Sustainability

Consciously Craving: 10 easy ways to celebrate Earth Day

From hosting a clean-up to starting your own compost, here are some no-fuss ways to mark Earth Day 2023.

Pat Kane, sustainability strategist, gives her tips for simple ways to celebrate Earth Day

This 22 April will see the 53rd Earth Day take place, with this year’s theme ‘Invest in Our Planet’ aiming to highlight the importance of dedicating our time, resources, and energy to solving climate change and other environmental issues. And while arguably every day is Earth Day, it is a chance to refocus on areas where individually we can make a difference.

What to do for Earth Day?

While Earth Day usually sees larger group actions that aim to celebrate and educate about the planet, there are simple things you can do at home, or at work that will contribute positively to Earth Day

1. Work from home

While we may have all been recently encouraged to come back to the workplace, commuting equals carbon emissions (as much as some managers won’t like to hear it). Reduce your environmental impact by working from home for Earth Day. Obviously, to really make an impact, working from home as a habit is the greenest option but even one day will make a difference.

2. Use green transportation

If your job won’t allow you to work from home, opt for a form of green transportation. Walking or cycling are the best ways to reduce your carbon emissions. If your commute is longer than a couple of miles, try and organise a carpool with some of your colleagues. Lastly, green public transport is starting to become a reality here in Ireland with our first all-electric, emission-free bus service launched in Athlone. This Bus Éireann fleet, which will eventually comprise 11 state-of-the-art electric buses and carry more than 11,000 passengers each week, is expected to drive a 400,000kg annual reduction in CO2.

3. Go paperless

With the advent of technology – think lightweight laptops and tablets – you no longer need to always carry pen and paper and the same goes for printing. Reduce the carbon footprint of your office by going paperless. You will be reducing your corporate carbon footprint as well as reducing your business’s overall costs because you will no longer be spending money on printers, ink cartridges and paper.

4. Use the dishwasher

Using a dishwasher saves more water and energy than hand-washing dishes. Even if you only have a few dishes, the dishwasher is the green way to clean. Even better if you can remember to choose eco-friendly cleaning products when possible.

5. Use less plastic

Nearly 80 per cent of all the plastic that was ever created still exists today. Switch to reusable options to reduce your plastic consumption. Think cups, bottles, straws, and bags. The list is long.

Switch to a more eco-friendly business card to reduce your impact on deforestation Photo by DKart

6. Switch to an eco-friendly business card

Over 500,000 trees are cut down each year to produce business cards. That’s enough trees to reach from Los Angeles to Rome. Switch to a more eco-friendly business card to reduce your impact on deforestation. See Irish business TapiTag, (tapitag.co). I’ve been using it for a while now and simply love it.

7. Host a clean-up

Get your community involved with a community clean-up. Bring together friends, family, and neighbours to clean up any rubbish from local parks, coastlines, roadsides, rivers, and more. If you are looking for some inspiration, I’d recommend you check out what the team at Flossie and the Beach Cleaners do.

Earth Day activities for kids

8. Learn how to compost

Composting is an excellent way to reduce how much waste your family is sending to the landfill, and it makes excellent fertiliser. Start composting at home or help your children’s school start a composting program.

If you have a garden, making compost at home is a great way of engaging kids with sustainability Photo by Halfpoint

9. Plant a tree

One tree provides enough air for three people. So, planting even a couple of trees can make a difference. If you don’t have anywhere to plant a tree at your house, look for local volunteer opportunities. Check Wolfgang Reforest for more information on how to start.

10. Watch a movie

Watching a movie might not seem like a very good Earth Day activity, but education is an essential part of benefiting our environment. Try an environmental movie this Earth Day. Some suggestions below (based on personal experience and my boys’ feedback!).

Wall-E

Island of Lemurs: Madagascar

Dr Seuss: The Lorax

School House Rock! Earth

Arctic Tale

Bears

March of the Penguins

To the Arctic

11. Donate no longer wanted toys

As children get older, many toys are often thrown away or sit in storage, unused. Don’t let those toys go to waste. Instead, ask friends with younger children if they’d like some or else, donate them to a local charity. Not only will you keep unwanted toys out of landfills, but you’ll also bring joy to a child in need.

12. Help the bees

Bees are endangered, and low bee populations are putting our food supply at risk. You can help save the bees by planting bee-friendly plants, building bee houses, reducing pesticide use, and more. Check the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan website (pollinators.ie) for great tips.

The All-Ireland Pollinator Plan is a framework bringing together different sectors across the island of Ireland to create a landscape where pollinators can survive and thrive Photo by visualspace

The scale of the challenges facing our planet can seem daunting, but we can all do something – Whatever it is that you decide to do, please know that no action is too small.

@iampatkane