The first Earth Day, a celebration of environmental sustainability and advocacy, took place in 1970 and unified groups throughout the nation around the importance of the health of our planet. People came together to protest the environmental degradation from air pollution that had occurred throughout the 20th century, raise awareness of its impact, and look forward to a better future. Since that first celebration, Earth Day has occurred every year on April 22nd. With more than a billion people gathering to celebrate each year, Earth Day is considered the world’s largest secular observance.

On Earth Day, Earth Month, and all year long, the NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business (CSB) works to equip current and future leaders with the knowledge, skills, and tools to promote environmental sustainability. CSB’s research on the Return on Sustainability Investment Methodology and the Sustainable Market Share Index helps businesses uphold the tenets of Earth Day by weaving sustainability into the very frameworks of their operations without sacrificing financial performance. 

This Earth Day, some of CSB’s corporate partners are pushing their sustainability initiatives to the next level:

• Microsoft is emphasizing its #Buildfor2030 Initiative by celebrating its partners who are raising the bar in environmental sustainability. EY, for example, was recognized for assisting Microsoft and other corporations with ESG external reporting and regulatory compliance.
• Williams Sonoma has announced a partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation to plant 6 million trees by the end of 2023. Moreover, Williams Sonoma customers can make donations throughout April on behalf of the Arbor Day Foundation in honor of Earth Day. Every dollar raised will go toward planting new trees.
• Finally, Reformation is launching a new product line of sustainable Climate Tees. Half of the proceeds from the shirts, which are made of 100% organic cotton and are recyclable, will be donated to Canopy, a nonprofit organization that grows urban tree canopies in California. 

While Earth Day is a go-to day for announcements, commitments, and celebrations, it is only by embedding comprehensive sustainability into corporate strategies that we can achieve these goals and take care of our planet and people.