommends borrowing or sharing items like party decorations or tools or donating any unused food to food banks.
Push for local legislation
Local legislation that encourages bans on plastics will not only encourage a cleaner environment but can also save the community money due to keeping local streets and parks clean. According to new research published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society, endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in plastics pose a serious threat to public health and cost the U.S. an estimated $250 billion in increased health care costs in 2018.
“Reducing plastic overall, and calling for plastic bans where you can, is going to save everybody in the nation money and everybody in the community money,” Charron said.
Attend a local clean up
Volunteering to pick up trash or attending a local clean up in your community is one of the best ways to contribute to a cleaner and healthier community. Find a local clean up in your area by visiting www.earthday.org/earth-day-2024/
