Earth day is 55-years this year and I have grown up relatively mindful of Earth Day. It is generally the same week as my birthday and Arbor Day. I have always wondered, Is Earth Day intentionally so close to Arbor Day? What manifested these marked dates into existence? And as a society, do we still care about these days as much as when they originated? To determine if we care more or less about Earth Day let’s first understand the origination of the date.
The Origin Story behind Earth Day
Gaylord Nelson founded Earth Day on April 22, 1970, to raise awareness about pollution, oil spills, deforestation, and biodiversity loss—issues that still demand our attention today. His efforts helped inspire the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency in December 1970. Nelson drew energy from the anti-war teach-ins of the era and recruited Denis Hayes to organize and expand the event nationwide. He chose April 22 because it fell on a weekday between spring break and final exams, which maximized student participation—a strategic lesson in knowing your audience and planning around their schedules.
According to Earthday.org, about 20 million Americans—roughly 10% of the U.S. population at the time—participated in the first Earth Day, making it the second-largest demonstration in U.S. history. Hayes and his team of 85 staff members built something extraordinary.
False advertising surrounding Earth Day
Over time, many corporations have turned Earth Day into a marketing opportunity. Companies promote claims like “our bottles are made with 25% recycled plastic,” which can mislead consumers. I, like many others, have assumed those statements reflected meaningful environmental responsibility.
This Earth Day, take the time to evaluate corporate claims carefully. Scrutinize environmental statements and support companies that genuinely work to reduce their impact. For example, TerraCycle focuses on recycling hard-to-recycle, single-use items such as toothpaste tubes, razors, wrappers, personal protective equipment, and regulated waste—materials that most recycling programs reject.
If you own a business or want to reduce household waste, consider partnering with organizations that provide real, measurable solutions and hold themselves accountable for environmental progress.
