Plastic. It’s in the food we eat, the water we drink, and even the air we breathe. In the battle of Planet vs. Plastics, a 60% plastic production reduction is on the frontline of this Earth Day 2024 public debate.
Earth Day is celebrated every year on April 22. The month of April is sometimes referred to as Earth Month, with the week preceding Earth Day referred to as Earth Week. Environmental issues such as air pollution, deforestation, fast fashion, and textile waste take center stage.
The textile industry reportedly produces over 100 billion garments a year. Approximately 85% of those garments, made from crude oil which releases dangerous microfibers when washed end up in landfills or incinerators and continue to contribute to long-term pollution. Plastic food wrappers, plastic bags, plastic bottles, and plastic straws contribute to plastic pollution in our oceans and drinking water and even extend to our bloodstreams. Recent reports of plastic production reaching more than 380 million tons per year cause concern about microplastic consumption and its long-term effects on human and animal life.
With the ultimate goal of building a plastic-free future, the Earth Day Organization rallies behind the Planet vs. Plastics theme to educate and activate environmental movements around the world to tackle the plastic crisis head-on. To aid in the power of positive change, the organization has created a ‘How to Do Earth Day 2024’ toolkit.
Volunteering for local cleanups, rejecting fast fashion, reducing plastic usage, and educating yourself on plastics’ impact on the planet and human health are great ways to join the fight for a healthier planet this Earth Day and beyond.
