The Earth Month Ecochallenge attracted thousands of participants this year, helping translate “Earth Day intentions into impactful actions and lasting habits.” During the challenge, people and organizations committed to foster and reinforce #ecofriendly habits. While those Earth Month challenges are nearly complete, you can join the challenge at any time in an effort to spur collective behavior that secures a better future. One easy action to launch your efforts is to #recycle used goods by making a tax-deductible #donation to ClothingDonations.org, which will resell them to fund valuable #veterans programs. #EarthDay2025
Tag: sustainable
Recommended Reading for Earth Month
To celebrate Earth Month, Yale Climate Connections recommends several books that build upon Rachel Carson’s seminal tome, Silent Spring. Waste Wars, for example, exposes how garbage has spawned a multibillion-dollar global business. Close to Home takes a backyard approach to climate science, showing how everyone can contribute to science and sustainability. And The Moral Circle asks humans to consider the needs of all species affected by human activity and technology. Check out any or all of the titles at your local library or download them to an e-reader or tablet to save a tree! #EarthDay2025
Take Action on Earth Day 2025
It’s Earth Day 2025 — as it should be every day, the Nature Conservancy says. You can celebrate by making a difference in fighting the impacts of invasive species, the aggressive plant and animal species that crowd out native species and destroy habitats. You can speak out against plastic pollution, which contaminates food, drinking water and the human body. And you can support policies that promise to increase renewable energy sources such as solar or wind to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and slow climate change. Make your voice heard! We only have one planet to call home, and you can keep it #clean and #sustainable. #EarthDay2025
Practicing Ecofriendlty Consumerism
#Holiday shopping is in full swing, and that may have many readers spending not-insignificant amounts of money in an attempt to check everyone off their #gift lists. While getting with the spirit of the #season is a worthy goal, buying all of that #stuff has an impact.
U.S. #holiday spending is expected to grow to nearly $1 trillion in 2024 — a truly staggering amount. And while some of that spending will result in great #gifts and cherished memories, Americans generate 23% more waste in December, according to the Center for Biodiversity.
Many of those gewgaws you select take considerable resources to manufacture and ship, and most will eventually wind up in landfills. Many will contribute to household #clutter. That’s why it’s important to practice #ecoconscious consumerism.
Consider buying (and requesting) secondhand gifts, Business Insider suggests. Buy Nothing groups can help locate quality used toys and clothing, and the #thrift stores stocked by generous #donations to ClothingDonations.org are overflowing with one-of-a-kind finds.
Another way to spend sustainably is to give experiences rather than hard goods. Tickets to sporting events, concerts and the theater make thoughtful gifts, and add to the excitement by creating a whole new outing. A gift certificate for a personal care service such as a massage or manicure pampers without creating a lot of trash. Many of these services are local, meaning that you’ll support your community with real dollars and limit the carbon footprint required to manufacture and ship merchandise.
Even a gift card is an ecofriendly gift idea when you don’t know exactly what to get and don’t want to give something that will just get tossed. Americans wasted an estimated $9.1 billion on holiday gifts that were exchanged, sold or thrown away in 2023, according to Finder. Another way to limit your environmental impact is to limit the use of disposable gift wraps. Although festive, they contributes to waste; consider reusable bags or get creative with fabric wraps instead.
You can have a fantastic holiday while creating less #trash. It take a little forethought, but your efforts will pay off with less indoor clutter, a healthier #earth, and good cheer among family and friends.
Join a Global Cleanup Event on Sept. 20
Sept. 20, is World Cleanup Day, an opportunity for individuals and communities to reduce solid wastes and contribute to a #cleaner, #healthier and more beautiful planet. Earthday.org’s Great Global Cleanup® is helping stage trash pickup events in parks, waterways and beaches worldwide to help beautify the surroundings and protect wildlife habitats, cut pollution, and build a more sustainable future. Get involved by joining a cleanup event or organizing one of your own with the Great Global Cleanup Toolkit. You can make a difference in the health of the planet! #WorldCleanupDay # GreatGlobalCleanup