5 Ways To Celebrate Earth Day in the Outdoors

It's time to celebrate Earth Day! Since 1970, April 22nd marks the official celebration of Earth Day, a day to commemorate and reflect on the movement towards a greener, more sustainable future. At FATMAP, we couldn’t think of a better day to zoom in on our blue planet.

Scroll down to discover five ways we can take action in the outdoors to celebrate our unique and wonderful planet, all while having some fun.

“How did it all begin?” – you might ask.

Earth Day was born out of a proposal by peace activist John McConnell in 1969. It was shaped into the Earth Day we know today by the then US Senator Gaylord Nelson and coordinator Denis Hayes, who created an environmental teach-in on April 22, 1970. This ultimately brought out over 20 million people and remains the largest single-day protest in history.

Earth Day organisers estimate they’ve prompted more than 2.6 billion green acts since their inception in 1970!

We want to play our part in keeping this legacy alive for ourselves and future generations, so we can all keep enjoying nature at its finest.

#1 Swap it out

You have seen those easy-to-buy single-use plastic utensils, cups, and plates, perfectly packaged and neatly stacked on the supermarket shelf, beckoning you to slide them into your shopping cart. They seem much easier to use on a camping trip, as they can quickly be binned after being used. No dishes, no pain, right?

Take a moment to consider, though, that the world generated 139 million metric tons of single-use plastic waste in 2021, which was six million metric tons more than in 2019, when the first index was released, according to the Plastic Waste Makers Index.

Next time you pack up for a camping trip, consider swapping out single-use plastics for reusable alternatives.

This way, we all help keep plastics out of land fills, oceans, and off our trails, plus save some cash. Here are some ideas:

Use reusable or recyclable utensils, plates, and cups
Bring your own water bottles
Use paper bags for storage or bin liners
Pack reusable shopping bags

Make sure to leave no trace wherever you explore!

#2 Pick it up

Another way to celebrate Earth Day is by making the world a little bit cleaner. On your next hike, grab your backpack and a bin bag, and help pick up the litter on your local trails.

By just spending a few hours picking up the plastic littering our areas, we can improve the nature around us and help keep our planet healthy.

You can even join community initiatives like Plastic Free Peaks to create an even greater impact, whilst also meeting other outdoor enthusiasts!

#3 Read up on it

For Earth Day, consider learning more about the environment and the people spearheading the movement by immersing yourself in the best science and nonfiction books on the topic. After all, knowledge is power and the more we understand about our planet, the better we can look after it.

Not sure where to start? Check out our must-read blog posts about the environment:

browse our blog

#4 Wear it again

Earth.org estimates that up to 85% of all textiles end up in dumps each year. Ten percent of the world’s total global carbon emissions is caused by fashion production - and that includes outdoor clothing. This all leads to dried up water sources and polluted rivers and streams, amongst other environmental impacts.

Embrace Earth Day by investing in sustainable fashion and buying recycled or second-hand outdoor gear.

*Photo: Xavier de le Rue by Justin Galant*

Browse sites like eBay, Facebook Marketplace, or new apps liked Everide, the first mobile app for buying and selling second-hand outdoor clothing and gear available in Europe.

This way, we get what we need for our adventures at a great price, while avoiding the carbon emissions of new equipment.

Bonus: Explore members get 20€ off their first Everide purchase above 59€.

JOIN EXPLORE AND CLAIM YOUR EVERIDE BENEFIT