Jellybean Goes Green: Our Eco-Friendly Week of Fun and Action
At jellybean, we didn’t let Earth Day (April 22nd) and Jellybean Day (also April 22nd!) pass without a celebration. We organised an entire week filled with eco-friendly activities, and not only did we have fun we also took the time to recognise our eco accomplishments as an agency.
But we didn’t stop there! As part of our commitment to the environment, we raised funds for EarthDay.org, an organisation that drives meaningful action for our planet through various programs and campaigns.
To encourage everyone to do their bit for the environment, we asked our beans to take part in initiatives aligned with the 5 topics of Earth Day – Meat-Free, Plastic, Conservation, Art & Fashion, and Climate Change. We believe that even small actions can have a big impact, and we hope that our efforts will inspire others to join in as well.
Meat-Free Monday
Our first initiative for the week was to participate in Meat-Free Monday. Did you know that meat production accounts for nearly 60% of all greenhouse gases produced from food production[1]? By choosing to have a meat-free day, we helped to reduce our carbon footprint and contribute to a more sustainable food system. At jellybean, we encourage everyone to pledge to have a meat-free day on Monday, whether working from home or at the office.
Single Use Plastic-Free Week
Our second initiative for Earth Day and Jellybean Day was to go Single-Use-Plastic-Free. Did you know that approximately 91% of plastic is not recycled, and about half of our global annual plastic production is for single-use products[2]? By recycling just one plastic bottle, we can save the same amount of energy needed to power a 60-watt light bulb. To help combat the plastic problem, we encouraged everyone to be more mindful of their purchases and pledge to avoid buying anything using single-use plastic packaging.
Walk in Nature
Conservation is an essential part of protecting our planet, but it’s easy to overlook the nature around us in our busy lives. Whether a walk in the park or a full day of hiking, spending time in nature has been linked to a host of benefits, including improved attention, lower stress, better mood, and reduced anxiety and depression. In fact, 70% of UK adults say that being close to nature improves their mood[3]. To help our beans get started, we shared podcasts recommended by the John Muir Trust, focussing on the link between walking outdoors and mental health. We encouraged everyone to take a break from their busy schedules and go for a walk in the great outdoors, taking note of the conservation around.
Clothing Sale
Fast-fashion is a major contributor to environmental problems. The fashion industry is responsible for 10% of global carbon emissions and is the second-largest polluter of freshwater resources worldwide[4]. To help slow down the ‘fast fashion’ epidemic, we’re running an internal second-hand clothing sale in our office. We’re encouraging the team to go through their wardrobes and pull out any items that they no longer wear or need. All money raised will be donated to Earthday.org, while also helping reduce the amount of clothing that would otherwise end up in landfills.
Climate Quiz
Our final initiative for Earth Day was focused on raising awareness of what we can do as individuals and as a company to help protect our planet. We wanted to make sure that everyone in our organisation understands our Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) policies and how they contribute to our commitment to sustainability. To achieve this, we organised a quiz that ran throughout the week, which also included some interesting facts about Earth Day. This was a great way to engage our team and raise awareness of our sustainability initiatives while also having some fun and competition.
Jellybean had an exciting and impactful week full of eco-friendly activities to celebrate both Earth Day and Jellybean Day. We focused on several important initiatives, which aimed to raise awareness of the environmental issues we face and promote sustainable practices. We are proud of our team’s efforts and dedication to making a positive impact on our planet, and we hope to inspire others to join us in our mission to protect our earth. By taking small actions, we can make a big difference and ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.
We want to know what steps you’ve taken to make a positive impact this Earth Day/Earth Month. Share your eco-achievements with us on socials tagging @jellybeanagency and let’s inspire each other to keep up the good work!
[1] Nature Food 2021
[2] Plastic Oceans.org
[3] Mental Health Foundation
[4] The World Bank