Earth Day 2023: 5 Ways to Invest in Our Planet

As you are probably well-aware, since 1970, Earth Day has been celebrated each and every year on April 22nd. It’s a day where people from around the globe get together (virtually or in person) to not only pledge, but demonstrate, their support for the environment movement. Over a billion people, in more than 190 countries, will be mobilized for this international day of action in 2023.

The theme of this year’s Earth Day is “Invest in Our Planet“. So, we wanted to help get you started by giving you five ways to do just that:

1. Invest in Quality Clothing Instead of Choosing Fast Fashion

One way you can invest in our planet is by investing in quality clothing made for the long haul. Look for clothes made with sustainable materials and those from confirmed, eco-friendly brands. Find clothes built to last. Take steps to build a sustainable wardrobe.

Avoid trying to save a buck by buying inexpensive clothing made by companies solely focused on churning out volumes of low-quality items. This type of fashion is known as “fast fashion” and is not eco-friendly, not good for the planet and not actually good for your wallet in the long run either.

2. Opt for Reusable Rather Than Single-Use

Single-use items, while seemingly convenient, are quite wasteful. Instead of buying a big bag of plastic cups that’ll only be tossed in the trash after each use, buy reusable containers you can use time and time again. Get glass or stainless steel straws (or don’t use a straw at all). Switch from plastic, single-use storage containers to glass ones or, at the very least, reusable ones.

Opting for reusable rather than single-use helps minimize waste and it saves resources. Thankfully, choosing reusable doesn’t reduce quality. In many cases, quality is improved by investing in reusables.

3. Plant Trees and Support Those Working to Prevent Deforestation

Planting trees, and supporting companies working to prevent deforestation, is another important way to invest in our planet. Trees offer a number of benefits to the planet and its inhabitants including shade, cooling, food, natural habitats, protection, erosion-prevention, oxygen-production and more.

Those who have lost trees due to natural disasters can get free trees to plant in their yards. This can be done through the Community Tree Recovery program via Arbor Day Foundation. If you simply want to donate to have trees replanted in forests and other areas, there are countless organizations, non-profits and even government plant-a-tree programs which allow individuals to contribute to such efforts.

EarthDay.org has a few actions you can take. One of these is signing a petition to tell businesses they, too, need to make a concerted effort to stop deforestation.

4. Ditch Pre-prepared Meals and Adopt an Earth-friendly Diet

Although it may not seem like a big deal to some, ditching pre-prepared or packaged meals and adopting an earth-friendly diet goes a long way when it comes to investing in the planet. When you buy fresh, you not only save money in most cases but, you also reduce waste. In addition, many pre-prepared or packaged meals come with preservatives and other ingredients you may not want to consume.

If you don’t know how what you eat affects the environment, take a look at how these six popular diet trends have an impact. Even those who don’t want to switch to a complete vegan or vegetarian diet should consider a reducetarian diet.

5. Invest in Renewable Energy vs. Fossil Fuels

Investing in renewable energy is simply the smart thing to do. Fortunately, there are numerous options available. You can opt to lease solar panels or have solar shingles installed on your home. If you live in an area prone to wind, a wind turbine would be a sensible choice. Those with streams running through their properties could benefit from a micro-hydro system.

The benefit of each of these is they use natural resources without draining those resources. This is why these energy options are considered sustainable. Fossil fuels, and other finite resources, will only last so long. If you want to help the planet, invest in renewable energy. You, the planet and your wallet will be glad you did.

Investing in Our Planet Should Be a Daily Activity

There are many other actions each of us can take on Earth Day (and beyond) to invest in the planet. The key is you think about the future when investing. Use natural resources wisely. Think about how to make items last for the long-term, not just the here and now. When making purchases, make smart choices with the good of the planet in mind. Work hard to recycle, repurpose, reuse and reduce.

If you need more ideas on different ways you can invest in our planet, here are 52 actions you can take to make a difference.