10 Simple Things To Do To Celebrate Earth Day

It’s Earth Day, and while every day is technically a day to be kind to the planet, this is a day to show appreciation and get into new habits if needed. There are so many little things you can do to celebrate and help save the Earth, and we’ve got 10 super easy ideas below!

1. Plant something

Trees not only cool things down but they also clean the air and give off more oxygen, among a ton of other benefits. Plant one in your family’s yard. Another option is to plant your own fruits and veggies which will benefit your health and reduce the amount of fossil fuel emissions by not having to transport the food to stores.

2. Ride your bike

Find transportation alternatives that help reduce your carbon footprint but get you moving. The fewer cars on the road, the less carbon emissions polluting the air and contributing to global warming. Riding your bike and just taking a walk are two of the best options available.

3. Let your voice be heard

Feeling passionate about a certain environmental cause or piece of legislation that you believe should be passed? Check out some of the excellent youth climate activist organizations out there like Sunrise Movement, Zero Hour, Extinction Rebellion Youth, and Fridays for Future. See how you can volunteer with them and participate in the many initiatives they’re already working on. Write an email to your local representative to share your thoughts.

4. Tune in to Earth Day Live

With in-person protests canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Earth Day events are moving online. Tune in to Earth Day Live, a three-day livestream of teach-ins, musical performances, and panels about what the climate movement is doing

5. Buy reusable bags

It’s been estimated that Americans use 100 billion plastic bags a year, and just the production alone for those requires about 12 million barrels of oil. Not to mention, they take up lots of space in landfills and cause major problems for marine wildlife. Instead, buy some super cute reusable bags to use when you go to the grocery store. You’ll not only be stylish but eco-friendly as well!

6. Use a refillable water bottle

Just because you’re tossing your plastic water bottles into the recycling bin doesn’t mean they’re not hurting the environment. Besides the fact that it takes over 1.5 million barrels of oil to manufacture all of those bottles each year, there are still over two million tons of water bottles that have ended up in U.S. landfills. Buy a reusable bottle, preferably one that has a filter attached to it, so you’ll be getting fresh water every time.

7. Get produce from a local farmer’s market

Besides supporting area businesses, you’ll also be helping the Earth by buying your fruits and veggies local. That’s because food in the grocery stores travels an average of 1,500 miles to get to you, and all that shipping can cause pollution plus an increase of fossil fuel consumption and carbon emissions. When you buy locally, it’s transported in shorter distances. Community Supporter Agriculture, or CSA, is also a great way to get local, seasonable produce delivered to your door.

8. Shop smart for clothes

Want to treat yourself to a new outfit? You can do it in a way that’s environmentally friendly! As with any kind of material good, buying something that’s already been used is great for the Earth because it doesn’t involve new resources. Check out used clothing sites like thredUP to see what kind of cute outfits are available.

9. Unsubscribe to catalogs

The fact is that over 100 million trees are cut down each year to produce junk mail including catalogs. Plus they usually just end up in the trash anyway. Sign up for the free opt-out service at catalogchoice.org and they’ll help you get your name off the mailing lists for all those unwanted pieces of mail.

10. Spend time outside

Sometimes we can be so caught up in what’s happening on Instagram or Keeping Up With the Kardashians that we forget how much fun it is to be outside. Earth Day is just a reminder of how beautiful and awesome our planet is. Take advantage of it! If you have a backyard, spend the afternoon outdoors reading, having lunch, or just taking in deep breaths of the fresh air. If you live in a major city and outdoor spaces are crowded, try going for a walk at an off-hour when the streets are quieter. Just try to spend some time outside and show some love to the amazing place we all call home.