Environmental Awareness Days in April - Green Business Benchmark°

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Feel revitalized this April with environmental awareness days that celebrate nature’s renewal and inspire sustainable living.

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National Walk to Work Day – First Friday of April

Take a step towards reducing global emissions for just one day by walking to work! You could organize a group walk with coworkers who live close by, a great opportunity to connect outside of work. Or simply put on your favorite podcast and enjoy a reflective stroll by yourself. Walking not only energizes the body from sitting stagnant all day, but it also refreshes the mind.

If your workplace isn’t within walking distance, then try walking to the nearest public transit or take your bike instead. You could also make a plan to walk somewhere (grocery store, library, post office, etc.) that you would normally drive to. Take this opportunity to look at your community and environment with new eyes and see things you never noticed before.

World Health Day – April 7th

The World Health Organization estimates that over 13 million deaths are due to avoidable environmental causes which includes the climate crisis. World Health Day promotes the fact that the climate crisis is the world’s greatest health crisis and seeks solutions for building sustainable societies that prioritize the wellbeing of people and the planet.

There are several ways you can support World Health Day such as:

Share your favorite healthy meal recipes or bring healthy snacks to share with coworkers.
Make time for physical activity every day, even something as simple as a 15 minute stretch in the morning. You could also organize a group workout with coworkers because fitness is more fun with friends!
Educate yourself on global health inequalities and support a cause working to help vulnerable groups.
Nourish your mental health through therapy (if you can afford it) or mindful meditation apps.
Invest in an ergonomic office chair for better posture and back support.
Support better air and water quality by choosing truly eco-friendly products – household cleaners, cosmetics and personal care products, lawn and landscaping products, paints and other chemicals.
Buy from your local farmers or community gardens for fresh produce with lower food miles.
Volunteer or donate to a local charity. Giving back and supporting those in need can bring a sense of fulfillment and gratitude.

Earth Day (U.S.) – April 22nd

When we think about environmental awareness days, Earth Day is the first to come to mind for most of us. The Earth Day movement, first launched on April 22nd 1970, has sparked worldwide activism to bring awareness to environmental injustices and fight threats against the wellbeing of our planet and vulnerable communities.

Get involved this Earth Day by:

Taking action through the Billion Acts of Green initiative
Joining a cleanup near you
Showing an environmental documentary at work with a group discussion at the end
Becoming a greener business through a third-party sustainability certification
Supporting your community gardens, nonprofits and small businesses
Upgrading to energy and resource efficient appliances and equipment
Adopting sustainable practices involving energy and water usage, green procurement and sustainable sourcing, and greener transportation methods.
Educate yourself on the groups hit hardest by environmental issues and the young activists leading the charge around the world.

Arbor Day – Last Friday of April

Much like Earth Day, Arbor Day celebrates nature and all the resources and services it provides. Individuals are encouraged to support forest health and tree plantings in order to mitigate global emissions and support biodiversity and vital ecosystems. In the last 50 years, the Arbor Day Foundation has distributed around 500 million trees in more than 50 countries! This Arbor Day, support trees everywhere by donating to the Arbor Day Foundation or other tree planting organizations, or work with your community to plant trees in neighborhoods, parks and other public spaces.

You can also use Arbor Day as an educational moment to learn about different types of trees, how to plant one, and proper pruning techniques. Go for a hike with family or friends and identify as many trees as you can. There are also some great podcasts all about trees! The Plant A Trillion Trees Podcast, Completely Arbortrary and Urban Forestry Radio are just a few.

You can find other environmental awareness days to celebrate year round on our blog!

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