We believe every day is Earth Day, but this week has been extra special. Today we reflect on some of our favorite Earth Week activities and celebrate our planet's beauty, diversity, and resilience. From reducing waste to supporting sustainable practices, together we can make a difference for our shared home, and protect it each and every day. 🌱💚
Day 1: Local Earth Conscious Businesses We Love
To start off the week we stopped by some of our favorite local shops that deeply value environmental responsibility. We stopped by Alta Coffee, a CCOF certified sustainable coffee shop, Ethos a zero-waste home goods store, Eothen, an ethical low waste self care products and vintage clothing store, Staff of Life, an eco conscious bulk grocery store, Lumen Gallery, local art gallery spotlighting sustainable art work, and Timber Surf Co., a sustainable performance surf board shaper. We are so proud of our community for fostering the importance of sustainability.
It is important to note that many communities do not have access or support for the types of shops shown above, but supporting small businesses not matter the type is very important for empowering your community and the planet, and we encourage you to go out and connect with your local makers and shopkeepers.
Day 2: DIY Earth Friendly Craft
For day two we looked to our beaches for inspiration with this easy DIY wine chime made of driftwood and seashells!
Day 3: Easy Earth Friendly House Swaps
On day 3 we highlighted 6 easy swaps you can make in your own home that save money, help reduce your carbon footprint, and make mother earth proud.
Although you can make a different with these small swaps, addressing climate change should not be a burden placed solely on the shoulders of individual consumers.
Governments, corporations, and institutions have an equally critical role to play. Policies that promote sustainable practices are essential in driving systematic change. Consumers, through their choices ad demands, can influence these stakeholders to adopt more environmentally responsible practices.
Innovation is paramount and it is crucial to support and encourage development that seek to enhance existing technologies.
Day 4: DIY Reduce & Reuse Craft
Make a cold cup with us out of an old peach jar!
In our daily lives, countless products serve their primary purpose and then often end up discarded in the trash or recycling bins. However, what if we considered the potential for these items to embark on a second journey, extending their usefulness and reducing waste in the process? Embracing the concept of circularity offers us a powerful solution. Instead of viewing products as disposable, we can reimagine them as valuable resources that can be repurposed, recycled, or up-cycled to create new value.
Day 5: Cruz Foam Beach Cleanup!
Last week, our team spent the day cleaning up Cowell’s Beach, one of our most populated local beaches here in Santa Cruz. We found everything from handbags to bottle caps, to beer cans, but an overwhelming majority of what we collected was single use packaging products. We found bits of EPS foams, bubble wrap, aluminum laminated chip bags, plastic six-pack rings for drink holders and much more, all on their way to get washed out to sea.
This earth day, let us reflect on how we can move away from single use packaging, embracing imperfect innovation that attempt to find solutions at the root of the problem instead of picking up the pieces after damage has already been done.
Let's come together to protect and preserve our precious planet, not just on Earth Day, but every single day. Our collective actions today will shape the health and vitality of our Earth for generations to come.
As we commemorate Earth Day, let it serve as a reminder of our responsibility to be stewards of the environment, not just for a day, a week, or a month, but for all time. Each small act of conservation, from recycling and reducing waste to conserving energy and advocating for sustainable practices, contributes to the greater goal of keeping our Earth clean and healthy.
Join the movement to celebrate Earth every day, recognizing that our well-being is intricately linked to the health of our planet. Without a thriving Earth, there is no 'us'. Together, let's cultivate a deeper appreciation for the natural world and strive to live in harmony with it, cherishing its beauty and diversity.
As we embark on this journey of environmental stewardship, let's empower each other to make mindful choices and embrace sustainable lifestyles. Together, we can create a brighter, more sustainable future for all living beings on this magnificent planet we call home. 🌎🌿