Earth Day Actions for a Sustainable Future

Start today on your efforts to help our planet.

Earth Day is celebrated in April every year with organizations doing their part, but much can be actioned at the individual level just as well.  While companies and businesses can produce better outreach and impact thanks to large employee bases, you can still accomplish a lot at home or in your community if you commit to continued action over time.  Here are simple steps you can turn to immediately that won’t take much effort and will reap rich rewards for generations.

■  Reduce paper usage by printing on both sides, using digital files, or implementing paper-free days.  Print on single-sided promotional material as well and move to digital subscriptions for magazines, journals, and other reference material, only opting for print versions when necessary.  Business cards, postcards, thank you notes, event invitations and many other forms of printed paper items can now be moved to completely digital versions to avoid paper wastage.

■  Repair and update old equipment before replacing it.  When it must go, research donation or eco-friendly disposal options.  This includes everything from phones, laptops, and other electronic devices to batteries, cartridges, Cds, and many other items used in and around the home and workplace.  Check your local community center or library for ideas on where you might be able to recycle items carefully.

■  Host your own event, like tree-planting, a cleanup or beautification project that members of your family, friends circle, acquaintances, community, and others can engage and assist in to make an impact in your neighborhood.  One day of planting could help your community garden bear fruit for months.  One evening of cleaning could mean a more hygienic park area for kids to play in.  One hour of clearing might provide an easy pathway to access area amenities.

■  Challenge others in your community to go green.  Sometimes all it takes is one person or one action to motivate others and then it becomes a movement.  Ask your neighbors, friends, members of any associations or clubs, and other contacts to join you in your efforts and give them a few ways to do so with an action plan of everything you are doing or have witnessed success with.  This will inspire them to help.

■ Hire a green cleaning company or purchase eco-friendly cleaning products.  There is no dearth of clean products in the market today or services where only clean products are used.  Specify this when hiring cleaning assistance or look specifically for clean products when you shop for your home.  Ensure the products and services you used are certified and look for reviews to ensure that really is the case.

■ Implement compost collection and host a workshop on reducing food waste.  If unsure how to do this, there are many online resources and there might also be a community expert to consult if you feel unprepared to set up compost bins.  Food waste is a critical issue in many parts of the world, and this is one way to address the waste being put to good use instead of simply littering the area.

■ Conduct an energy audit to identify efficiency improvements.  Replace equipment with energy efficient options.  You can request an energy audit through state or city licensed companies to understand your options to conserve energy.  Switch to post-consumer wastepaper products, LED light bulbs, rechargeable batteries, renewable utility providers and renewable auto-fleet.  Turn electronics off when not in use and enable auto-sleep options to save energy.

■ Borrow before you buy.  Where possible, try to borrow resources than buy them anew.  There are neighborhood and industry organizations where items are borrowed or bartered before anything new is purchased. This includes furniture and décor, equipment and machinery, household goods, and other essentials.  Encourage recycling by providing recycling stations.  Collect hard-to-recycle materials like office supplies to send to appropriate recycling facilities.

■ Go plastic-free.  This is one of the easiest and best ways to ensure green efforts.  The tons of plastic produced yearly and globally, especially single-use plastics that are immediately discarded for trash, is a huge concern.  Use a reusable water bottle, and reusable utensils when possible.  Say no to plastic straws and carry bags.  Avoid repeated purchase of items in plastic containers and recycle any that you do purchase so they do not simply end up as litter.