Earth Overshoot Day: make a pledge to join Friends of Reuse Network and help #MoveTheDate

Today is Earth Overshoot Day, but what does it all mean and how can we make a change?

What is Earth Overshoot Day?

Earth Overshoot Day marks the date when humanity’s demand for ecological resources and services in a given year exceeds what Earth can regenerate in that same year. According to the Earth Overshoot Day official website, the way the deficit is maintained for the rest of the year is by liquidating stocks of ecological resources and by accumulating waste in the form of carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere. Which all makes for rather frightening reading.

When does Earth Overshoot Day Fall this Year?

This year, Earth Overshoot Day lands on July 29 and is one of the earliest times it has fallen. In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Earth Overshoot Day fell 3 weeks later than in 2019 because many of the most polluting activities had ceased across the world and there was less demand for ecological resources and services. However, with countries across the world starting to open up and come out of pandemic-enforced lockdowns, life is returning to the ‘new normal’ bringing with it the pressures and strains on the environment.

But hope is not lost, and there are countless things we can all be doing to create a more sustainable future.

Join Friends of Reuse Network and help Move the Date

Campaigners around the globe are encouraging us to #MoveTheDate, but how can we realistically achieve this?

One answer is joining Friends of Reuse Network, our new initiative to get more people on board to raise awareness of the benefits and impact of reuse! By becoming a Friend of Reuse Network you can align yourself with our charities’ values and make a pledge to become more sustainable, more charitable and more mindful of reuse in your day-to-day life.

Here at Reuse Network, our nation-wide network of charity members are leading the reuse revolution and working with commercial partners and members of the public to divert millions of useable household items from going to landfill. In 2020, the reuse sector prevented 111,664 tonnes of products from going to landfill and they have no plans of stopping there!

Friends of Reuse Network is open to individuals and businesses who operate outside of the sector and want to become affiliated with our network and support our hundreds of members across the UK.

Of course, it doesn’t just end at reuse, there are so many changes we can make both big and small that will have a positive impact on the environment and will help to move the date of Earth Overshoot Day. Here are just a few:

• Raise awareness on the positive impact of reuse
• Contact your local charity to donate your unwanted goods
• Endeavour to buy reused and second-hand items instead of new wherever possible
• Commit to reducing waste and be mindful of the climate crisis
• Ditching the car for a more carbon neutral method of travel
• Saying no to fast fashion and opting for more ethically conscious brands
• Being more mindful of the food we eat and opting for environmentally-friendly substitutes
• Switching to plastic-free personal care
• Recycling as much of your household waste as you can
• Switching off electrical devices when they are not being used

The list could go on and on….

It starts with just a small change, and ends with a big difference. So why not make a start with something small today and join our circle of friends who are pledging to help raise awareness of reuse?