This week marked Earth Overshoot Day, Wednesday 2nd August we marked a critical date for our planet - the day we've consumed our planet's resources faster than it can naturally regenerate. From the food we eat to the energy we use, we are putting an immense strain on Earth's ecosystems, leading to deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and climate change. It's a stark reminder that we need to take immediate action to re-balance our relationship with the environment. Learn more about what actions you could take below.

It's Time To Take ACTION.

As a community that cares deeply about the planet, we must come together and address this urgent issue. Every action, no matter how small, can make a significant difference. Here's how you can contribute to moving Earth Overshoot Day in the right direction:

1. Reduce Food Waste More than a third of all food grown winds up in the trash. Buying into a home composting system, purchasing “ugly food,” and buying less as well as smaller portions can all help. Addressing this could move the Earth Overshoot Date by two weeks.

2. Support Circular Businesses:  Circular fashion aims not only to reduce resource use but also to recycle pre-consumer material and turn it into valuable products, reducing waste. As we only use sustainable materials such as organically grown cotton, the effect increases. The use of organic cotton as virgin material alone saves an average of 91% water and 46% CO₂ compared to conventional cotton crops.

3. Sustainable Transportation: Choose public transportation, carpooling, biking, or walking whenever feasible to reduce carbon emissions. How we live in our urban environments will greatly impact how we can reduce our impact with personal mobility making up 17% of humanity’s carbon Footprint. If we reduce our Footprint from driving by 50% around the world and assume one-third of car miles are replaced by public transportation and the rest by biking and walking, Earth Overshoot Day would move back 13 days.

4. Conserve Energy: Reduce energy consumption by opting for energy-efficient appliances, turning off lights and devices when not in use can help in our everyday. Whilst choosing to use a provider who supports renewable energy can help build to the bigger objective of decarbonising our energy systems. Over 150 years ago, the carbon Footprint of humanity was close to zero. If we want to limit the global temperature increase to below 2°C, the carbon Footprint would have to be zero again before 2050.

5. Nurture Nature: More than a third of all food grown winds up in the trash. Buying into a CSA, getting “ugly food,” and buying less as well as smaller portions can all help. Addressing this could move the Earth Overshoot Date by two weeks.
   
   

At ONE Essentials, we take our cues from Mother Nature, who recycles infinitely: everything goes around in a loop, regenerating our planet's resources and this is how we design our products.

Ultimately if we want to create change we we have to change the system.