Since the first celebration in 1970, Earth Day has been a day for global action on behalf of the environment. Now, more than 1 billion people in 192 countries participate in Earth Day activities each year, making it the largest civic observance in the world.

Each year, Earth Day is given a theme to focus action on a pressing environmental issue. The theme for 2021 is “Restore Our Earth,” which brings attention to natural processes, emerging green technologies, and innovative thinking that can restore the world’s vulnerable ecosystems. In this way, the theme rejects the notion that mitigation or adaptation are the only ways to address climate change. Instead, it encourages us to embrace environmental protection and restoration as pragmatic, necessary solutions.

From cradle to grave, at every stage of its lifecycle, plastic emits greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. From the extraction and transport of the fossil fuels that serve as primary feedstocks for plastic, to refining and manufacturing, to waste management or environmental exposure, plastic is one of the world’s most significant and rapidly growing sources of industrial greenhouse gas emissions.