Earth Day 2022 - Invest in our planet

Every year on April 22, people from around the world unite in celebration of our earth. Earth Day is observed by over a billion people across nearly 200 countries.¹

This conservation-focused holiday is a great time for everyone from B2B suppliers to consumers to consider their efforts for protecting our planet.

Today, we’re going to explore the meaning behind Earth Day 2022’s theme of “Invest in Our Planet” and discuss how B2B businesses can participate.

Earth Day 2022: Invest in Our Planet

As we briefly mentioned, the theme of this year’s Earth Day celebration is “Invest in Our Planet.” The organization that coordinates the global Earth Day activities and efforts call everyone to “act (boldly), innovate (broadly), and implement (equitably).” ²

This call to action adequately captures the organization’s desire to make real change in the way that we treat the planet. It goes beyond the classic “reduce, reuse, recycle” sentiment, as it calls us to take action in a way that is much more powerful and intentional.

Fortunately, we all have the power to make a change, especially B2B businesses that are setting the tone in many industries and economies throughout the world.

5 ways B2B businesses can practice sustainability

Small shifts towards sustainability can create large waves of change, especially when these shifts occur amongst businesses and corporations.

Let’s review 5 ways that B2B suppliers can invest in our planet and take steps toward sustainability.

1. Cut down on plastic

Plastic can take up to 500 years to decompose.³ Since this material takes so long to break down, plastic waste has negative effects on ecosystems and the organism that reside in them.⁴

Businesses can cut down on plastic in their products and packaging by replacing it with low-waste or no-waste options. Opt for glass containers rather than plastic ones, or paper packaging rather than plastic wrap. Biodegradable bioplastics are also an option.⁵

It’s important to point out that you don’t need to entirely cut out plastic in order to reduce plastic waste. Of course, using zero plastic is ideal, but it isn’t always realistic. Your small changes can lead to a large impact.

For example, if you’re producing or selling large quantities of products, reducing your plastic consumption by even 5% or 10% can save a significant amount of plastic over time.

2. Opt for recycled materials

Another way to cut down on waste is to use recycled materials for manufacturing, packaging, or even shipping. Post-consumer materials, which are those that were already used and recycled, reduce waste by taking advantage of materials that would otherwise end up in a landfill.

When you source recycled materials to use for your business, you’re continuing to support the recycling companies that are making an effort to combat excessive waste.⁶

3. Use sustainable packaging

Sinch packaging contributes to so much waste,⁷ it is important to look for sustainable packaging alternatives.

Some sustainable packaging materials that you could consider include plant-based bioplastics, biodegradable peanuts, biodegradable poly bags, cork, and bamboo. You’ll find that some of these materials are even sturdier and more visually appealing than regular plastic packaging.

4. Provide proper disposal instructions

As a supplier who distributes bulk orders, you’re likely working with a lot of packaging. How packaging materials are disposed of makes a difference from a sustainability standpoint. That’s why it’s important to provide clear instructions to your buyers on how to dispose of the packaging materials.

For example, if a particular material dissolves with water, let your buyers know. If one part of the packaging is recyclable but the other is not, be sure to point out which ones should be recycled and which should be reused in another way or simply thrown away.

5. Get smart with energy usage

How your business uses energy can contribute to ecological problems, or it can be a part of the solutions.

There are two different types of energy: renewable and non-renewable. Non-renewable energy sources, such as petroleum, nuclear, coal, and natural gas, emit large quantities of carbon dioxide, which is not great for the environment. Renewable energy sources, such as hydropower, wind power, and solar power, are more sustainable because of lesser or neutral carbon dioxide emissions.⁸

There are a few ways that you can get smart with your energy usage. You can optimize your business processes to use less energy, or you can opt for green energy sources, such as the renewable ones that we discussed above.

Sell on Alibaba.com

Did you know that there are many sellers on Alibaba.com who offer post-consumer products, packaging, and materials? Join these and the other sellers on our platform who are passionate about making sustainable change.

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Happy Earth Day! How will you invest in our planet this year?