EARTH DAY TIPS FOR 2023: PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES FOR BUSINESSES

Held annually on April 22nd, Earth Day is a worldwide event that raises public awareness and encourages individuals, companies, communities and whole nations to participate in environmental protection activities. The international celebration is an excellent opportunity for companies to reflect on their environmental and social responsibility, and support and work with organizations that are explicitly involved in protecting and restoring the planet. These are worthy efforts to make on Earth Day but of course it is also critical that Earth Day employee engagement is undertaken year-round to be a truly green company. This article will discuss what Earth Day employee engagement looks like and some specific community outreach activities taken from Green Business Bureau’s collection of over 400 green initiatives.

EARTH DAY IDEAS FOR APRIL 22ND, 2023

When we think about environmental awareness days, Earth Day is the first to come to mind for most of us. The Earth Day movement, first launched on April 22nd 1970, has sparked worldwide activism to bring awareness to environmental injustices and fight threats against the wellbeing of our planet and vulnerable communities.

Get involved this Earth Day by:

• Taking action through the Billion Acts of Green initiative
• Joining a cleanup near you
• Showing an environmental documentary at work with a group discussion at the end
• Becoming a greener business through a third-party sustainability certification
• Supporting your community gardens, nonprofits and small businesses
• Upgrading to energy and resource efficient appliances and equipment
• Adopting sustainable practices involving energy and water usage, green procurement and sustainable sourcing, and greener transportation methods.
• Educate yourself on the groups hit hardest by environmental issues and the young activists leading the charge around the world.

HOW BUSINESSES CAN EMBODY EARTH DAY ALL YEAR IN 2023

While it is a worthy ambition for do-good companies to organize special Earth Day activities, it is critical to embody the principles of Earth Day throughout the year. Companies may find Earth Day or the month of April are the perfect time to reevaluate their current environmental impact and progress, revisit any goals left to fulfill and refresh their commitment. This is also an opportunity to be transparent to your employees and stakeholders to show what you have actually accomplished and the plans you have for moving forward.

What a year-long commitment to Earth Day looks like

• Designate Earth Day as the date you release your annual sustainability progress report or a sustainability mission statement if you have yet to create one.
• Designate April as the month you research new, innovative ways to incorporate sustainability and environmental stewardship into your business practices.
• Plan a media release for the end of the month to roll out your new sustainability initiatives.
• Set year-long company engagement quotas.
  • E.g. Complete a specified amount of community volunteer hours or outreach events with local and partner organizations; plant a certain number of trees on company property or sponsor tree plantings and conservation projects,
• Use April as the month to educate yourself and your employees on the importance of sustainability and how it ties into each of your initiatives
• Invite an expert to present to your employees
• Give employees a day off from the office each month to engage in designated environmental stewardship activities
• Commit to donating a portion of your profits to sustainability organizations either quarterly, monthly or annually.

GBB INITIATIVES PERFECT FOR EARTH DAY EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT

There are countless activities and ways to encourage Earth Day employee engagement. Partnering with another organization for ideas and guidance can be helpful. Green Business Bureau’s certification process includes three community involvement initiatives that can fit perfectly into your Earth Day agenda. Each of these address different aspects you may consider when determining the best way to get involved this Earth Day.

For Green Business Bureau members, log into your account and find these initiatives under “Community Initiatives” in the Dashboard. Read about how they tie into your larger sustainability mission and complete the key steps at your own pace. For non-members interested to learn more about the tools and services that Green Business Bureau offers, browse your membership options here.

Initiative 1: Become an annual sponsor of an event promoting sustainability in your area

Backed by an ever-growing collection of scientific data and expert insight, there are countless environmental and climate action events being hosted throughout the world. Finding one is as easy as searching for environmental organizations and nonprofits nearest to you and contacting them to inquire about sponsorship opportunities. This is a powerful opportunity to work with professionals in an area you may not be familiar with, gain knowledge from and appreciation for your local sustainability advocates and demonstrate your active involvement to your community.

See a snapshot of the GBB initiative tracker here:

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Key Earth Day event considerations

• What events are already happening in your area?
• What organizations in your community have projects and programs that excite you? E.g. Forest restoration, climate change mitigation, environmental justice, clean water, etc.
• Where do the funds raised from such events actually go?
• Do any of these organizations have sponsorship opportunities?
• What level of sponsorship is feasible for your company?
• Do these events include tangible action items? E.g. tree plantings, clean-ups
• How does this event line up with your company’s core mission, values and pre-existing sustainability initiatives?
• How does this event advance your progress towards overall company sustainability?

Initiative 2: Place an employee on the organizing committee for the same or another event to achieve maximum involvement and exposure

If your company has sponsored an event, then it is imperative you provide the appropriate staff member(s) to assist the partner organization. This will strengthen your partnership with the organization and demonstrate an active involvement beyond financial aid. Additionally, this will provide your employees with a chance to make their own individual contributions to their community and the planet. This creates a purpose-driven culture and a sense of fulfillment among employees which supports your company’s long-term sustainability mission and goals.

See a snapshot of the GBB initiative tracker here:

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Key employee Earth Day involvement considerations

• Do you already have a green team set in place?
• If you want to know the benefits of organizing a green team and how to do so, click here to learn more.
• What are the needs of the organization for the event?
• Can you involve all members of your green team in the event?
  • For small businesses, can you involve all employees in the event?
• How can employees most benefit from participating in the event?
• How can you track employee’s involvement and event success?
• Will you hold post-event discussions to gain feedback from your employees?
• How does this contribute to your overall community sustainability and employee engagement initiatives?

Initiative 3: Become an active member of an organization that continually works to improve the environment nationally or in your area

Going beyond single event participation and becoming an active member of an organization will further differentiate your company from your competitors. Unfortunately small organizations and nonprofits working diligently to combat today’s toughest environmental challenges often go underfunded and need all the support and exposure they can get. Your willingness to join their mission as an active member can make a huge impact on these organizations’ success. Committing to making internal sustainability improvements within your own company is already a worthy endeavor. Joining forces with another equally-driven organization is next level commitment and it speaks volumes about what you stand for.

See a snapshot of the GBB initiative tracker here:

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Key considerations for forming partnerships

• Select local organizations whose mission aligns with your sustainability priorities
• If there are not organizations in your local community that align with your priorities, what national organizations appeal to you?
• Does the organization track their progress in their intended goals? Will this information be provided to you to ensure you are making a positive impact?
• Are they transparent and upfront with where your donations go or what your volunteer time is contributing to?
• Designate your green team leader to routinely check in with the organization to make sure their needs are being fulfilled and you are contributing in a meaningful way
• How will you communicate the results of this partnership to your employees and other stakeholders? E.g. Company-wide meeting, press release, promotional video, social media posts, etc.

SUMMARY: EARTH DAY EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT IS A BIG GREEN STEP TOWARDS YOUR LARGER SUSTAINABILITY MISSION IN 2023

Earth Day is a global invitation for individuals and organizations to take action and become better environmental stewards both on April 22nd and year-round. The idea of billions of people worldwide collectively making an effort, big and small, to protect the environment is an exciting and inspirational look at what the future could be. Equipped with their teams of experts and innovative thinkers, companies are especially important players in promoting the Earth Day mission. Through active Earth Day employee engagement and embodying Earth Day year-round, companies are turning single day events into lifelong positive movements.

April brings forth buds of new life and warms the bones of winter. You can feel revitalized too with these other environmental awareness days in April!

National Walk to Work Day – First Friday of April

World Health Day – April 7th

Arbor Day – Last Friday of April

THE HISTORY OF EARTH DAY

Earth day is an annual event celebrating the achievements of the environmental movement and raising awareness to the importance of ecological sustainability for long-term human stability. April 22nd, 1970, marks the first Earth Day in history, which mobilized 20 million Americans across the continent. Today, it’s estimated that 1 billion people participate, making Earth Day the largest secular movement in the world. In this two-part series, we first look at the history of Earth Day and how it’s celebrated across the globe. In Part 2, we’ll review more history and how Earth Day has transformed with changing trends – namely, political shifts, environmental activism, climate change awareness and social diversity and inclusivity. You’ll also be provided with Earth Day resources to help you participate on this special day.

THE HISTORY OF EARTH DAY AND HOW IT’S CELEBRATED ACROSS THE GLOBE

Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring came as a watershed moment in how we view the planet and our impact on it. The book renounced the sinister degradation of our natural world by mass chemical pesticide and insecticide use. Carson describes chemical pest control as a poisonous agricultural ooze, stifling life and bird song from our springs.

Published in 1962, Silent Spring sold more than 500,000 copies in 24 countries and kick-started the environmental movement. This movement demanded a shift in perspective, where nature was no longer seen as something to be controlled for man’s convenience, but rather as a connected part, essential for human development and stability.

Inspired by Carson’s work, American politician and environmentalist Senator Gaylord Nelson, targeted an already emerging public consciousness around air and water pollution. In 1969, Nelson delivered a series of lectures and discussions on college campuses to educate towards the goal of reducing humanity’s impact on our planet.

April 22nd was the date chosen for these college teach-ins. As a weekday falling between spring break and final exams, this date maximized student participation. To help him with his quest, Nelson recruited young activist Denis Hayes and conservation-minded Republican Congressman Pete McCloskey. Hayes soon recognized the potential to expand the reach of these teach-ins and inspire all Americans. As such, the team grew and promoted events across the continent. The day was renamed Earth Day, a marketing move that attracted a lot of media attention.

EARTH DAY HISTORY: WHERE IT ALL STARTED

The first Earth day celebrations occurred on April 22nd, 1970, in the United States. Since then, the celebrations have repeated every year, with 2020 marking the 50th anniversary. As each year passes, Earth Day has progressed and accrued supporters:

• 1970: The first Earth Day mobilized 20 million Americans (10% of the US population) to protect our planet.
• 1990: Earth Day goes global, rallying 200 million people in 141 countries.
• 2000: The power of digital technology is leveraged to create awareness and drive conversations concerning environmentalism. 5,000 environmental groups in 180 countries used digital platforms to engage with the general public on a global scale.
• 2010: 75,000 global partners across 192 countries engage with Earth Day. The Earth Day Network launched novel projects, for example, the A Billion Acts of Green project. This project engaged 30 million people to use social media and encourage green activities. The Canopy Project is also launched, an initiative to plant trees across the globe.
• 2020: 2020 marked the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. Due to the COVID-19 crisis, Earth Day goes digitally remote for the first time in history, flooding channels with environmental action.

EARTH DAY IS A GLOBAL EVENT CELEBRATED ACROSS THE WORLD

The purpose of Earth Day is to educate, explaining why society needs to evolve to have symbiosis with our planet, and how society can preserve our resources to achieve this. Let’s take a look at the type of Earth Day celebrations that have occurred on the world stage since 1970.

• United States, Washington DC: Rallies, lectures and marches are organized by scientists and civic organizations. Washington DC also hosts a free community festival bringing together nonprofits, small businesses and communities.
• Denmark, Copenhagen: Earth Day celebrations occur at Christiansborg Castle Square. Celebrations include drum playing with players pointed at the four corners of the world. Participants then join the March for Science, which aims to hold elected officials accountable for green initiatives.
• United Kingdom, London: Collective activities and musicians perform, raising funds for British charities and groups fighting climate change. The celebrations also feature environmental speakers, dance, yoga, shamans, vegan food and more.
• British Columbia, Vancouver: Vancouver hosts Earth Day parades and festivals that provide various educational talks and activities.
• Japan, Tokyo: Celebrations occur across two days. 100,000 visitors are expected to enjoy family activities and learn about sustainable business methods and ways to promote environmental protection.
• Australia, Sydney: Sydney hosts nature walks with experts and focuses on giving actionable advice for how residents can create a more sustainable home.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE ON EARTH DAY 2023

The theme of Earth Day 2023 is ‘Invest in Our Planet’. This theme is designed to persuade businesses, governments and citizens around the world of the need to invest in our planet to improve our environment and give our descendants a better and safer future.

Between April 20-22, you can join the world’s leaders for Earth Day:

• April 20th: Earth Day begins with the global youth climate summit led by Earth Uprising in collaboration with My Future My Voice, OneMillionOfUs, plus more.
• April 21st: Educational International will lead the Teach for the Planet: Global Education Summit. This is a multilingual virtual summit to span across several time zones and feature prominent activists from every continent.
• April 22nd: Earthday.org will host its second Earth Day Live digital event here, beginning at 12pm EST. This day will include workshops, panel discussions and special performance focusing on the concept of Restore Our Earth. World climate leaders, grassroots activists, nonprofit innovators, thought leaders, industry leaders, artists, musicians and influencers will come together to discuss today’s greatest environmental and social challenges and collaborate on solutions.

You can continue building the incredible history of Earth Day by playing a part in its call to action and future goals! Be proactive and educate yourself, colleagues, family and friends! Check out Green Business Bureau’s Earth Day resources, listed below: