So, Earth Day is over … now what?
Earth Day came and went – a whole 24 hours where Mother Earth had her moment in the spotlight, or should I say, sunlight. On 22 April, Evolve Biodegradable announced the coming of a totally plastic-free laundry product. What did you do? No, I’m only teasing. Earth Day is about so much more than a single day of commitment.
It’s a bit of a bittersweet thing – beautiful because it reminds us how stunning this planet really is, and difficult because we have to face the not-so-pretty truth about why Earth Day even exists in the first place.
In this blog, we’re going to take a little peek into where Earth Day came from and share some simple post-Earth Day habits you can adopt – so that by next year, you’ll be telling me all about how you’ve blossomed into an eco-warrior.
Origin of Earth Day
Let’s hop back 55 years. The year was 1970, the Beatles announced their break up, the Apollo 13 mission was launched and bell-bottoms were all the rage. Somewhere in Wisconsin, USA, a senator by the name of Gaylord Nelson, decided to create an environmental teach-in (i.e. an informal public lecture) to push environmental issues onto the national agenda.
And it worked. On 22 April 1970, 20 million people across the US took part in the very first Earth Day – uniting loads of separate environmental causes into one massive, green movement. Fast-forward to 1990, and Earth Day went global.
And that’s how we’ve ended up here – me writing this blog and you reading it – after 10s of millions of trees have been planted, over 100 000 volunteers cleaned up Penang’s beaches in Malaysia and scientists now believe the ozone layer can fully recover in 43 years.
‘It seems like everyone has it handled, what can I possibly do?’ The answer? Duckweed.
I get it. All those massive achievements make little wins – like reusing bottles, planting herbs or saying ‘no straw, thanks’ at restaurants – feel a bit small.
Well, have you ever heard of duckweed? It’s the smallest flowering plant on Earth, floating at only 0.1 mm wide. And, yet:
· It’s a staple food for aquatic animals.
· It provides shade, protection and acts as a natural water filter.
· Scientists are even studying duckweed for potential oxygen production in space missions.
If duckweed can make a difference, so can you. You’re definitely bigger than 0.1 mm – I checked.
'Okay, you've convinced me. What's next?'
Mwah-ha-ha-ha. My plan has worked. Welcome to the eco-revolution. On Wednesdays, we wear green.
Kidding. There’s no uniform and we’re not here to force you into a colour palette. But we do have four easy post-Earth Day habits to try out.
1. Rave for reusable
We bang on about reusables all the time – and for good reason. Reusable items are everywhere if you know where to look.
Evolve Biodegradable’s small concentrate bottles? Perfect for a Pinterest-worthy spice rack. Got a new bamboo toothbrush? Use the old one to scrub those annoying corners between tiles. A 5L container lying around? Say hello to your new emergency toilet flusher – especially handy during those all-too-frequent water outages in Johannesburg.
But why stop there? Let’s talk clothes. We all have at least one clothing item we swear we’ll wear but leave it hiding in the back of the closet. Host a clothing swap party and call it Eco-Chic. Before you know it, you’ve got a whole new wardrobe – and something fabulous to wear every Wednesday. Green, of course.
2. Clean with care
Remember How Clean is Your Clean? We have covered the whole ‘don’t turn your home into a chemical battlefield’ thing. You're already making eco-friendly choices – so, no need to revisit that.
Now for the real tip: Give your vacuum a name. Suddenly, you're emotionally invested and oddly excited to hang out with Sir Sucks-a-Lot. I’m about to start a spring-cleaning adventure with my mop, Captain Swish.
Cleaning might not be fun, but small things like this can make it bearable. And since you're already doing your part for the planet, why not enjoy the process a little?
3. Keep the momentum going
Earth Day momentum can dry out like a forgotten succulent in the bathroom, but there are ways to keep the momentum going all around us.
Plant a tree, take a walk on the coast and pick up some litter, yell at – I mean tell – your friends to swap normal straws for eco-straws.
One of the ways that I keep the Earth Day spirit going year-round is by challenging my fear of spiders – and embracing the value of all life, no matter how small (or hairy). I started giving them names. Now, Bob lives peacefully behind my bed, and Jerry has claimed the corner of my bookcase.
Somehow, naming them turned fear into friendliness. It’s a small shift – but a daily reminder that every creature has a place in this world – even the ones that make me squirm.
Bonus tip: Talk to your plants
Yes, you read that right. They are the original carbon offsets. Say hi. Talk to them. Sing to them.
My grandparents have the most beautiful garden – the kind that makes you question if their fingers are actually green – and their secret? My gran says that she talks to her plants. Every day.
So, go on – say hi to your aloe. Confess your secrets to your succulents. Vent to your ferns. I promise they don’t talk back.
It feels only fitting to end off this blog with Evolve Biodegradable’s favourite quote. So, thank you for joining us for another read – and remember, on Wednesday, we wear green.
