Upcycling Materials is Just One Way to Get Involved with Earth Month
photo source: Anthology Woods
Earth Day is coming up on April 22nd, with a theme of Endangered Species. If that’s not enough, Arbor Day falls on the same week. That’s a full week of green celebrations! Anthology Woods acknowledges these days as both celebrations of our beautiful planet and opportunities to spark conversation about responsible resource management to support a healthy future.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF EARTH DAY
The first Earth Day in 1970 was spurred by increased awareness of environmental concerns in a tumultuous political climate. A large part of the movement came from Rachel Carson’s New York Times bestseller, Silent Spring in 1962, which sold over 500,000 copies and helped raise concern over environmental destruction and the links to human health.
With the growing wave of environmentalism spreading among mainstream America, a day to inform and celebrate our planet was soon on the way. Gaylord Nelson, the Senator of Wisconsin at the time, distilled the idea of Earth Day after witnessing the destruction of the 1969 oil spill in Santa Barbara. His vision was to invigorate the public with a “national teach-in on the environment,” involving public speakers, discussion and demonstrations.
After the first Earth Day in 1970, the US passed the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts within the same year. Since then, environmental activism from Earth Day campaigns have spurred recycling efforts and clean energy initiatives throughout the recent decades.
2020 marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, which will involve larger campaigns to help shape the future of environmentalism, including planting 7.8 billion trees to represent one tree for each person on Earth.
Image Source: Anthology Woods
CELEBRATING EARTH MONTH WITH RECLAIMED WOOD
More and more species are becoming endangered, and much of this trend comes from habitat loss, deforestation, agricultural practices and environmental toxins caused by humans. Reusing and recycling materials and buying responsibly-sourced new wood are ways to reduce our impact on the land.
By intercepting waste streams, Anthology Woods reclaims wood that has already been utilized by industries and consumers, reducing the demand and pressure for new wood. Recycling building materials and reducing preventable waste are important concepts to keep in mind when building new structures and spaces.
Architects, builders and designers have enormous power to propel green building practices in the form of net-zero, LEED and green building projects. Consciously sourcing building materials is just one of many ways to rethink our consumption of natural resources.
Reclaimed wood is a wonderful and sustainable building material that also adds deep beauty and history to a space. Learn more about sustainability at Anthology Woods here.