Earth Day 2022: Pet Owners and the Planet

On April 2nd 1970, over 20 million Americans, nearly 10% of the population at the time, were mobilised in a movement that was devised to help protect the environment, Earth Day. Since this momentous day, each and every year on the 22nd of April, Earth Day is used to highlight the role of humans in the current environmental crisis as well as call for “bold, creative and innovative solutions” to these issues in order to help us all build a better, healthier planet. 

Since 1970, Earth Day has managed to mobilise over 1 billion people from more than 190 countries and is recognised as the planet's largest annual civic event. 

In this article, we will be exploring how Earth Day came to life, what we can do to take part and what we as pet owners can do to help the environment in our day to day lives. 

Earth Day 2022

This Friday will mark 52 years of Earth Day being in existence with upwards of a billion people expected to take part in protests, summits, beach cleans and a plethora of other planet-preserving activities across the planet. 

The idea for Earth Day came from a plucky junior senator from the United States named Gaylord Nelson. Senator Nelson had long been concerned about the human impact on the natural world when in 1969 massive oil spill ravaged the coasts of California inspiring him to take further action. Encouraged by anti-war protests against the war in Vietnam throughout the 1960s, Senator Nelson, helped by a few influential figures of the time, managed to organise the biggest protest of its kind the following year. Earth Day 1970 was a massive success with over 20 million Americans across all socio-political divides taking to the streets, parks and schools of America to demonstrate against the impacts of industrialisation on the environment and human health. Within two years, major legislation such as the Clean Air Act and the National Environmental Education Act had been passed, signifying a new age of environmentalism. 

By 1990 Earth Day had gone global with upwards of 200 million people taking part in over 100 different countries. Earth Day 1990 gave a massive boost to recycling efforts worldwide as well as being the platform from which the 1992 United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro was created. After the globalisation of this wonderful cause, Senator Nelson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the US’s highest civilian honour, for his role as the founder of Earth Day. Earth Day was further venerated, in 2015, when it was chosen as the day for the Paris Climate Agreement, an international treaty on climate change, to be signed.

Today, the need for mobilisation on a global scale to demand greater action on climate change from governments and big business is more urgent than ever, and Earth Day is a massive help to that with over a billion people expected to take part this April. 

To find out more about Earth Day 2022, its events and more about what you can do take a look at their fantastic website Here>

Pet Owners and Green Practices

There are a veritable plethora of ways in which we can help reduce our impact on the environment as pet owners and we think that every one of us should be doing our utmost to enact as many of these as we can.

Recycle and Reuse

Recycling can be difficult for pet owners as many foods come in plastic pouches, however, there are many schemes across the country with whom these pouches can be recycled. A simple google search will show you just how many places offer this service locally to you. 

Reusing toys, leads and collars when they have had their time for your dog, is another excellent way to reduce the amount we use and the amount that ends up in landfills. If you do have to buy new, pick quality products so they have less chance of breaking and will be able to be reused time and time again. 

Compost and Biodegrade

Compostable cat litter and biodegradable poo bags for dogs are two terrifically simple ways we can help to reduce plastic and non-recyclable waste. 

Looking After Wildlife

Help out the birds in your garden by keeping your cats indoors around dawn and dusk, when birds tend to feed, to avoid predation. Additionally, if you like feeding your local birds why not enter our April competition, which includes a three-month, sustainable bird food subscription from Palores. 

Vegetarian, Vegan and Sustainable Treats and Chews

As we are becoming increasingly more aware, reducing the amount of meat and fish we consume is one of the best things we can do for the environment. Here, at The Pets Larder we have a huge selection of vegetarian and vegan treats for dogs as well as an excellent selection of sustainable chews such as Green & Wilds naturally shed Antler Chews, making eco-friendly for your pets fun, delicious and ever so easy. 

Check Out Our Plant-Powered Treats and Chews Here>

Every Earth day is the perfect opportunity to highlight the plight of the planet, get involved with a global environmentalism movement and help to make your carbon footprint that bit smaller. So this April 22nd, why not think about what you and your pets can do to make our planet that little bit greener with your daily routines.