We're all looking for ways to make our lives a little greener and gentler on the planet. Earth Day is coming soon, and it's the perfect opportunity to assess your lifestyle and look for ways you can make meaningful changes for the planet. Whether that's swapping to non-toxic cleaning products, eating more locally grown produce, or avoiding single-use plastic at the store, there are lots of small changes that can help you make a big impact.
Want to make Earth Day meaningful for your household this year? Learn more about what it is and discover some great Earth Day tips that can help you get the whole family involved.
What is Earth Day and why is it celebrated?
Earth Day happens every year on April 22nd, with events all over the globe. It started back in 1970 when Senator Gaylord Nelson encouraged university campuses to host classes about environmental issues for one day in April. The event quickly spread beyond campuses, and the first annual Earth Day saw more than 20 million Americans taking part. By the end of the year, Senator Nelson's movement had inspired the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency and a whole host of environmentally-focused laws.
Today, almost a billion people around the world participate in Earth Day events. The growing concern about climate change has prompted people to use the day to make meaningful changes. A lot of schools host events to give Earth Day tips for kids, while local communities provide Earth Day tips to businesses and organizations to help boost their eco-friendly efforts.
More than 50 years later, Senator Nelson's Earth Day is a great way to celebrate the planet and learn about how to go green.
What is the best way to celebrate Earth Day?
Looking for tips on Earth Day celebrations? One of the best ways to celebrate Earth Day is to get the whole family involved. Many local communities host events on Earth Day for kids. They might provide child-friendly environmental tips that can help them start thinking about their impact on the planet at an early age. They can learn how to keep the earth green while taking part in fun activities and lessons.
The best way to celebrate Earth Day, though, is to find ways you can be more eco-friendly all year round.
5 Earth Day Tips to Help You Celebrate the Planet
So what can you do on Earth Day to make the most of this annual event? Here are five easy Earth Day tips that will help you kick start your celebration of the planet while making an impact that will last throughout the year.
1. Make the Swap to Non-Toxic Cleaning Products
There are a lot of products we use in our homes that aren't good for the planet. Cleaning products are some of the worst offenders. A lot of cleaning products use chemicals that are toxic to the environment, and can eventually get into our water supply. That's bad for the environment as well as anyone who doesn't want to be drinking a lot of chemicals in their eight glasses of water a day.
Instead of contributing to this pollution, you can make the switch to non-toxic cleaning products. Pick up cleaning products that are safe enough to use around your children, made with non-toxic ingredients that won't hurt the environment, either. Don't worry about losing cleaning power just because you ditch the chemicals. Today's non-toxic stain fighters are strong enough to battle even the toughest red wine stains.
2. Ditch Plastic Grocery Bags for Good
How many plastic bags do you carry home from the grocery store every week? The bad news is these bags take over 1,000 years to decompose. So each one ends up taking up space in the local landfill for a long, long time.
Ditch the single-use plastic bag! Many states are outlawing plastic bags because of their detrimental impact on the environment. You can take action now, though. This Earth Day, make a commitment to bring your own bags to the grocery store. Buy a few reusable, washable bags and keep them in your purse or car so they are on-hand for trips to the store.
3. Take the Family on a Walk to Pick Up Litter
This is one of the best Earth Day tips for kids if you are looking for ways to get the family involved. On Earth Day, take a walk together and see who can pick up the most litter along the way. Arm each member of your family with a bag (reusable, please!) and a pair of gloves. Make it into a game and award a prize to whoever can fill their bag first. If the kids get grass stains on their clothes while picking up litter, we have an eco-friendly product to help you get them out, so don't worry.
This doesn't have to be only an Earth Day tip! Make a commitment as a family to take a litter-picking walk every week. Target different areas around town and see the difference one family can make when they work together.
4. Find a Local Produce Supplier
It was only a few decades ago that you had to wait for certain fruits and vegetables to come into season before you could buy them at the grocery store. Today, though, you can pretty much find whatever produce you want at any time of the year. That's thanks to the rise in imports in the produce section. Apples come from New Zealand, peppers from Peru, and Avocados from Mexico travel hundreds or even thousands of miles before they end up in your produce section. That has a big impact on the environment and your carbon footprint.
On Earth Day, research local produce suppliers in your area. This is a great way to bring fresher produce into your home without having a negative impact on the environment. Plus, you'll be supporting local farmers and protecting local farmland.
5. Ditch One Single-Use Plastic Item in Your Bathroom
You'll find some of the most single-use plastic items in your bathroom. Toothbrushes, toothpaste tubes, shampoo bottles, deodorants, and lotion bottles are all made to be single-use. A lot of these plastics take up to 450 years to decompose in the local landfill. If you think about how many of these products you use over a lifetime, too, the single-use containers really start to stack up.
Make a commitment on Earth Day to decrease your reliance on single-use plastic in the bathroom. Start small here, or else you could quickly get overwhelmed. Choose one product to replace, get used to it for six months, then swap out another one. A great place to start is with your single-use deodorants. Purchase refillable containers that offer the same great protection without all the plastic packaging.
Final Thoughts About Earth Day Tips to Help You Celebrate the Planet
Want more Earth Day tips? Look for local organizations working on environmental issues and ask how you can help. Many organizations are eager for volunteers to help pick up litter, assist in sorting recycling, or educate the local community. Many offer family-friendly volunteering opportunities, too, so you can get everyone involved. And don't worry if the kids get a little messy! We have great tips about how to get common stains out of kids' clothing.
Let us know how you are celebrating Earth Day this year! And if you are ready to make the switch to more earth-friendly cleaning products, place an order on our website and get free shipping if you spend $10 or more.
