Are you looking for an Earth Day challenge to be more eco-conscious during Earth Month? Here are 30 Earth Day challenge ideas for busy people who care about the environment. Pick one or two of these or try all of them!
These Earth Day challenge ideas are super simple and meant to create small habits for lasting change.
Even as a busy mom, environmentalism is incredibly important to me. Environmentalism didn’t always come easy, however. Growing up convenience was king and queen in our home. It took me a while to understand that all of our actions had an impact on the environment.
It’s very easy to start to believe that your individual action doesn’t make a difference. But small positive change creates a massive collective impact that our environment needs.
Here are 30 Earth Day challenge ideas for busy people who care about the environment. Try one or try them all! Please note these are just ideas and they can be adjusted and arranged in the best way that works for you and your family. These Earth Day challenge ideas are here to kick start your eco-conscious living journey or help you continue to incorporate more eco-friendly practices into your life.
This post is all about 30 Earth Day Challenge Ideas!
1. Eat meatless one day a week for a month
If you consume meat with every meal, try to hold off on the meat for just one day a week. A lot of people choose Mondays (the infamous Meatless Mondays), but it can be any day of the week.
As a beginner, if cutting out meat for an entire day is too much, try cutting out meat during one meal for 3 days out of the week instead!
There is no written rule on how much meat you should reduce to be more environmentally friendly, but there is a lot of scientific evidence that mentions that reducing meat consumption is one of the most effective ways to decrease carbon in the atmosphere.
2. Don’t buy anything new for the next two weeks
Here’s a true Earth Day challenge idea! Don’t buy anything new for two weeks. Are you up for this challenge? I read a book by an author who didn’t buy anything new for an entire year! Now that is a super challenge.
“The most environmentally friendly product is the one you didn’t buy”. A great way to be more kind to our planet is to reduce consumption and make use of the items that we do have.
3. Buy your next needed item second-hand
Embrace thrifting! Thrifting can not only be fun but so exciting to find hidden treasures and needed items. Buying second-hand helps to reuse items that others no longer need. This extends the life of items and prevents you from having to buy new items made of virgin materials.
4. Refrain from using single-use coffee pods for a month
Your coffee can have a large impact on the environment. Let’s rethink how we make our coffee! Here are a few zero-waste coffee options you can try:
- This is the Reusable Coffee Filter I use every day! It’s an incredibly inexpensive swap for single-use coffee filters and lasts for years!
- I got my husband a French Press for Christmas a few years ago and he loves it! It is great if you don’t want to make an entire pot of coffee, but are still looking for a fresh morning cup. The coffee from this is nothing short of incredible (and plastic free!)
- Espresso is the perfect pick-me-up beverage that is plastic-free! Use this espresso machine to remake your favorite Starbucks drink at home or have an after dinner espresso shot to finish the night.
- For the Keurig lovers, try these Reusable K-Cups instead of single-use k-cups.
- For Nespresso loves, try reusing the Nespresso pods with this easy seal refill kit. Works perfect for the Vertuo!
5. Skip the plastic bag
The next time you go into the grocery store, bring your reusable bag! If you forget, challenge yourself to still not use any plastic bags!
Either load up your cart with your items and push them to the cart or carry it in your hands. Either way, take the Earth Day challenge of skipping the plastic bag!
6. Research fast fashion
Have you heard of fast fashion? According to Good On You, Fast fashion can be defined as cheap, trendy clothing that samples ideas from the catwalk or celebrity culture and turns them into garments in high street stores at breakneck speed to meet consumer demand (source). Research more about fast fashion and the steps you can take to choose more sustainable clothing and create more sustainable clothing habits.
One of my favorite sustainable fashion brands is Poplinen. Shop around here!
Use the code TEACHGOGREEN10 for 10% off!
7. Follow a Sustainable Influencer
Whether you’re on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tik Tok, or just scroll the internet at times, there is a sustainable influencer out there you would connect with.
Following sustainable influencers help you stay up to date with new sustainable finds and information, show different eco products, and offer tips to help your eco journey. It may take a while to find the influencer that resonates most with you, but there are so many wonderful people in this community who have information to share with you!
This Earth Day challenge yourself to connect to a sustainable influencer!
8. Use your veggie scraps to make broth
Instead of throwing out those veggie scraps, use them to make broth!
Here’s a quick veggie broth recipe:
As you’re cooking, throw all leftover scraps (even the peels), in a container and freeze them. When the container is full, add the veggie scraps to a pot of water. Boil for about 30 minutes or more. Add seasoning if you’d like. Once the broth is cool, strain out the veggies and refrigerate/freeze.
This is a great way to repurpose your veggie scraps and save you money from buying stock. If you compost, compost the scraps after draining!
9. Try a soap bar
Instead of buying your next bottle of body wash in plastic, look for a soap bar with no packaging (or minimal packaging). Some soap bars come in cardboard boxes. These boxes are easily recyclable!
These are some of my favorite soap bars!
10. Wash your next load of laundry on cold
Most of the energy used for your washing machine comes from heating up the water. The majority of the energy we use is generated from fossil fuels which are contributing to our climate change crisis. Take the challenge of washing your laundry on cold!
11. Use reusable napkins at dinner instead of paper towels
Making 1 ton of paper towels requires 17 trees and 20,000 gallons of water (source). Challenge yourself to choose reusable napkins instead of paper towels. Use rags to clean up the messes and reusable napkins with your meals, when you’re done, toss them in the washer!
We’re saving money and natural resources! Check out my favorite reusable napkins below. I love the pattern and the absorbancy of the towel!
12. Make your own cleaner
Baking soda and vinegar are two of my favorite, non-toxic, inexpensive cleaners. Using vinegar and water is perfect for cleaning toys, wiping down surfaces, and cleaning cutting boards. Baking soda is excellent for clothing, cloth diapers, tub/shower, microwaves, tough stains, and odor control.
You can also check out more DIY cleaners here.
13. Take a walk around the neighborhood
A walk around the neighborhood is not only good for your physical and mental health, but it is also a great way to connect to nature. Celebrate Earth Day by spending a little bit of time outdoors.
As you’re walking remember to appreciate your neighborhood as your home – take in all aspects of it. Then, think bigger, appreciating your community as your home. Begin to think geographically, appreciating where your home is located in relation to the rest of the world. Finally, give appreciation to the entire planet as your home.
14. Read a book about the environment
Here are a few suggestions:
- The Sustainable(ish) Living Guide: Everything you need to know to make small changes that make a big difference
- Sustainable(ish) Guide to Green Parenting, The: Guilt-free eco-ideas for raising your kids
- Give a Sh*t: Do Good. Live Better. Save the Planet.
- Project 333: The Minimalist Fashion Challenge That Proves Less Really is So Much More
- Consumed: The Need for Collective Change: Colonialism, Climate Change, and Consumerism
- 101 Ways to Go Zero Waste
15. Watch a movie about the environment
Here are a few suggestions:
- The Minimalist
- Don’t Look Up
- Food Inc.
- Before the Flood
- The Lorax
- The Bee Movie
I’ve also created an entire blog post about environmental science movies for your students along with free discussion questions for each!
Related Posts: 12 Best Eye-Opening Environmental Movies For Students to Inspire on Earth Day (with FREE discussion questions!)
16. Unplug the appliances you’re not using
According to research, here are 9 gadgets you should be unplugging at night to save money and energy:
- TV
- Wireless Router
- Computer
- Small Kitchen Appliances
- Lamps
- Electric Blankets
- Phone Charger
- Wireless Headphone Cases
- Extension Cords
While some of these items individually only save a small bit of energy, collectively with other appliances they can make up a large number of kilowatts.
17. Clean out your email inbox
Yes, deleting emails can help reduce your carbon footprint. In fact, an average year of emailing emits about 136 kilograms of CO2e, which is about the same impact as driving 200 miles in a gas-powered car (source). Even when emails are stored, they still require energy. This means striving for a tidy email inbox is a great way to take on this Earth Day Challenge!
18. Calculate your carbon footprint
There are so many carbon footprint calculators! Here’s one of my favorites: Cool Climate Calculator.
This calculator gives you an idea of what is average and allows you to choose a more advanced option if you really want to get in-depth with how much carbon you generate. At the end, the calculator gives you ideas to take action.
I love this carbon footprint generator because it helps you rethink how each of your actions has an impact on our Earth.
19. Pick up litter around your home, neighborhood, or nearby area
Litter on the ground becomes trash in our waterway. If you can, conduct a litter cleanup! If you’re incredibly busy and pressed for time, take a few minutes to pick up the litter around your home, neighborhood, or nearby area.
When we’re taking our son to the park we typically bring a bag with us to pick up litter along the way. This makes it easy, convenient, eco-friendly, and keeps our neighborhood looking tidy. It is also a great time to teach our son about litter and the impact of our actions on the environment.
20. Open the blinds/curtains and let in some natural light
Connecting to nature is one of the most important ways to remember why it is so important for us to protect our Earth. Even if you can’t find time to get outside this earth day, take the Earth Day challenge of simpling letting in the light. Natural light improves your mood and provides much-needed vitamin D!
21. Drive with your windows down
This Earth Day challenge is especially doable for busy people! While driving isn’t the most eco-friendly activity, we have to face the reality of our situation. In the U.S., it is nearly impossible to travel to most places without a vehicle. We experience sprawl everywhere. As a more realistic challenge, connect to nature in your car by driving with the windows down. Bonus points if you turn off the radio and any other distractions and enjoy the scenery around you!
22. Order your favorite meal with no meat
Reducing meat consumption is an excellent way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. One of the biggest threats to our Earth is the increase in temperature due to the excess amount of greenhouse gasses trapping heat in our atmosphere. Take the Earth Day challenge of reducing your meat consumption, even if it is only by one meal or practice a flexitarian diet!
23. Make a zero-waste lunch
Zero waste means reducing the amount of trash you create so that you aren’t throwing anything away. Everything is either recycled, reused, or repurposed. Here are some ways to have a zero-waste lunch:
- Use reusbale tupperware
- Pack snacks that don’t have packaging
- Use a resuable bottle for your drink
- Pack fruits that don’t need to be peeled/seeded (unless you will compost these scraps)
- Keep in mind the idea is to have no trash when you’re done with your lunch.
24. Download the EWG App, and use it
EWG or Environmental Working Group is one of my favorite apps. The app focuses on rating household cleaners, beauty products, and food items to promote healthy living. Items are given a score based on the number of toxins, the environmental impact, and the potential for allergy reactions.
Here are a few examples of item ratings from the EWG app.
25. Create a meal plan for the week and stick to it
Meal planning is an excellent way to reduce food waste. Food waste generates methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. The Earth Day challenge here is creating a connection between the food we purchase/prepare and what happens to it when we throw it away. Making a meal plan and sticking to that plan, reduces the amount of food you throw away.
26. Take a 5-minute shower
The average shower is 8 minutes long. Decreasing your shower for just three minutes to a five-minute shower saves energy and water (and money!). Our Earth is made of 71% water, it is important for us to save as much of it as we can.
27. The next time you buy a drink out, refuse the straw.
Use this Earth Day challenge to take a stand against single-use plastics, such as straws. Either bring your own straw or drink directly from the cup!
Here are my favorite reusable straws! They’re very affordable and come in different shapes and sizes. I use the bag it comes with to keep straws in my purse so I can always have some with me!
28. Take a moment to research what is recyclable in your area.
Simply type into a search engine (preferably Ecosia), your city + recycling. You’d be surprised, but most cities have a list of exactly what can be recycled in the area you live in. You may also be surprised about what you can and cannot recycle. Be sure to stick to this list and only recycle the correct items. All other items are considered contamination and can lead to more items being landfilled than necessary.
29. Dim your screen on your cell phone
Dimming your phone light actually reduces the amount of energy your phone uses! This could help your phone last a bit longer and means you have to charge it a bit less.
30. Only drink tap water in a reusable cup/bottle for a day
Remember that all the water on Earth is all the water we’ve ever had on Earth. The water from water bottles and tap water come from the exact same place. In addition, tap water regulations are often more stringent than bottled water regulations. Choosing tap water reduces plastic waste and waste from packaging and transporting goods. Choose a water filter pitcher for your tap water if you feel your water needs additional filtration. Here’s the one we use at home.
I hope this blog post gave you practical Earth Day challenge ideas so you can celebrate the holiday even if you’re busy! If you’re already doing most of these, choose one of the Earth Day challenge ideas that will deepen your sustainability journey! This holiday is a perfect time to challenge yourself to change habits to help the planet.
Happy Earth Day!
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