This year marks the 55th Earth Day, an annual celebration of the modern environmental movement that fostered not only acute awareness of mankind’s role in protecting the planet but also landmark environmental laws including the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts. It also serves as a yearly reminder of areas where we all can commit to treating the Earth kindly.
While this year’s Earth Day theme, “Our Power, Our Planet,” specifically calls on individuals, communities and organizations to unite in supporting renewable energy, it also more broadly emphasizes the importance of both collective and individual action to build a more sustainable future.
At Encina, we’re working to decarbonize the global chemicals industry by producing circular chemicals from waste streams which our customers will use to make new consumer products. It’s our vision to turn waste into environmental and economic opportunity. But it’s not just a business promise – it’s a pledge to our planet which is drowning in plastic waste: This year, global plastic waste is set to reach 460 million tons annually.
It’s nearly impossible to spend a minute without touching something containing plastic. Plastic is indispensable to modern life – from the medical and technology fields to recreation and consumer products.
That means we must recommit ourselves to the familiar reduce, reuse, recycle mantra. Manufacturers and packaging experts focus on designing more sustainable products with minimal and recyclable packaging. Recyclers and materials specialists are developing technologies that better marry our production and waste processes. Encina is focusing on the ‘three Rs’ by working to get the most value out of the waste streams that remain – we’re building a waste-free future with a sustainable way to create circular chemicals.
We’ve developed multiple partnerships to advance this commitment to divert plastics and other materials from the waste stream, manufacture drop-in circular chemicals from them and propel other companies forward in meeting recycling, sustainability and business goals.
Improving the health of our planet takes effort from all of us. Every individual plays a vital role in creating this circular economy and Earth Day is the perfect time to focus our energies on educating, advocating, mobilizing and pledging to protect the planet.
So this Earth day, let’s turn intention into impact – whether you’re innovating, recycling, or rethinking, every step towards sustainability fuels the momentum we need to protect our shared home. We encourage you to consider how you can help from your corner of the world.
Share your Earth Day action stories with us!