Awareness days

Throughout the year there are lots of environmental awareness days, weeks and months. Sometimes it is hard to keep track of them all, so I have compiled a calendar to make it easier.

Sustainable gift wrap course

Regular Events

1st Saturday of the MonthBlack Pound Day
Aiming to encourage people to shop from and spend money with local and online UK black-owned businesses, by replacing your usual purchases with services and products from black-owned businesses. Find out more via the Black Pound Day website.

The Do-Gooders have created a list of Black-Owned & Sustainable businesses here

January

January Month long campaigns

Dry January
A month long booze-free challenge that helps millions reset their relationship with alcohol every year. As well as people doing this as a challenge to raise money for charity. More info via Alcohol Change
Veganuary
Since 2014 Veganuary has inspired and supported over 1 million people across the planet to try veganism for January and beyond. More info via Veganuary.com

February

February Awareness Days

2nd Feb
2021
World Wetlands Day
This is a day celebrated each year to raise global awareness about the vital role of wetlands for people and our planet. See World Wetlands Day website for more information
4th Feb 2021Time to Talk Day
Organised by Time to Change, Time to Talk Day is a day we get the nation talking about mental health, breaking down barriers and busting myths. Helping to end the isolation, shame and worthlessness people will mental health problems are made to feel. Find out more via Time to Change
27th Feb 2021International Polar Bear Day
Global event drawing attention to the challenges polar bears face in a warming Arctic, and the actions needed to ensure their future. More information via Polar Bears International

February Environment Awareness weeks

1st Feb to 21st Feb 2021Show The Love
An annual celebration organised by The Climate Coalition encouraging people from across the UK to use the power of green hearts to join together and ask decision makers to tackle the climate crisis.
27th Feb 2021 –
7th March 2021
Fairtrade Fortnight
An opportunity for thousands of individuals, companies and groups across the UK to come together and share stories of the people who grow our food and drinks, who grow the cotton which goes in our clothes. Raising awareness of the struggles of these works and the demand for living incomes. Find out more via Fairtrade

March

March Awareness Days

3rd March
2021
World Widlife Day
A day organised by the UN Nations to celebrate and raise awareness of the world’s wild animals and plants. See World Wildlife Day website for more info
4th March 2021World Book Day
Designated by UNESCO as a worldwide celebration of books and reading, World Book Day is marked in over 100 countries around the globe. You can find out more info via the World Book Day website
22nd March
2021
World Water Day
The UN World Water Day is about the true value of water, what it means to people and how we can better protect this vital resource. Find out more via World Water Day
27th March 2021Earth Hour
Between 8:30 and 9.30 pm people switch off their lights for an hour, meaning streets, buildings, landmarks and city skylines go dark to draw public attention to nature loss and the climate crisis. This year they want to create the same awareness online and want people to share a special video they have create. To find out more and get the video visit Earth Hour website

March Environmental Awareness Weeks

21st to
27th March 2022
Trees Are the Key Awareness Week
Check out the Trees Are The Key Awareness Week. They say: ‘We believe that trees are the key to solving so many of the world’s problems, not just climate chaos. They are crucial ingredients for a healthy environment and every living, breathing inhabitant of our planet’

April

April Awareness Days

22nd April
2021
Earth Day
The aim of Earth Day is to empower and expand the environmental movement by getting people to take action. The theme for this year is Restore Our Earth. Find out more via Earth Day
28th April
2021
Stop Food Waste Day
A day to become a food waste warrior and fight foodwaste. For more information on how you can help check out the Stop Food Waste Day website

April Awareness Weeks

19th to 30th April
2021
Sustrains Big Pedal Challenge
Open to all primary and secondary schools in the UK, including SEN Schools, the Big Pedal is all about inspiring pupils, staff and parents to take active journeys to school. Be it cycling, walking, wheeling or scooting to school. Pupils can still can take this year even if school’s are closed due to COVID-19. Register your school via Big Pedal
19th to 25th April
2021
Fashion Revolution Week
A week which encourages people to come together to campaign for systemic change in the fashion industry. Campaigning for clean, safe, fair, transparent and accountable fashion industry to make it better for the environment and the people who work in it. For more info visit the Fashion Revolution website

May

May Month long campaigns

Meat Free May
Challenging people to eliminate meat from their diets for 31 days for 4 reasons (health, environment, animals, and food security). Visit No Meat May for recipes, nutrition and news.

May Awareness Weeks

2nd to 8th May 2021International Compost Awareness Week
A week to celebrate and raise awareness of the benefits of using compost. All scales of composting are celebrated from home gardens to large scale. Find Out more via Compost Foundation
10th to 16th May 2021Mental Health Week
Hosted by the Mental Health Foundation, the theme of this year is Nature and the environment. The week gives people an opportunity to talk about all aspects of mental health, with a focus on providing help and advice.
28th May to 13th June 2021Great British September Clean
A campaign to reduce litter and help communities  clean up their local environment. You can get involved by either organising a private clean-up, or pledging to do your own individual clean-up. Find out more on the KeepBritainTidy website
30th May to 5th June 2021Bike Week
Organised by Cycling UK, this is a week to celebrate and showcase cycling, and the pleasure of riding a bike.

May Awareness Days

20th May
2021
World Bee Day
A United Nations day, which focuses on raising awareness of the importance of bees and other pollinators such as butterflies, bats and hummingbirds, and the threats they face.

June

June Month long campaigns

30 Days of Wild
Organised by The Wildlife Trust this is an annual challenge where they ask you to do one ‘wild’ thing a day every day throughout June. Activities can be anything from litter-picking to birdwatching to puddle splashing. All about inspiring you and connecting you to nature.
Pride Month
Every year during June, the LGBT community celebrates in a number of different ways. Events are held around the world as a way of recognising the influence LGBT people have had. You can learn more about the history of the month via Wikipedia

June Awareness Weeks

29th June to 18th July 2021Children’s Art Week
An UK wide week where children and young people have the opportunity to get involved in a large range of art activities. Find out more via Engage’s website

June Awareness Days

3rd June
2021
World Bike Day
Organised by the United Nations, a day to celebrate the bicycle. Encouraging the use of bicycle as a means of fostering sustainable development, as well as promoting health
5th June 2021World Environment Day
A day which engages governments, businesses, and citizens to focus their efforts on a pressing environmental issue. Find out more via United Nations
8th June 2021World Oceans Day
A United Nations day where the wonders of the ocean are celebrated, and how it is our life source, supporting humanity and every other organism on Earth.
22nd June 2021World Rainforest Day
A day to raise awareness and encourage action to save one of the planet’s most precious resources, the rainforest. Find out more via the World Rainforest Day website.

July

July Month long campaigns

Plastic Free July
Take the pledge to ditch single use plastic in July. Find out more about the campaign here: Plastic Free July

August

August Awareness Days

22nd Aug 2021World Plant Milk Day
An international day that celebrates plant-based alternatives to dairy, from soya to oats to cashnew nuts to hemp milk. Find out more at World Plant Milk Day

August Environmental Awareness weeks

9th to 15th Aug 2021National Allotments Week
Organised by The National Allotment Society, this is an annual campaign week as a way of raising awareness of allotments, help people live healthier lifestyles, grow their own food, develop friendships and improve their communities. Find out more at their website: National Allotments Week 
17th to 21st Aug 2020Women’s Money Week
Launched in 2012 to bring women together to focus on money-related issues in our lives. Where writers, authors, bloggers, journalists, podcasters anyone with a platform band together and create content about that day’s topic for their audience. Find out more via Women’s Money

September

There is plenty to keep you busy in September with all the environmental awareness days, weeks and months going on! You might not be able to do it all, but if you choose just one to take part in, I recommend Zero Waste Week (I am an ambassador for the week). It takes place in the first week of September every year

September Month long campaigns

Organic September
A month-long campaign designed to encourage more people to try organic. A way to promote and educate people about organic food & farming practices. Find out more via The Soil Association
#SecondHandSeptember
Oxfam run a challenge every year asking you to pledge to shop only second hand for 30 days or more. Buying second hand clothes keeps them from going into landfill. Find out more via Oxfam
Seed Gathering Season
Campaign running from 23rd September to 23rd October to inspire everyone to gather seeds, fruits & nuts which can be nurture to grow the trees of the future. Find out more via The Tree Council
Sourdough September 
Launched in 2013, the aim of this month is to encourage more people to bake genuine sourdough, and join in with the Real Bread Campaign. Find out more here: Sourdough September

September Environmental Awareness weeks

7th to 11th Sept 2020Zero Waste Week
A campaign run on social media and their website to help householders, businesses, schools and community groups increase recycling, reduce landfill waste and participate in the circular economy. Read my beginners guide to Zero Waste Week to get started.
18th to 25th Sept 2020Great British Beach Clean
Due to COVID-19 rather than encouraging volunteers to find a beach clean happening near them, they are calling on individuals to adopt a 100m stretch of beach and organise their own beach cleans, with smaller groups of friends, family and ‘bubbles’, in line with government guidance. Find out more here: Great British Beach Clean
20th to 26th Sept 2021Recycle Week
A celebration of recycling organised by WRAP. Aim of the week is to encourage the public to recycle more by showing the benefits of recycling items you find at home.
You can get resources from the WRAP website 

September Awareness Days

1st Sept 2021National Tofu Day
The UK’s day to celebrate everything tofu and to encourage people to cook with meat-free alternatives. National Tofu Day
16th Sept 2021International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer
The United Nations mark this day to celebrate the success in tackling ozone depletion, as well reminding people to remain vigilant and tackle any illegal source of ozone-depleting substances as they arise. Learn more here: Ozone Day
22nd Sept 2021
World Car Free Day
A day when all around the world towns and cities allow people to experience streets free of motor traffic. Check out Living Streets for more information

October 

October Month long campaigns

Black History Month
A month of national celebrations and events to honour the too-often unheralded accomplishments of Black Britons in every area of endeavour throughout our history. Black History Month
Quit Smoking
October is Stoptober, a month encouraging people to stop smoking. Organised by the NHS with advice on how to quit. Quit Smoking

October Environmental Awareness weeks

11th to 15th Oct 2021National Work Life Week
Launched back in 2010 this week aims to promote the balance between working life and home life.
Find out more about National Work Life Week
4th to 10th Oct 2021World Space Day
The theme for 2020 is “Satellites Improve Life”.
The General Assembly declares World Space Week to celebrate each year at the international level the contributions of space science and technology to the betterment of the human condition.
18th to 25th Oct 2020One World Week
A week about working together for a just, peaceful and sustainable world. The theme for 2021 is “Act Now For Our Children’s World”. Find out more via One World Week

October Environmental Awareness Days

1st Oct 2021World Vegetarian Day
A day raising awareness of vegetarian lifestyle and going meat free. World Vegetarian Day
4th Oct 2021World Animal Day
A day about raising the status of animals in order to improve welfare standards around the globe. World Animal Day
5th Oct 2021World Habitat Day
United Nations designated the first Monday of October of every year as World Habitat Day to reflect on the state of our towns and cities, and on the basic right of all to adequate shelter.
14th Oct 2020International E-waste Day
A day aimed at reducing the burden that e-waste places on the environment and saving natural resources. Find out more via WEEEForum
16th Oct 2021World Food Day
An International day in honour of the date of the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations in 1945 with events and activities. Learn more here: World Food Day
21st Oct 2020Apple Day
Launched back in 1990, the day is a celebration and demonstration of the variety of apples, as well as raising awareness in the provenance and traceability of food. Apple Day

November

November Awareness Days

1st Nov 2021World Vegan Day
A day used as an opportunity to bring together the vegan community in supporting one another. More info via The Vegan Society
12th Nov 2020Equal Pay Day
This is a day to mark the last day the average British woman is paid for her work for the rest of the year. Marking the gender pay gap. The Do-Gooders are celebrating the women in sustainability championing equality
13th Nov 2021World Kindness Day
An international observance introduced by the World Kindness Movement for the celebration of kindness in society and day to day life. Individual acts of kindness are encouraged on this day annually. Check out Kindness UK for more information. 
27th Nov 2021Buy Nothing Day
A day to challenge yourself, your friends and family to have a detox from buying stuff. It occurs on the same day as Black Friday. Find out more on the Buy Nothing Day website

November Environment Awareness weeks

27th Nov to
5th Dec
National Tree Week
The UK’s largest annual tree celebration, marking the start of the winter tree planting season (November to March each year). Organised by The Tree Council

November Month long campaigns

Cut the Wrap Challenge
My challenge to encourage people not to use any single use disposable wrapping paper over the festive season. To join in check out my Cut The Wrap Challenge page
World Vegan Month
Celebrated around the world to highlight how accessible and beneficial a vegan lifestyle is. More info via The Vegan Society
Veg Pledge for Cancer Research UK
Cancer Charity Cancer Research UK are challenging people to go vegetarian or vegan for one month to raise money for cancer research.

December

December Awareness Days

1st Dec 2021Giving Tuesday
A day to support the good causes that mean something to you. ‘Volunteer your time; donate money; organise a community event like a park clean-up; donate goods, food or clothes; share your skills; campaign for something’. Find out more at the Giving Tuesday website
5th Dec 2021World Soil Day
Occuring every 5th December to focus attention on the importance of healthy soil and to advocate for the sustainable management of soil resources. Find out more at the United Nations website 
10th Dec 2021International Animal Rights Day
On 10th December every year since 1998 candlelight vigils have taken place at locations across the world to call for the recognition of the Universal Declaration of Animal Rights. More info on Awareness Days
11th Dec 2021International Mountain Day
The day was designated by the United Nations General Assembly in 2003 to encourage the international community to organise events to highlight the importance of sustainable mountain development. Find out more at the United Nations website

December Environment Awareness weeks

1st week of DecTree Dressing Day
Tree dressing Day falls on the first weekend of December, and is based on many old customs from around the world, and it is a chance for the whole community to gather and celebrate the leafty friends we all have in common. Read more about Tree Dressing Day

December Month long campaigns

Cut the Wrap Challenge
Pledge to avoid using single use wrapping paper this winter. To join in check out my Cut The Wrap Challenge page
Environmental awareness days