earth day - invest in our planet

written by Liz Tabron

updated 21.04.2022

Every year on April 22nd, millions of people around the world show their support for Earth Day - a day that shines a light on serious environmental issues and is an opportunity for us all to put even more pressure on governments to take the action needed to help protect our precious eco-systems. Read on to discover all you need to know about Earth Day and this year’s theme, how Silentnight is committed to protecting the environment and what you can do to show your support.

what is earth day?

Held on 22nd April each year, Earth Day demonstrates support for environmental protection such as climate change, pollution and deforestation, highlighting the urgent action that’s needed to change the world for the better. The first Earth Day was celebrated back in 1970, when a United States senator from Wisconsin organised a national demonstration to draw attention to the importance of clean air and water, following an oil spill in California, which saw 20 million people taking to the streets across the US. In 1990, Earth Day became an international campaign, when another event was created to raise awareness of the ecological challenges facing our planet. Earth Day has now grown to include a wide variety of events, which are coordinated by EarthDay.org and include 1 billion people in more than 193 countries.

As each Earth Day comes around, the climate crisis becomes more serious, taking on extra significance. Earth Day 2022 follows a report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and was described as a code red for humanity, with scientists warning that temperatures are set to increase beyond 2°C, which would have global catastrophic effects.

This year’s theme - Invest In Our Planet - is a call to governments, businesses and individuals to invest in a better future. Governments can help by passing new regulations and promoting a green economy, while for individuals it’s all about investing time and money into going green and supporting businesses that take action to help protect the environment and taking a stand against those who don’t.

earth day - how you can show your support

There’s many ways that you can show your support for Earth Day, ranging from making use of the Earth Day toolkits to taking part in organised activities such as planting trees and picking up litter. But of course we should all aim to live more sustainably each and every day, and the small things that we can do as individuals, such as eating less meat, switching to renewable energy, joining a local campaign group and reducing household waste, can all make a big difference and go a long way to helping make our planet a healthier place, ensuring a better future for everyone.

Silentnight’s commitment to environmental protection

At Silentnight we are committed to improving our environment.

We are the world’s first sleep brand to commit to the Science-Based Target Initiative - a leading decarbonisation initiative - and have made incredible progress with our sustainability goals, reducing our carbon emissions by 49% over the past 4 years. This has been achieved by sourcing 70% of raw materials close to our Lancashire-based headquarters, using 100% renewable electricity and cutting 1 million kilos of carbon in 5 years through reduced fuel consumption strategies.

We are also the first and only sleep brand to commit to The Climate Pledge - a commitment to being net-zero by 2040, which is 10 years ahead of the Paris Agreement. Joining The Climate Pledge reinforces our commitment to sustainability, and we have teamed up with like-minded companies, allowing us to all work together towards a solution.

Furthermore, our zero-to-landfill policy demonstrates a commitment to ensuring that none of our waste ends up in landfill sites.

what you can do to help reduce landfill waste

Every year, a colossal 26 million tonnes of waste is produced in the UK alone, with 14 million tonnes of that going to landfill sites, where harmful toxins and gases are released into the atmosphere. Non-biodegradable waste, such as plastic, does not break down in landfill sites, causing serious environmental problems. Affecting more than just the land, this type of waste also washes into rivers and oceans, where it has a devastating impact on marine life. So, what can the average household easily do to reduce landfill waste? Reduce, reuse and recycle - these are the most effective methods that you can use to help reduce your household waste. Here’s some useful tips to follow to make sure less waste ends up in landfill.