Nine inspiring ways you can support Earth Day

Published 19 November 2019

Earth Day is our chance to remind each other how precious our planet is, and how every single one of us can help save it. 

It’s true - we can all contribute to harmony between nature and the earth. By learning about the problems and solutions, and then changing the way we produce and consume. We can create a balance that will help the earth recover and regain strength to support all living things that need it.

The theme for this year is to end plastic pollution. Here are some inspiring and accessible ways you can make a difference in your daily life, in your community, for our one and only mother earth. 

Learn about the issue: As Mandela said – “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can change the world.” Learning about plastic pollution and ways to tackle it is easy with Earth Day’s resource pack, including bitesize facts and links for more reading and watching - like What really happens to the plastic you throw away. 

• Write to your MP: It’s not old fashioned – it works. Your opinions about why plastic pollution matters and how our Aotearoa can tackle it matter. It's easy to get started with these tips for writing letters and emails to MPs.

•  Reduce :

  • Good packaging – Most single-use food packaging can’t be recycled because it’s such low quality. So DIY instead with long-life lunch boxes and beeswax wraps. If you buy your food out, simply take a lunch box with you and ask staff to use it rather than throwaway alternatives. Be proud of the statement you’re making (it could inspire others to do the same!).

  • Clothes – Choose natural fabrics like cotton, wool, merino, linen and hemp. Avoid synthetic, plastic-based materials like nylon, polyester, lycra and acrylic which take 20-200 years to break down.

  • Homewares – Choose natural materials like wood, ceramic, metal and glass for kitchen, bathroom and living room products. Bamboo, cork and hemp are great lightweight options.

•  Reduce:

  • straws – do you really need one? Our oceans don't. When ordering drinks ask staff not to give you straws. If you do need one, get a long-life metal/wood/paper straw (we love Haaka Stainless Steel Straws) and bring that with you.

  • Plastic bags – use your arms or a fabric bag to carry your shopping. It's easy to make your own, or check out Boomerang Bags and small Green Collective Loot Bags for pulses, grains, fruit and veggies.

  • Packaging – avoid it at source! Choose loose fruit and veg, bulk stores for spices, grains and pulses (such as Bin Inn, Moshims, Commonsense Organics, Moore Wilsons, Mediterranean Warehouse, Silk Route, Nut Store, V1 vegan store), and biodegradable packaging such as Ethique toiletries in compostables boxes and Our Eco Cleaning products

•  Reuse:

  • Old containers – food jars can be reused as glasses, vases, storage containers, for home-made toiletries/cleaning products and on the go for snacks/lunches. See Pinterest for more inspiration.

  • Spare wood – get the tool kit out and go wild making plastic-free bookcases, storage boxes, tables, chairs and more.

  • Pre-loved – when you need something new, hit up the op shops, TradeMe and other local second-hand platforms like Freecycle. You’ll reduce demand on new plastic production, divert waste from landfill, and likely snap up a unique bargain.

• Remove:

  • Get involved in a cleanup – be the change you want to see and organise your own (See Keep New Zealand Beautiful tips and starter packs and DOC’s tips for beach clean ups). Watch out for future events from the awesome Sustainable Coastlines and other community groups

  • Be a tidy kiwi – the campaign is back and the message is the same - pick up plastic rubbish from the street, beach, park, any time you see it.

  • Choose products made from recycled plastic - so that less new plastic is created and less ends up in our environment. We rate GreenStuf Insulation which is made from 45% recycled PET plastic water bottles.

• Measure your plastic consumption - so you can celebrate the progress you make reducing it! Try Earth Day's online calculator.

•  Sign the plastic-bag free NZ petition: Over 58,000 people have, so get involved to help push the legislation over the line and save our seas. Your voice counts!