Create a Better Future for Everyone by Celebrating Arbor Day & Earth Day
We’re pretty lucky to call Earth home, with its sparkling shorelines, snow-capped mountains and stretches of lush, tropical forests. That’s why it’s important for us to treasure and protect Earth and its natural resources. Holidays like Arbor Day and Earth Day are great opportunities to learn about important challenges facing the planet and create a call-to-action to conserve our planet’s resources. For example, did you know that the makers of Quilted Northern® toilet tissue have an ongoing partnership with Arbor Day Foundation® to plant two trees for every tree used in the production of Quilted Northern Ultra Soft & Strong®? In 2020, we planted trees in the Cibola National Forest in New Mexico.
Every action, no matter how small, can make a world of a difference. Create a better future starting today by rolling up your sleeves—literally and figuratively! —and digging in. Read on to learn about the fascinating history and facts behind Arbor Day and Earth Day, plus a few activities to celebrate each holiday!
What Is Arbor Day?
While Arbor Day and Earth Day are often mistaken for one another, they represent two different, but very important themes. Established in Nebraska in 1872, Arbor Day can be observed on the last Friday in April every year. Nebraska newspaper editor-turned-senator J. Sterling Morton proposed the holiday, when he, along with other settlers from the East Coast, noticed the territory’s lacking tree population.
The idea quickly caught on and today it's celebrated simply by planting trees and showing appreciation for the environment. You can participate in Arbor Day activities by planting your own tree and supporting companies with tree-planting initiatives.
As a matter of fact, the makers of Quilted Northern® toilet tissue have partnered with Partnered With Arbor Day Foundation® to plant two trees for every one used in the production of Quilted Northern Ultra Soft & Strong®. As a result, we have already committed to planting two million trees by the end of 2021.
What Is Earth Day?
The history of Earth Day began in 1970, created by Wisconsin senator Gaylord Nelson. It’s celebrated every year on April 22 with the intention of raising awareness about pollution and taking care of the environment by reducing, reusing, and recycling resources.
What are some Earth Day activities? You can make Earth Day every day by making small lifestyle choices with a huge impact. This could include:- Avoiding plastic water bottles in favor of reusable water bottles.
- Opting for second-hand instead of buying new, like clothes, furniture, and toys.
- Supporting organizations with sustainable manufacturing practices like the makers of Quilted Northern Soft & Strong®, who use more sustainable manufacturing processes to save 30% more water and 30% more energy.*
*Than other Ultra 2-Ply National brands in the drying process on a per sheet basis.
5 Little-Known Facts About Earth Day and Arbor Day
- Both Earth Day and Arbor Day are globally recognized but Earth Day is observed in more countries, despite being the younger holiday by nearly 100 years!
- The very first Earth Day fell on a school day and in observance, students came together and planted flowers, committed to recycling and protested pollution.
- On the first official Arbor Day on April 10, 1872, Nebraskan citizens planted more than one million trees.
- Arbor Day became a legal holiday in 1885 with an official date of April 22 (the same as Earth Day!) but was later moved to the last Friday in April and can vary depending on the region. For example, Hawaii’s tree-planting season is ideal towards the end of the year so citizens plant trees in observance of Arbor Day on the first Friday in November.
- These environmentally conscious holidays influenced the passing of the Clean Air Act, the Endangered Species Act and prompted the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency.
Interestingly, while most holidays acknowledge a past event, Earth Day and Arbor Day focus on celebrating possibility for the future. By learning about these important eco-friendly holidays, we can work together to preserve our planet's precious resources and commit to products and organizations that also share the same vision.
Learn more about our sustainability efforts used in the manufacturing process for Quilted Northern Ultra Soft & Strong® bath tissue here.