Posted on 22 April 2024
By Jenny Patrickson, Managing Director, Active IQ
Earth Day is a great opportunity to reflect on our relationship with the planet and re-evaluate our commitment to its preservation. This annual event serves as a poignant reminder of the urgent need for collective action to address environmental challenges.
In this blog, we’ll explore the significance of Earth Day and offer actionable insights into how both individuals can actively contribute to the protection of our planet.
Since its inception in 1970, Earth Day has evolved from a grassroots movement into a global phenomenon, encouraging millions worldwide to advocate for environmental conservation. Over the decades, it has been a catalyst for many policy changes, technological innovations, and societal shifts towards sustainability.
At Active IQ, we started our sustainability journey when we partnered with Our Carbon in 2021, which led to the creation of our strategy ‘Healthy People, Healthy Planet’. You can read more by using the page-turning document below (click the icon toward the bottom-right to enter full-screen mode).
The important question is why did we start?
Getting involved in a sustainable strategy is paramount for fostering a healthier environment and ensuring the longevity of our planet. By embracing sustainable practices, individuals, businesses, and communities can mitigate the adverse effects of climate change, preserve natural resources, and promote social equity. Engaging in sustainable strategies not only reduces our ecological footprint but also drives innovation, fosters economic growth, and enhances the quality of life for current and future generations. It is a collective responsibility to embrace sustainability as a guiding principle in all aspects of life to create a more resilient and harmonious world.
To put it simply, we’re trying to ensure we become a more sustainable business – financially, operationally, and environmentally. We’re taking care of the first two already, but we now play our part in contributing to the global effort that constitutes the third.
Active IQ has embarked on its own journey to contribute to a healthier planet. As an awarding organisation that started life in the active leisure space, we began our journey to help people live healthier lives back in 2003, through the influence of the many graduates that achieve an Active IQ qualification. Our journey now includes our aspiration to do our bit for the planet as well as its people, and we’re actively exploring ways to pivot our business model to align to a more sustainable operation.
What steps can you take this Earth Day to get involved?
Personal Empowerment:
- Cultivate Eco-Conscious Habits: Take proactive steps to reduce your ecological footprint by adopting sustainable practices such as composting, reducing single-use plastics, and conserving water and energy.
- Connect with Nature: Reconnect with the outdoors by spending time in nature, whether it’s hiking in a nearby park, gardening, or simply enjoying a picnic in the sunshine. Building a deeper connection with the natural world fosters appreciation and inspires stewardship.
- Advocate for Change: Use your voice to advocate for environmental policies and initiatives at local, national, and global levels. Support organisations and movements dedicated to climate action, biodiversity conservation, and environmental justice.
Business Leadership:
- Integrate Sustainability into Business Practices: Embed sustainability principles into your business strategy by setting measurable goals for reducing carbon emissions, minimising waste, and promoting responsible sourcing.
- Innovate for Sustainability: Harness the power of innovation to develop eco-friendly products, services, and technologies that address pressing environmental challenges. Embrace circular economy principles to design products with end-of-life considerations in mind.
- Collaborate for Impact: Forge partnerships with other businesses, NGOs, and government agencies to tackle complex environmental issues collaboratively. Pool resources, share best practices, and leverage collective expertise to drive meaningful change.
Our Carbon, who has been our partner and instrumental in Active IQ’s sustainability journey, has created “Sustainability 101 for Small Business”. In under an hour, 10 concise videos will support your first steps into creating your sustainability journey. These bitesize sessions aim to clear up any confusion, supporting more companies to feel ready to join the sustainability effort. Created for small businesses, this course focuses primarily on carbon accounting and management.
> Start your journey today! Sustainability 101 for Small Businesses - a 10-part Course.
> You can also view our recent sustainability webinar in collaboration with Our Carbon here.
As Earth Day comes around, let us recommit ourselves to the cause of environmental stewardship with renewed vigour. Whether as individuals or businesses, each of us has the power to make a positive impact on the planet. By embracing sustainable practices, advocating for change, and fostering collaboration, we can pave the way towards a better future for all.
Read further on ‘Taking the First Step This Earth Day’ by Gail Rivett, Chief Customer Officer, Our Carbon.