Last month, we encouraged our newsletter readers to participate in a Keep America Beautiful challenge to pick up 25 pieces of litter between now and Earth Day. We have another easy challenge for you this week.
When you pledge to just one eco-friendly habit on the Arbor Day Foundation website, they commit to planting one tree in a recovering forest in your honor. The Foundation launched this new campaign to show the collective impact of individual acts. The Foundation will also provide tips on how to help your new habit stick!
In their February 13, 2025, news release announcing the program, Dan Lambe, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation, said, “Hope for our planet is bold. It’s time we put that hope in motion. This campaign is an opportunity for people around the world to come together in the name of a healthier future for our world.” He reminded us that “We all have a role to play in this effort, because together, small acts can add up to global good.”
Try one of these easy new habits
The Arbor Day Foundation helpfully suggests ten easy, eco-friendly habits.
- Carry a reusable water bottle or coffee cup. You’ll reduce waste and pollution.
- Bike, use public transportation, or carpool regularly. Biking just once a day can reduce your carbon emissions by 67%.
- Wash clothes in cold water. About 90% of a washing machine’s energy is used to heat the water.
- Mend clothing instead of discarding or donating. This keeps your item from joining the 92 million tons that end up in the landfill.
- Bring reusable shopping bags and remember to use them. Reusable bags cut down on litter.
- Take shorter showers to conserve water. This can reduce your water use in the shower by about 45 gallons a week, depending on your shower length.
- Volunteer at a community garden. Community gardens can help increase access to fresh food and create urban green spaces.
- Set up recurring donations to environmental causes. Just a few dollars can make a big impact on communities and ecosystems in need of support.
- Compost food scraps and/or yard waste. Composting food scraps can reduce food waste, enrich the soil, and decrease greenhouse gas emissions.
- Plant a tree. You can plant one too! Trees play a critical role in creating healthier and more connected communities. They can clean the air, mitigate extreme heat, and reduce the impact of flooding.
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