This month, the world came together to celebrate Earth Day 2023. There aren’t many secular holidays that unite all people, cultures and countries around the planet but since 22nd April 1990, Earth Day has done just that.

The first official Earth Day actually took place 20 years before when, following a massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California in 1969, Senator Gaylord Nelson galvanised the people of the US, beginning with students, to take action against the destruction of the environment. 20 million Americans consequently took to the streets to protest and as a result, by the end of 1970, Earth Day had inspired the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and environmental laws such as the National Environmental Education Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, and the Clean Air Act.

Over the last 53 years, the Earth Day movement has gained more and more traction, becoming a global event in 1990 and continuing to flourish since then (you can learn more about how on the Earth Day Official Website).

So how, as a business in 2023, do we observe Earth Day? While there are a multitude of small and big actions we can take as a business of any size, I believe that there are three fundamental steps we can take to ensure we are making the most of the opportunity that Earth Day presents to be more sustainable.

First, recognise that one day of action out of 365 is not sustainable. Embed environmental efforts into your business’ strategies and daily practices to make a tangible and meaningful impact.

Second, listen and learn from the experts. Use their knowledge to set sustainability goals for your business and work towards them. Moreover, share that wisdom with the people in your business, so that you can strive to achieve those goals as a united team.

Finally, start now. Whatever action you decide to take to be more sustainable as a business, there is no time like the present to get that ball rolling. The climate crisis is real and time is not on our side… so get cracking!

ABPM+ is committed to being a better business, both for the planet and people. Contact us today to find out more about that commitment and how we can help you take the next step in your career.

 

Rej Abraham, Sarah Torrington, Matt Byrne, Alex Handford