From last summer’s devastating bushfires to our increasingly polluted seas, there’s no denying the impact our actions have on the planet. That’s why we all need to take steps to reduce our footprint and live a more sustainable life this World Environment Day and beyond.
From choosing bamboo as our hero fabric to giving back to an array of causes, we always keep sustainability at the forefront of our minds. But before we look at everything we’re doing to be greener here at Boody, we thought we’d take a look at what World Environment Day is and how it's being celebrated this year.
What is World Environment Day?
One of the most important days across the globe for environmental action, World Environment Day engages citizens, businesses, the government and celebrities to turn their attention to pressing environmental issues. Since 1974, World Environment Day has been celebrated annually on the 5th of June.
World Environment Day recognises glocal change requires a global community and it offers a platform for positive change. It pushes us to rethink the way we consume, for businesses to develop greener models, for governments to protect wild spaces and so much more. It needs all of our support.
World Environment Day is hosted by a different country each year, in which official celebrations occur. This year’s host is Colombia in partnership with Germany. But in a time when so many of us are physically distancing and staying inside, even more people will be celebrating digitally across the world. Sign up to stay in the loop.
This year, the theme for World Environment Day is biodiversity – an urgent concern for our planet. Following the devastating bushfires in Australia, the US and Brazil, locusts infestations across East Africa and the current global pandemic we’re facing, the interdependence we as humans have on the webs of life has never been clearer.
What is biodiversity?
Biodiversity speaks to the variety of life on Earth, including the 8 million plant and animal species that roam our beautiful planet. It also speaks to the ecosystems that house them, and the genetic diversity among them.
Biodiversity is an intricate and interdependent web, in which each member plays a significant role, drawing and contributing in ways that may not even be visible to the eye. The bountiful foods we eat, the air we breathe, the water we drink and the weather that makes our planet habitable all come from nature.
How you can get involved
We all have a role to play in ending biodiversity loss and preserving nature. We must reconsider what and how we consume to be the change we want to see in the world. To do this, there are three ways we can all participate – even if we’re socially-distancing or self-isolating at home.
Learn
While we’re all spending more time at home, it’s a great opportunity to learn more about the Earth’s wild species and habitats. Use the time to reflect on the role that natures plays in our lives and the ways in which we can champion positive change.
Share
In the run-up to World Environment Day, UNEP opened conversation threads in eight languages across its social media channels. They want you to tell them why it’s time #ForNature. This is the perfect opportunity for all of us to share what we love about our world and spread the word.
Act
Following World Environment Day and in the run-up to the 5th UN Environment Assembly in 2021 – when the world’s environment ministers will set global priorities – we are all being asked to act on the knowledge we have gained to help end biodiversity loss and the climate crisis.
Here are some resources for you to learn about how you can protect nature.
- Join Earth School and take part in the 30 environmental lessons hosted by TED-Ed and curated by some of the best nature teachers in the world.
- Learn about how you can help fight climate change through the United Nations’ Act Now campaign.
- Learn about plastic pollution and how it affects marine species through UNEP’s Clean Seas campaign
- Find out about the Anatomy of Action, which maps out actions individuals can take to reduce their carbon footprint.
- Sign up to iNaturalist, an online community of naturalists, where you can record your observations of plants and animals and meet other nature lovers.
How we do our bit, all year round
If we had our way, every day would be World Environment Day. But today it’s official, so what better opportunity to give you an update on what we’re doing to keep our planet Boodyful.
1. Choosing sustainable fabrics
By choosing Boody, you’re making a positive impact on the planet. The below stats show the difference we’ve made to the environment since 2016 by manufacturing with organically-grown bamboo over conventional non-organic cotton.
2. Giving back
We donate 1% of all online sales to non-profit organisations that work to protect the environment. Last year alone, we raised $125,000 in donations to various environmental not-for-profits through our partnership with 1% for the Planet.
3. Reducing waste
By giving excess stock from the fashion industry to people in our community doing it tough, Thread Together has diverted tonnes of new clothing from landfill to date. In 2019, we gave 2,500 items of clothing to those in need via our partnership.
Join the conversation on Instagram with #WorldEnvironmentDay #ForNature and #EveryBoody.
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