This weekend is Earth Day 2018, and as I write this blog, I keep thinking about the environmental challenges we face now and what it means for our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States, once said, “Preservation of our environment is not a liberal or conservative challenge, it’s common sense.”
For more than a year now, we’ve listened to American politicians create a narrative that pits economic growth against environmental protection, as if we must choose one or the other. Government officials outright ignore scientific data and analyses that they don’t like, while agencies charged with environmental protection are actively attempting to undo decades of regulations designed to protect the air, water, and sensitive lands simply because they think it will spur economic growth. Why are elected and appointed officials ignoring common sense?
“Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize we cannot eat money.”
– Indian Proverb
At Cority, our mission is to partner with organizations around the world to effect meaningful change in the way Environmental, Health, Safety, and Quality programs are managed. We are proud of the work we do and take pride in our partnerships with more than 800 companies across the globe who are committed to protecting their employees, the environment and the communities they operate in. Together, we work to advance sustainable business practices through operational excellence.
For Earth Day 2018, we thought it would be a great opportunity to let our employees reflect and share their thoughts on what this important day means to them. For me, Earth Day is a reminder that there is no planet B, so we must work together to find solutions to common problems that help us all minimize our impacts to the planet and ensure that future generations have the resources they need to survive – especially clean air and water.
What Earth Day Means to Us at Cority
“As an individual, Earth Day is a time to behold and explore the intrinsic beauty of the natural world, and as a Cority employee, this day reminds me of my role in a communal, goal-oriented mission towards the sustainable development of industries.” – Robert Baidoc, Client Service Consultant
“I have lived in California for the past 15 years, and I’ve noticed that the air quality has improved significantly over the last decade through awareness and strict environmental laws and regulations designed to reduce air emissions from vehicles and industrial facilities. At Cority, we have successfully disrupted business practices and proven that sustainability and profitability aren’t mutually exclusive.” – Mauri Paz, Manager EHS Products
“For me, Earth Day is a great way to raise awareness and get people involved. The goal is to make everyone conscious of their actions. Whether it’s participating in a recycling campaign, cleaning up polluted areas of the community, or learning about local environmental issues, there are plenty of opportunities for people to get involved and be part of something bigger than themselves.”
– Kristiana Dean, Presales Engineer
“A lot of us go through our day not appreciating the natural world and people around us. Earth Day is a day for us to reconnect. My son gave a speech when he was in grade six about the potential scarcity of fresh water if we keep taking it for granted, especially since only 2.5% of the Earth’s water supply is fresh water. He reminded me that we can all make a difference and now is the time to take part before it’s too late.” – Chris McDonald, Sales Executive
“Earth Day is about taking a moment to recognize how incredibly lucky we are to live on this beautiful planet, which provides us with the basic building blocks for life and the ability to sustain our complex ecosystems. For me, this is a day of reflection and action. It’s a chance to understand our own impacts and learn how to live more sustainably so that future generations have a place to call home.” – Karina Turgolova, Client Account Manager
“Earth Day is a reminder that time is running out for us. It’s no longer just about saving endangered species and protecting sensitive and unique habitats, it’s about saving humanity from itself.”
– Alex Hardwick, Pre-Sales Engineer
“Earth Day is a time to reflect on the strides we are making, like recycling, clean energy, and education, but it’s also a chance for us to work together to innovate to address other areas, such as climate change, water scarcity, and plastic pollution. We shouldn’t just think about these things on Earth Day, but rather every day when we are making decisions for ourselves and families.”
– Susan Smart, Director, Marketing Communications
“One Earth Day, I challenged myself to not print anything at the office. This one-time challenge led me to change my behavior, and I rarely print any documents anymore. Personally, this day is about sharing and teaching my daughter about the importance of a clean environment. We live a few blocks from a park and take part in their annual clean-up efforts.”
-Jessica Shields, Product Marketing Manager
“To me, it’s about doing my part to ensure my kids can enjoy the things I did when I was a kid, like going outside to get fresh air (actual fresh air), experiencing the natural world, and swimming in rivers and lakes without worrying about pollution. I also make a conscious effort to reduce my footprint at work by carpooling, using public transportation, and using online meetings to reduce air travel.” – Pamala Bobbitt, Director, Product Marketing and Channels
” Earth Day 2018 is focused on eliminating plastic pollution. In a new study, scientists estimated that the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a collection of plastic floating halfway between Hawaii and California, now covers more than 600,000 square miles (more than 1,550,000 km2 – nearly the size of the U.S. State of Alaska). According to Earth Day Network, the nonprofit organization that is responsible for coordinating Earth Day events around the world, plastic pollution presents a significant risk to marine life and human health.
We encourage everyone to visit Earth Day Network’s website to learn more about plastic pollution, environmental protection, and how you can make a difference in your community. “
Learn More
Proactive environmental management that leads to a cleaner, greener future should be simple. Watch the video below to see how our environmental management solution can help:
