Earth Day 2022: Invest in Our Planet

April 22 is Earth Day, a day that typically is heralded as the largest environmental movement across the world. This is when we evaluate all of our sustainability goals and come up with new ways to ensure the protection of the earth. In fact, the first Earth Day happened more than 50 years ago when Gaylord Nelson, a Wisconsin senator, was inspired by the anti-war movement to get the students talking about environmental justice and getting air and water pollution on the national agenda. Since its inception, one billion people in 200 different countries participate in Earth Day related activities. 

The theme of Earth Day this year is Invest in Our Planet, which focuses on climate change, including changing the business climate and political climate. The overall goal this year is to spark movements and action to preserve and protect our health, our families, and our livelihoods. This year the Earth Day organization is asking us to act (boldly), innovate (broadly), and implement (equitably). It’s time to build a partnership for the planet. 

A worker cutting steel pipes near a coal-powered power station in Zhangjiakou, China, on November 12, 2021. Greg Baker | AFP | Getty Images

This conversation feels very urgent now that we have seen the International Energy Agency (IEA) report showing that global energy-related CO2 emissions were at an all-time high in 2021 reaching a record high of 36.3 billion metric tons, a 6% increase!

“The recovery of energy demand in 2021 was compounded by adverse weather and energy market conditions – notably the spikes in natural gas prices – which led to more coal being burned despite renewable power generation registering its largest ever growth,” the IEA said. “CO2 emissions from natural gas rebounded well above their 2019 levels to 7.5 billion tonnes. The emissions from oil were significantly below pre-pandemic levels due to the limited recovery in global transport activity in 2021, mainly in the aviation sector. In 2021 alone, China’s CO2 emissions rose above 11.9 billion tonnes, accounting for 33% of the global total.”

Now is the time for us to consider our daily activities, what changes can we make to help slow climate change and restore our Earth. Essentia is proud to operate a GOLS and GOTS certified organic facility that keeps the highest standards of sustainability and consideration of our impact on the Earth in all aspects of our manufacturing process. 

Will you be doing things like going vegan or switching to green power where available? How about joining a cleanup or ditching plastic in your daily activities? However you choose to get involved, the most important thing to consider is climate literacy and continuing to explain why making these changes is so important and why teaching the next generation will be the key to restoring the Earth. 

Essentia Beyond Organic Sustainability Efforts Earth Day & Every Day

Here at Essentia, we believe that we need to practice Earth Day every day! This is why our Beyond Organic Standard is so important. Beyond Organic is a self-managed initiative that is at the core of all our product design and processes. Our mattresses at Essentia are and always have been far beyond organic. The products and components are thoughtfully designed and sourced for clean, ethical, and life replenishing sleep. Being true to our Beyond Organic values, Essentia products are always Vegan and Cruelty-Free, our old-world methodologies are not easy but they are the right way to assure the purest possible outcome to preserve clean and healthy indoor air quality while achieving the highest recovery performance and sleep benefits ever.

SOURCING:
Hevea Milk is the “sap” of the Rubber tree which is the nuts and bolts of our mattress. It’s used to make our natural memory foam and natural latex support foam. Our hevea milk is sourced from Indonesia and collected from rubber plantations with fair and ethical working conditions, pay, and no child labor.

SHIPPING:
We roll pack our mattresses for not only your convince, but it’s a huge win for the environment as well. Roll packing allows us to use 75% less space in a truck and 75% less packaging. Using less is always better but using boxes made from 100% recycled paper is just extra gravy. *(99% post-consumer, 1% post-industrial)

BIODEGRADABLE:
When you’ve decided it’s time to upgrade your Essentia mattress, you won’t be worried about your old Essentia living in a landfill. Your Essentia mattress will biodegrade in just 3 years when exposed to the elements; wind, rain, sun. Another healthy option for disposal is to find a mattress recycler in your area.

ZERO-WASTE FACILITY:
Waste not, want not as they say. In our factory, we shred all latex and memory foam offcuts and excess for other products such as pillows making us a zero-waste facility.

A FRIEND TO THE ANIMALS:
Sleep soundly knowing every mattress and pillow we produce is Vegan and 100% Cruelty-Free. We also never test on animals… although we know they’d love a nap on Essentia.