Earth day is always a highlight in any nature lovers calendar and, despite a turbulent and challenging past 12 months, Earth Day 2021 is no different.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had us all searching for a route back to normality, but should we really be going back to how things were? Maybe it is time to start building a new, better normal.
We would love for you to join us on Thursday 22nd April, as we do our part to Restore Our Earth and continue our journey to a better future.
Restoring Our Local Areas
The last year has forced us all to appreciate the nature in our local area. Whether it be a beach or a park, a woodland or our own gardens. Nature has provided a safe haven for socially distanced chats and a much needed escape from our home offices.
This Earth Day we want to give a little back and restore these important pockets of nature. So at Starboard we are going to be completing clean ups, brand audits and helping nature thrive all over the world. And we want you to join us!
Join Our Earth Day Brand Audit
On Thursday 22nd April 2021 we are hosting a big plastic clean up and brand audit at our HQ in Thailand alongside Trash Hero Bangkok.
We would love you to join us in Restoring Our Earth by cleaning up a bit of nature near you. Whether it be a section of footpath, a local park, nearby beach or the banks of river. Every clean up, big or small, makes a difference.
And if you want your clean-up to make an even bigger difference you can join us in performing a Break Free From Plastic (BFFP) brand audit.
The brand audit involves taking note of which brands are responsible for the plastic ending up in our natural environment. It is about exposing the impact brands are having, holding them accountable for the plastic they produce and encouraging them to make a change.
To join our audit is incredibly simple, just follow the next 4 steps:
1. Training
To make sure you feel confident completing a brand audit, check out the following 3min brand audit training video.
2. Prepare
Prior to your clean up and audit, there are a few things that you should prepare.
- Make sure you have everything you need for your collection such as bags, gloves and appropriate clothing.
- Check that you can perform your clean up safely. Here is a super useful COVID-19 Risk Assessment for your reference!
- Print out this Data Card to track the brands you find or, if you have a laptop, or tablet at your sorting location you can use this Online Form directly. You can access the whole BFFP toolkit in almost all languages on their website under event host resources.
- Have a plan for how you are going to dispose of any trash you collect. If you are going to take it home to recycle or dispose of, how are you going to transport it?
3. Clean-Up!
Choose the pocket of nature that you want to restore this Earth Day, gather your friends and family (while abiding by local Coronavirus regulations of course) and get collecting.
We recommend separating your plastics from your non-plastics as you go, this will make the next step easier.
4. Perform Your Audit
Go through all of the plastic you have collected and fill in your Data Card or Online Form. When filling in your forms we would love for you to put Starboard as your organisation so we can see how many of our community have gotten involved. Although, if you would rather submit as an independent volunteer that is also amazing!.
If you have used the physical data card, you will then have to type your data on the Online Form in order to submit your audit.
If you require a language other than English, you can upload your audit data to this Google Doc and send it over to us at blue@star-board.com. We will then submit it on your behalf to Break Free From Plastic.
Earth Day Action at Home
Performing local clean ups is an amazing way to have an impact this Earth day, but it’s not the only option. For those who are self isolating or shielding at home there still are plenty of ways you can help using whatever space you have. We have a suggested a couple of ideas for you below:
Get Planting
We can all make our outdoor spaces more wildlife friendly by planting native seeds and wildflowers to support local insect and bird populations. Whether you have a garden, a balcony or a window box you can make a real difference to your local eco system.
There is information all over the internet highlighting the best plants to use to support native wildlife in your country. Here are some good examples for the UK and New Zealand.
Build a Home for Wildlife
For those who prefer DIY to gardening, why not help nature to thrive by building a wildlife home. From a simple bug hotel to a bird box, bat box or hedgehog house. There are all sorts of ways to make your home more wildlife friendly.
Get Inspired
One of the best things we can all do this Earth Day is to refresh our love for the natural world and reignite our passion to protect it. So take a moment to walk in nature, go for a SUP or Windsurf, listen to the birds or observe the amazing complexities of the plants in your home and garden.
Get inspired by watching a new documentary or rewatching an old favourite (here are some of our recommendations). Restart the conversation about how we can make our new normal a better one.
