Celebrating Earth Day
What is Earth day?
Earth Day is a global event that promotes clean living, with a focus on creating a healthy environment for everyone inhabiting the planet. The mission of Earth Day is to diversify, educate and activate the environmental movement worldwide. Together, we can prevent harm to the planet, limit any further environmental impacts and re-establish a harmonious balance between nature and people.
Restoring our Earth
The theme for 2021 Earth Day is ‘Restore our Earth’. This theme highlights the need to reduce our footprint on the planet as we recover from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, but also how to repair the extensive, previous damage we have already caused.
Natural processes, green technologies and innovative thinking are key in creating positive change. As life is returning to normal again, with travel and aviation industries opening once more, we must be mindful to create a world in which we intend to live on for many years to come.
How we’re getting involved
Here at Tom Raffield, we do everything we can to ensure that we have the smallest ecological footprint. Our impact on the environment is at the forefront of every decision we make when we design and handcraft our artisan pieces.
Steam bending is at the heart of every product we make. Whilst the process can be a little unpredictable, the results are breath-taking and long lasting, whilst also having very little ecological impact. The timber we use is from responsibly managed forests, meaning each design that belongs to our steam bent product range is created exclusively from sustainably sourced wood.
Whilst we do all we can to reduce waste, on the occasion we produce offcuts we cannot re-use ourselves, wood is donated to local companies and schools.
Our partners
We are proudly partnered with Ecologi to create a climate positive workforce. Ecologi work to tackle the climate crisis and keep global temperatures from rising by planting trees and investing in carbon reduction projects. Working with Ecologi, we support projects that offset tonnes of CO2 and minimize our waste streams to become a climate positive workplace.
By joining the WWF 2030 Circle and supporting the Trillion Trees programme we’re dedicated to restoring the natural habitats and ecosystems that have been lost over the last several decades due to human intrusion and destruction. The Trillion Trees campaign has ambitious, yet necessary, targets to re-grow, save and better protect one trillion trees across the globe by 2050. The 2030 Circle aims to re-establish the right trees in the right places to conserve biodiversity, sustain ecosystems, capture enough carbon to tackle climate change, and lift people out of poverty and food insecurity.
How you can get involved
As well as the everyday steps you can take to be kinder to our planet - such as avoiding single use plastic, recycling and turning devices off - there are a few extra ways to give back to the planet this Earth Day. To help make a positive impact on the environment, you can start at home.
Plant a pollinator garden
Plants such as basil, fennel, lavender and fennel are great pollinators for many insects, like bees. Bees are vital in creating a healthy environment and they are in decline. These herbs produce essential oils that are amazing at keeping wildlife thriving and healthy. On top of all these benefits for wildlife, you can use the herbs yourself to cook delicious meals with, rather than having to buy them from a shop, which often come wrapped in single-use plastic.
Join a community clean up
Being respectful of your community and environment around you is a great way to drive change. As 79% of all plastics ever produced have accumulated in the natural environment or landfills, this year’s efforts will be vital in ensuring future generations live on a clean, healthy planet. Whether you join a community clean in up within your area, or start an individual clean up, the impact on the environment will be extraordinary. Restore your area on this Earth Day by clearing away any materials not suitable for surrounding wildlife and greenery.
Posted: 22.04.21
Updated: 13.01.23