30 Ways To Give Back To The Planet on Earth Day!

Happy Earth Day! Today, April 22, is international Earth Day! Did you know this? We love this day and plan a few daily gives on Earth Day.

This year Earth Day is all about PLASTIC – reducing, reusing and eliminating plastic so we end our plastic pollution!

We found the Earth Day 2018 challenge on their website. “From poisoning and injuring marine life to disrupting human hormones, from littering our beaches and landscapes to clogging our waste streams and landfills, the exponential growth of plastics is now threatening the survival of our planet…Earth Day 2018 is dedicated to providing the information and inspiration needed to fundamentally change human attitude and behavior about plastics.”

Woo Hoo! This is great! I doubt we would think any Earth Day initiative was not worth embracing but plastic, the loads and loads of plastic in our oceans, in our landfills, in the bottom of our streams of rivers, needs our attention!

30 Gives That Reduce Plastic on Our Planet on Earth Day

1. Stop using plastic straws
2. Bring your own bags to the grocery store
3. Use a steel water bottle – try not to buy small individual bottles of water
4. Sign the Earth Day Petition Sign it here 
5. Use glass storage containers for your left overs
6. Bring your own containers when you purchase take out or have leftovers at a restaurant meal
7. Switch your favorite gum to an organic brand made from the Chicle tree
8. Stop buying and using individually packed items for lunch. These packages contribute to our plastic use. Bring your lunch in reusable containers.
9. Use less disposable diapers. Cutting down on disposable diapers or eliminating them all together helps the plastic added to landfills
10. Buy food in bulk, bringing your own containers to the store. This helps reduce packaging that uses plastic.
11. Find alternatives to plastic cutlery and plates.
12. Use wooden or paper matches instead of lighters
13. Use a steel to go cup for your coffee, tea or take away drinks
14. Avoid products with microbeads! These tiny plastic beads are harming our rivers and streams
15. Swap out plastic cooking utensils and bowls for stainless steel
16. Shop at local farmers markets – you can bring your own bags and not be forced to buy food in plastic bags. Packaging of our food is one of the biggest culprits for plastic pollution
17. Have an ice cream cone instead of ice cream in a cup!
18. Use stainless steel ice cube trays and popsicle molds
19. If you need something made of plastic, buy it second hand, not brand new
20. Get a great pen that you can refill. Avoid disposable plastic pens and pencils
21. Request plastic free gifts at your next party, wedding or birthday. Even better, ask for donations to organizations working towards a plastic free world.
22. Stay clear of products made of clear of Polyvinyl Chloride (#3 PVC), Polystyrene (#6 PS), & Polycarbonate (#7 Other) and buy plastic products that are BPA free, if you have to buy plastic.
23. Download your movies and music to avoid buying CD’s and DVD’s. Or go to the movie theatre or a music concert to support the artists and bypass plastic storage for entertainment
24. Have a park or public space clean up, picking up all the plastic that others have left behind
25. Try using natural cleaning alternatives like lemon, vinegar and baking soda. If you need bottled cleaners, buy them in bulk to avoid all those plastic bottles
26. Explore using toothbrushes, razors and beauty products that are not plastic and don’t use plastic containers or packing
27. Use non plastic plant containers like terra cotta clay.
28. Do a household review of your use of plastics- where can you cut back on plastic and where can you eliminate plastic all together
29. Do a workplace review of plastic use. Where can you cut back and where can you eliminate
30. Do a classroom review of plastic items. Is there something you can change in your classroom.

Do one give every week that reduces your plastic footprint in the world. The planet, our animals, fish and communities will thank you!

Ready to start giving every day to make a positive change in the world? Sign up for your 365give membership. Its free! We will continue to inspire you to make a habit of daily giving so you can be a change maker!