What is Earth Day? 🌱
Founded by Senator Gaylord Nelson from Wisconsin, the first official Earth Day was celebrated in 1970 and marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement. Originally, Earth Day celebrations were observed in the United States in response to increasing public awareness around living organisms, the natural world, as well as the indisputable correlation between pollution and public health.
In 1990, environmental leaders took Earth Day ideas globally, inspiring 200 million people in 141 different countries. The global awareness of Earth Day ideas boosted recycling efforts all over the world, and in decades since has focused on global warming, clean energy, and fighting increasing climate-change denial. Since its origin in the 1970s, the Earth Day holiday serves as a historic day of mobilization to one billion people across over 190 countries and is considered the largest secular observance in the world.
Why should all companies celebrate Earth Day? ♻️
Celebrating Earth Day is a great way to encourage more sustainability programs in the workplace. 👉 (To learn more about sustainable workplaces, check out Teaming Up with Your Employees to Save the Planet).
But, as a bonus to your employee engagement initiatives, Earth Day is a great way to sneak some team building activities into April.
Millennials and Gen-Z are more concerned about environmental issues than any other generation, with 75% of employees aged 18-34 expecting their employers to take a stand on important issues such as climate change.
Your employees want to work for a company that cares for the planet and practices sustainability initiatives, and Earth Day is a great way to align your company values with their personal values.
Let’s talk about some fun Earth Day event ideas for you to bring to your workplace this year.
11 Earth Day ideas for work:
1. Learn some Plant Care 101
Everyone loves a little desk plant! Bring the outside inside by giving your employees a small plant to keep on their desks and treat them to a plant-care workshop to help them improve their green thumb at home, too! Not only do they brighten up any home or workspace, but plants actually have some great benefits for your employees. 🌱
Having plants in your office space relieves stress and serves as a source of inspiration. Giving your employees something to turn to when they need a mental break is a great way to help them stay happy and healthy.
In a plant-care workshop, your team will learn so much more about the benefits of keeping plants at work and home, how to correctly and sustainably repot and propagate plants as they grow, and how to pick the right plants for your space and sunlight.
How to get started 👉 Level up your green thumb in Plant Care 101!
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2. Earth Day Mini Games
Earth Day ideas for work can include some fun games, too! Take a break from the day with a fast-paced round of brain teasers and puzzles in a round of Confetti's Earth Day Mini Games. Since groups can be broken up into teams of up to 5 people, this is a great way to engage with your colleagues on a more intimate level than in your typical team-wide events.
Teams will be challenged to answer picture-word puzzles, name that tune, decipher gibberish into words and phrases, and more!
Thanks to the charity component of our Mini Games, you can make donations to a great cause a part of the team building excitement. In our Mini Games Tree Program, teams earn points with correct answers which are used for planting trees across nine developing countries located in Sub-Saharan Africa.
How to get started 👉 Plant trees and have fun with our Earth Day Mini Games!
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3. Host a fundraiser
A great way to get employees involved in your Earth Day activities is to give back with a charitable workplace fundraiser.
If you’re worried about not being able to rally your employees around the cause, there are a few things that you can do:
- Raise awareness about your cause and your goals. 📣
- Make sure that your employees understand what the donations are going toward. 🤔
- Celebrate whenever you meet new fundraising goals! 🎉
- Add some friendly competition into the mix. Who doesn’t want to be the office philanthropist? 💪
Your employees will feel great knowing that they gathered together and raised money for a good cause.
How to get started 👉 Have your staff vote on an environment-focused non-profit that they want to raise funds for. Then, get to it!
4. Create a workplace eco-guide
A great way to raise environmental awareness among your staff is to develop a workplace eco-guide. This pamphlet is something that you can send to your employees on Earth Day to help them understand the steps that your company is taking toward being a more sustainable business.
Outline environmental conservation factors, including:
- Where recycling bins are located in the office (and what’s recyclable vs. what isn’t) 📍
- Where your team can access filtered water instead of using plastic water bottles 💦
- How to request sustainable cutlery for your use at the office 🍴
- Information on energy-efficient lighting and best practices to conserve energy by unplugging electronics and more 💡
- Composting tips & tricks 🪄
If your office is fully remote, then you can create a guide on how your employees can be more sustainable in their home office! Encourage them to go paperless whenever they can, install energy-saving lights at their desk, and unplug their devices at the end of the workweek.
How to get started 👉 For more ideas on how to get started with implementing environmental practices, see our blog on Workplace Sustainability Ideas for Human Resources.
5. Volunteer together
Give your employees a few hours off to volunteer in their community! If your employees are local (or you’re back in the office), you can plan to meet up at a local park for a nature walk and pick up trash.
Better yet, turn it into an Earth Day celebration complete with scavenger hunts (that leave no trash behind).
Your employees will feel great getting some fresh air and sunshine and being an active part of bettering their community. 🌞 Plus, it’s a fantastic team building opportunity. Trash day, but make it fun!
How to get started 👉 Form your corporate green teams! Encourage employees who live close by to choose volunteer efforts they can engage in as a group. Or, if your employees are fully remote and spread all over the country (or the globe), encourage them to use the time off to volunteer individually and reward them when they do!
7. Build sustainable eating habits
Everyone loves food! With this Earth Day celebration idea, you and your employees can use your love of a tasty meal to do some good in the world. This year, consider hosting a vegan or sustainable cooking class. Your team can learn to use nutritious ingredients to create dishes that nurture your body, mind, and soul.
Your teammates simply need to do the shopping. During class, an expert host will help everyone prep and cook the ingredients together. In addition to a great lunch, you'll learn about the nutritional benefits of the food and how healthy eating and saving the planet go hand in hand. If you want to take it a step further, you can create a wellness challenge, encouraging your team to keep their healthy habits going.
How to get started 👉 Have your team take care of the list while we take care of the rest with Confetti's BYO Healthy Cooking Class. If your team craves plant-based options, check out our BYO Vegan Cooking Class.
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8. Craft something beautiful
Many refer to planet Earth as "Mother Nature's canvas," which makes crafting the perfect idea to celebrate. Try hosting a DIY terrarium workshop for your team to learn about different plants and how to take care of them. Your team will also get to connect with nature in a calm and creative way.
You might also consider a sustainable painting class where your team can make their mark on a reusable item like a flower pot or tote bag. Grab an environmentally safe painting kit and contact an art instructor. Your employees can do an activity that's great for their mental health and the environment!
How to get started 👉 Book Confetti's Terrarium Workshop or Sustainable Art Painting Class. These activities include kits that provide everything your team needs for eco-friendly creativity.
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9. Do a zero-waste challenge
Friendly competition isn't just great for team-building. It can also be good for the planet. Earth Day encourages people all around the world to build healthy habits and find ways to honor and protect the environment. See who can do it the best by starting a zero-waste challenge.
To do this successfully, you'll have to help your team find innovative ways to reduce unnecessary consumption or reuse and recycle items you already have. Keep in mind that this kind of challenge may require a bit of education, especially if your team isn't yet used to a green lifestyle.
How to get started 👉 If you're not sure what zero waste is all about or what changes you can make to start working toward this lifestyle, Confetti's Zero Waste 101 Workshop can teach your team about waste culture, recycling, and how to buy with reusability in mind. Our Composting Workshop shows your team how to turn food waste into nutrient-rich soil to keep it out of landfills.
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10. Host a documentary screening
Earth Day helps people bring awareness to environmental issues and find solutions to those problems. Watching a documentary about climate change, fossil fuels, or other problems plaguing the planet can help your team understand what the human race is facing and inspire them to do something about it.
To that end, consider pairing your documentary watch party with another activity from this list. For example, you may decide to watch a film about pollution and then host a fundraiser for an organization that combats it or volunteer to pick up trash at a local beach or park. This puts immediate action behind your newfound knowledge, which is what Earth Day is all about.
How to get started 👉 Visit the Public Broadcasting System website to find a list of Earth Day documentaries on a range of topics. If you want to make this activity interactive, consider booking a virtual field trip like those offered by Boeing. These field trips often include ideas for interactive activities to enliven your Earth Day learning.
11. Have a nature photography contest
Earth Day is a wonderful occasion to encourage your team to get out and connect with nature. This will give them a chance to literally stop and smell the roses. Appreciating the beauty of the world around them may help them recognize the importance of doing what is necessary to protect it.
A photography contest can accomplish all this and more. It helps your co-workers do a better job of being present in the moment and noticing their surroundings. It also gives other teammates a chance to get to know them better by viewing the world through their eyes. Knowing what draws your team in and what they find beauty in can help you understand them on a deeper level beyond the work they do.
How to get started 👉 This activity needs only a smartphone or digital camera and the ability to upload a picture to a central digital location.
Plan Earth Day events with Confetti 🌏
Earth Day activities are a great way to bring your team together to celebrate something we all know, love, and care about–the Earth!
Still looking for the perfect Earth Day team-building activity? Go green with our Earth Day collection!
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Frequently Asked Questions ❓
Why is it important to celebrate Earth Day at work?
Celebrating Earth Day at work raises awareness about environmental issues and encourages employees to take action to protect the planet. Incorporating eco-friendly practices into the workplace helps companies reduce their carbon footprint, conserve resources, and promote sustainability, making a positive impact on the environment and inspiring others to do the same.
How can I get my colleagues excited about celebrating Earth Day at work?
Boost participation and engagement in your Earth Day event by organizing interactive activities that align with the team’s interests and values. Consider involving employees in the planning process, highlighting the benefits of participating in Earth Day initiatives, and showcasing success stories or examples of sustainability efforts within the company to inspire enthusiasm and participation.
What are some more ideas for celebrating Earth Day?
You could participate in a recycling drive or clean-up event, host educational workshops or seminars on sustainability topics, implement energy-saving measures such as turning off lights and electronics when not in use, or encourage the use of reusable or compostable products in the office and home. These initiatives help reduce environmental impact and foster a sense of teamwork and community among employees.
