Earth Day 2024

Earth Day was established on April 22, 1970, by Senator Gaylord Nelson to raise awareness about environmental issues. Earth Month is a an extension of this concept and takes place during April every year. It’s a time to raise environmental awareness and create consciousness around the issues that affect our planet and nature during this time of crisis. Every April, leaders, and environmental activists from all over the world join hands to create sustainable development and offer climate solutions, to minimize our carbon footprint and prevent further harm to our planet’s natural resources.

Credit: 2ndhome, Pinterest

Welcome to Earth Month, where we celebrate our beautiful planet and prepare for Earth Day on April 22nd! It's the time of year when we get our heads around all things sustainability: people all over the world come together to celebrate our planet and think about how we can take better care of it. From planting trees to cleaning beaches, there are all sorts of activities to take part in. It's like a birthday party for Mother Earth , where we show her how much we appreciate everything she does for us.

And you know what: How you decorate your home also has something to do with the well-being of our planet and our future! How? Find out here!

Credit: 2ndhome

The facts

Sustainability in the furniture industry:

Did you know that the furniture industry has a massive impact on the environment? Yes, it's true! On average, each person produces enough interior waste to fill an entire room: In the EU, the total annual furniture waste is 10.78 million tons, which is equivalent to about 500,000 fully loaded trucks!

Approximately 80-90% of all potentially reusable furniture ends up in landfills in Europe (according to statistics from the European Furniture Manufacturers Association (UEA), with only 10% being recycled. That's a lot of stuff piling up there, folks!

Check your purchasing habits – so you don’t ruin the planet!

I'm sorry to say, but you are the problem. Yes, you, and you, and me, and everyone else who is sometimes guilty of choosing this trendy but not particularly eco-friendly interior. Our purchasing habits also play a major role in the furniture industry's waste problem.

THE PROBLEM

Fast Fashion's little sister: Fast Interior!

For years, the fast fashion industry has been in the spotlight as the biggest polluter in the lifestyle sector. But surprise, surprise: The furniture industry is just as bad! "Fast interiors" are a thing: you know, those cheap, low-quality pieces that fall apart after a few years.

New stuff is bad stuff: Most of the furniture that gets thrown away is furniture made in the last 10 to 15 years, according to Ashlee Piper, a sustainability expert and author of Give a Sh*t: Do Good. Live Better. Save the Planet .

"It's usually new furniture that gets thrown away," Ashlee tells AD Magazine. "It's things like a chair that's lost a leg or things with cosmetic damage. That's because they're simply not built to last, and there are no repair programs for them. They were designed to have a short lifespan." Fast Interiors are often poorly crafted items made from a mix of too many materials, such as wood, metal, plastics, foam, fabric, and more, making them difficult to separate and recycle compared to more solidly constructed vintage pieces. So, most of these affordable but disposable pieces end up in landfills after a short lifespan.

Credit: 2ndhome

THE SOLUTION

Is this eco-nightmare a real mood killer for you? We totally get it! But hey, let's look on the bright side: With a few small changes, we can help our planet and (!) make our homes look nice!

Here are 3 sustainable and stylish tips:

  1. Choose timeless pieces and limit the use of trends: Trends can be fun, but nothing shows class, interior knowledge, and true style like owning timeless pieces. They should make up the majority of your decor—and then you can add a few (!) trendy items here and there.
  2. Try to find what you're looking for secondhand before buying new: You'll be amazed at how many great vintage and secondhand pieces are out there—and of course, we at 2nd home are here to help you find the finest selection of fantastic home decor. And if you don't find what you're looking for, just send us a message, and we'll go hunting for it for you!
  3. Check the "cost per use" of new items: To increase the "cost per use" value of your home furnishings, you need to use them more often—or sell them to others to use them. The cost per use of a chair can be calculated as follows: If you buy a chair for €500 but only use it 10 times during your ownership, the cost per use is €50. If you use that chair 100 times, it's only €5. The more an item is used, the more its purchase justifies itself. And of course, if you must buy new, choose ethically produced furniture made from sustainable materials. Environmental friendliness is key here!

Credit: 2ndhome

CONCLUSION

Earth Day isn't just about planting trees and hugging pandas (although that's pretty awesome too!). It's about making conscious choices every day, including in the way we decorate our homes. So let's celebrate Earth Day by committing to making our interiors as sustainable and stylish as possible. After all, this is the only planet with cute puppies and pizza, so let's keep it green and healthy!

ABOUT EARTH MONTH

Earth Day was established on April 22, 1970, by Senator Gaylord Nelson to raise awareness about environmental issues. Earth Month is an extension of this concept and takes place every April. It's a time to raise environmental awareness and create awareness of the issues affecting our Earth and nature during this time of crisis. Every April, sustainability leaders and environmental activists from around the world come together to create sustainable developments and offer climate solutions to minimize our carbon footprint and prevent further damage to our planet's natural resources.