Earth Day 2024 arrives as a critical reminder of the urgent need for action to address the climate emergency and protect our planet for future generations. With each passing year, the consequences of environmental degradation become more apparent, from extreme weather events to biodiversity loss and rising sea levels.

Earth Day serves as a rallying cry for individuals, businesses, and governments worldwide to redouble their efforts in mitigating climate change and safeguarding the Earth's natural resources.

In the face of this crisis, increased incentives are essential to spur meaningful action. Governments must enact policies that promote renewable energy, reduce carbon emissions, and protect ecosystems. Businesses, too, play a crucial role by adopting sustainable practices, reducing waste, and investing in green technologies.

EarthDay.org is empowering you to make a change by signing their Global Plastics Treaty petition. Plastic pollution is a global problem demanding a global solution. It is an issue transcending national borders, affecting every nation and citizen on Earth. As such, it is incumbent upon the United Nations and Governmental Organisations to take decisive action on this issue.

Year 2 supporting 1% for the Planet

Now in our second year of membership we are proud and humbled to continue playing our part in the community-driven action of environmental conservation. By prioritising environmental giving through our sales, we not only make a difference locally but also contributing to global efforts to safeguard our planet. Our commitment, like others, serves as a testament to the idea that every business, regardless of size, can play a meaningful role in addressing the environmental crisis.

The substantial impact that small businesses within the 1% for the Planet network are making through environmental giving is quite staggering. Collective contributions, amount to over £33 million since 2002, highlighting the power of grassroots efforts in addressing environmental challenges.

From local shops to breweries, coffee shops to agencies, startups to pet shops and more, each member is playing a crucial role in driving positive change through corporate social responsibility (CSR).

Our business is committed to making a positive impact on the environment. Through our partnership with 1%, we contribute a portion of our profits to support environmental nonprofits working to address pressing challenges such as deforestation, plastic pollution, and habitat destruction. 1% for the Planet serves as a catalyst for change, bringing together businesses, nonprofits, and individuals to collectively tackle environmental issues on a global scale. By harnessing the power of collective action and philanthropy, we can make meaningful strides towards a healthier, more resilient planet for generations to come.

How impactful can 1% be?

In short, HUGE! To date, 1% for the Planet has certified over £500 million in donations to environmental organisation's, the majority being from small businesses, just like us.

We wouldn't be able to do this without the community of outdoor loving dog owners who support our business by sharing this journey with us. Our 1% donation each year is just as big a part of yours as it ours, thank you.

What has changed for us?

After funding the plantation of 4500+ trees through our joint online sales and wholesale customers, we recently made the decision to move to Switch2Zero as our environmental tree planting partner. This posed several new opportunities for our business by not only planting trees but also being able to affordably offset our carbon footprint as individuals and as a business. This new approach will potentially allow us to remove over 80kg of plastic per year, as well as enabling us to invest in projects that either remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere or stop it being emitted in the first place. We feel this to be a crucial step in combatting climate change and restoring our environment. Every tree planted helps to restore degraded landscapes, enhance biodiversity, and create habitats for wildlife. Additionally, trees play a crucial role in regulating local climates, providing shade, reducing erosion, and conserving water resources.

Today we wanted to celebrate the achievements of change being made by grassroots businesses across the globe and to also point the finger at big businesses and governments to do much, much more! 

Together, we can build a greener, healthier world for generations to come.

Not just Earth Month. Not just Earth Day. Every day.