On April 22, 1970, the United States celebrated its inaugural Earth Day. Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson organized a nationwide "teach-in" about environmental issues, partnering with more than 2,000 colleges and universities and over 10,000 public schools. By the end of the day, over 10 million citizens participated.
As a nation, our attitude towards environmental concerns post-World War II was vastly different compared to today. Rachel Carson’s influential book, Silent Spring, began to change the tide of the public option. Her efforts as a conservationist are credited with advancing the global environmental movement.
Senator Nelson's passion for the environment begins in January 1969, when he and many others witnessed the ravages of a massive oil spill in Santa Barbara. Outraged at the deteriorating condition of our environment, he enlisted the help of Congressman Pete McCloskey to get the first Earth Day up and running. Together, with Denis Hayes, they were able to inspire 20 million Americans — at the time, 10% of the total population of the United States — to take to the streets, parks, and auditoriums to demonstrate against the impacts of 150 years of industrial development which had left a growing legacy of serious human health impacts.
IMPACT
By the end of 1970, the first Earth Day led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of other environmental laws, including the National Environmental Education Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, and the Clean Air Act. This was closely followed by the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. The impact of these laws cannot be understated. They have protected millions of men, women, and children from disease and death and have protected hundreds of species from extinction.
Twenty years later, a group of environmental leaders approached Denis Hayes to once again organize another major campaign for the planet. This time, Earth Day went global, mobilizing 200 million people in 141 countries and lifting environmental issues onto the world stage. Earth Day 1990 saw a boost to recycling efforts worldwide.
HUABIO’s Commitment to Sustainability
At Huabio, we take our responsibility to the planet very seriously. From cruelty-free production to carbon offset traveling and paperless documentation, we are always looking for ways to reduce our carbon footprint. Additionally, we've introduced our biggest green initiative yet: fully recyclable packaging. Learn more about our sustainability practices here.