Our Power, Our Planet
It’s that time of year when people around the world celebrate Earth Day. Have you ever wondered how it all started and why we celebrate? Read on to learn about its origins and what you can do to make an impact.
What is Earth Day?
Earth Day emerged as a response to environmental concerns in 1970. The inaugural celebration mobilized 20 million Americans through peaceful demonstrations and educational events.
Now reaching over one billion participants across 193 countries, Earth Day has inspired many to make changes. In fact, the movement led to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency and passage of groundbreaking legislation like the Clean Air Act. And the inspiration doesn’t stop there. Many communities around the world host activities ranging from pollution clean up, tree planting to seminars, workshops and sustainable living demonstrations.
When is Earth Day?
Earth Day 2025 falls on Tuesday, April 22nd. This date in April was carefully chosen to coincide with college schedules between spring break and final exams to maximize participation. The celebration extends beyond a single day, with many organizations around the world hosting events throughout what is deemed “Earth Week” from April 16-22.
Nature enthusiasts and environmental advocates can participate in local activities during the entire month of April, known as Earth Month. Social media campaigns using #EarthDay2025 and #OurPowerOurPlanet help spread awareness of renewable energy initiatives worldwide.
The theme for Earth Day 2025 is “Our power, our planet.” inviting everyone around the globe to unite behind renewable energy, and to triple the global generation of clean electricity by 2030.
How do manufacturers recognize Earth Day?
Many manufacturers want to do their part in taking responsibility to be sustainable. This applies to both operations and in designing sustainable products. With industries under pressure to reduce their environmental footprint, various solutions are being explored. Long-term changes can help generate a focus on nature, more resilient supply chains, and better businesses. The use of digital technologies and a virtual twin can make the planet a far better place for people and planet. By enabling simulation, for example, optimization, and data-driven decision-making, can lead to reduced energy consumption, waste, emissions, and resource usage across various industries.
Moreover, leading manufacturers are transforming their operations to align with environmental goals. Many companies leverage Earth Day to launch meaningful initiatives rather than simple promotional campaigns. Manufacturing giants are also partnering with environmental organizations to maximize their impact. These collaborations focus on renewable energy adoption, waste reduction, and sustainable supply chain innovations.
How to achieve a more sustainable future
The demand for sustainable manufacturing is only going to increase especially with the rising concerns around climate change and the planet. Local and federal governments and communities demand meaningful change from the manufacturing sector. These required changes can impact every step of the supply chain, leading to a shift toward smart factories and digital supply chain networks. Recent evidence indicates that sustainability is good for business, rewarding those companies that have sustainability objectives. A sustainable supply chain is one that fully integrates ethical and environmentally responsible practices with nature into a competitive and successful model. This paves the way for sustainability to benefit consumers, companies, and products—and the Earth itself.
Becoming greener beyond April 22
Manufacturers will need to embark on a digital transformation that allows them to evolve to an enterprise that meets all sustainability concerns, including:
- Product design with sustainability in mind
- Forging the factory of the future
- Powering the industry through renewable/green energy or more ethical material sourcing
- A circular economy and supply chain that reduces waste and addresses recycling or second life product
Simple ways to make a difference
Front office staff can make Earth-friendly changes and have the opportunity to:
- Invest in lights that automatically switch off
- Prioritize reusable office supplies
- Host a clean-up day with employee volunteers
- Reduce single-use Items
- Source sustainable materials
- Donate unwanted or unused items
- Implement recycling programs
- Move to a paperless environment
Additional information
Visit our website: Sustainable Manufacturing
Virtual Twin for Manufacturing
Read our blogs: The Generative Economy: Imagine Circular Value Chains
How to Achieve Sustainable Production
Check out the Earth Day organization: Earth Day
DELMIA digital marketing expert, editor of the DELMIA blog, and a strategic marketer with a background in the manufacturing industry.