NEAL GERBER EISENBERG
EARTH DAY NEWSLETTER 2020 EDITION
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APRIL 22, 2020
HAPPY EARTH DAY! April 22, 2020 marks the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day, and allows us to reflect on how far the environmental stewardship movement has come. 50 years ago there was no Clean Air, Water or Endangered Species Act, and no Environmental Protection Agency. The first Earth Day on April 22, 1970, mobilized 20 million Americans to take to the streets, college campuses and hundreds of cities to protest environmental injustices and demand a new way forward for our planet, beginning an environmental revolution.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT & COVID-19 In our current environment, everyone is facing challenges as a result of COVID-19. As we stay at home, we notice how good acts remain and positive changes can be seen. If we can carryover even a fraction of our new habits, we can have a more permanent impact on our environment:
Today, as we honor the steps the original architects of Earth Day took, we embrace the theme of “Climate Action” as we take action to better our environment. While Earth Day this year will look a little different for most of us, without the characteristic events, tree plantings and environmental workshops, the celebration and education to better our environment can continue right from our homes.
HERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU CAN DO: Learn About Digital Earth Day – In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Earth Day’s new digital-first strategy aims to leverage the global power of digital media platforms to engage a collective call for transforming our planet. Take the Earth Day Daily Challenge – Visit earthday.org to learn about the 22-day series to take action right now, and every day, for our planet. Compost While at Home – Reach out to Collective Resources, a woman-owned compost and food scrap pickup service based in Evanston, IL making at-home composting easy as can be. The food scraps then become a nutrient-rich soil amendment instead of sitting in a landfill. Green City Market Delivery Service – Buy directly from local farmers, artisans, and other vendors in your community and get it delivered to your home. Learn more here. Complete an Eco-Friendly Activity with Your Family – Gather together at home to make a composting bin to use during this time at home.
FOOD REDIRECTION As restaurants closed and events were cancelled, much of the food that would have been served did not go to waste. Around the country, food banks and shelters have seen an influx of donations, helping them to feed communities during this challenging time. Recently, food intended to fuel athletes at the Olympic training center in Colorado was donated to those in need.
RESCUE ANIMALS While people are being encouraged to stay home, they are bringing new family members into their homes. Pet adoption is up 90% and many shelters are reporting empty facilities.
FACE COVERINGS Social media movements have encouraged groups big and small to produce makeshift masks for the most vulnerable. Oftentimes, these masks are being made using materials that might otherwise end up in landfills – old cotton sheets and t-shirts. Our NGE Sewing Circle is busy making masks to send to local healthcare workers.
OUR NEAL GERBER EISENBERG COMMUNITY NGE is committed to promoting environmentally sustainable programs to conserve natural resources now, and for generations to come. We are proud of the sustainable actions we have taken as a firm and continue to look for new opportunities. Our firmwide digitization efforts have saved us 10 tons of paper each year, and as we work from home, we have individually adjusted our work habits, saving 230,000 sheets of paper in one month alone. As a result of our participation in the EPA’s WasteWise program, our recycling efforts resulted in the conservation of two acres of forest, saving 134 tons of waste in one year. As a member of the Law Firm Sustainability Network (LFSN), we have taken numerous steps to align ourselves with sustainable changes, including the removal of plastic cups in our office, thereby reducing the waste and disposal of over 100,000 cups a year. As a result of our internal education efforts and new recycling signage in the office, our most recent waste audit reported 98% of all recycling items were diverted from landfills.
AS WE STAY AT HOME, OUR NGE COMMUNITY SHARES NEW IDEAS FOR SUSTAINABILITY
You CAN teach an old dog new tricks. Partner Leah Schleicher is finally embracing two-sided printing and Gus approves.
Associate Beth Radichel gets creative by using up those “back of the cupboard” ingredients. Canned pumpkin makes a great butter replacement in banana bread.
Who wore it better? Partners Michael Gray and Steve Pflaum are sporting their best biking helmets and taking advantage of the cleaner spring air with fewer cars on the road.
Look out for these little explorers and their binoculars! Partner Tanvi Patel is reusing every last coveted toilet paper roll to help keep her kiddos entertained.
Puffy Combs, Mickey and Miley are hard at work, providing partner Sonya Rosenberg’s family with fresh eggs for breakfast. Keep up the good work, ladies.
In Director of Talent and Diversity Marlon Lutfiyya’s family, no one is too small to do their part. Son Kai refills his metal water bottle and walks around saying “cheers.”
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