Earth Day is April 22 — did it sneak up on you? No worries, we’ve got last-minute ideas for fun, easy employee activities for Earth Day! Everyday employee engagement is built through rewarding, everyday activities. Even the simplest team-building activities can energize and bring people together. Add those benefits to doing something good for the planet, and everyone wins!
And celebrating Earth Day in the workplace isn’t just good for the planet, it’s good for people, too — and your business. Reusing and recycling are money-savers, there are tax benefits for going green, and green practices are good branding and popular with consumers. But there are even other benefits that are more behind-the-scenes. Read on for Earth Day activities at work that are fun for your staff and easy for you to coordinate. You may even be inspired to make Earth Day every day!
10 Employee Activities for Earth Day (or Any Day!)
Most of these employee activities on Earth Day require little to no advance planning and can be picked up on the fly. But they all celebrate what Earth Day is all about — appreciating our planet and keeping it beautiful.
1. Go Outside
If your team spends most or all of their day inside, just get outside — take a meeting outdoors to a picnic table on company property or encourage everyone to participate in a brown-bag picnic for lunch and bring treats to share. If your workers spend most of their day outside, try a change of scenery: get off the job site and explore a nearby park or wildlife area.
2. Reward Walking, Biking or Carpooling to Work
Reducing carbon emissions by walking, biking or carpooling is just one benefit! Exercise boosts endorphins and will put everyone in a great mood for work. Carpooling can be a fun, social activity that brings together employees from different departments within the company. Reward these choices by handing out water bottles, energy bars, bananas, stickers or gift certificates for fruits and vegetables.
Want a few weeks to coordinate a bike-to-work promotion in your company? Bike to Work Day is coming up in May (3rd Friday in May each year). The League of American Bicyclists has details and free resources.
3. Pick Up Trash Together
All you need are gloves and bags. Make it a social outing like residents in our hometown, Madison, WI who call themselves “trash talkers” and “trashionistas.” Beautifying their city by picking up garbage just feels good, one said. Plus, the reward is instantaneous. Picking up trash offers instant gratification with a measurable before and after.
4. Collect Recyclables for a Good Cause
Does your business produce a lot of recyclables? Make a commitment to collect recyclables over the next few weeks to sell, then donate the money to charity. You could also make a game of it: pledge to donate a certain sum of money if employees meet recycling goals.
5. Plant a Garden on Company or Community Property
It’s Earth Day at work! Get out a shovel and get some starter plants from your local nursery for a team planting event. Already have a garden? Spend the lunch hour weeding it. Don’t forget to bring in some thank you treats for employees who participate.
Invite everyone to participate — it’s especially important that company leadership take the time to work alongside entry-level employees in volunteer activities. It speak volumes to your company’s commitment to building a “we’re in this together” culture.
6. Host an Eco-Friendly Potluck
Encourage employees to bring homemade dishes made with locally sourced, organic, or plant-based ingredients. Use reusable plates, utensils, and napkins to cut down on waste. To make it a fun challenge, set a theme such as “zero-waste meals” or “meatless options.” Share recipes and sustainability tips afterward to keep the conversation going.
7. Organize a Sustainable Product Swap
A sustainable product swap allows employees to exchange eco-friendly items they no longer use or want. Encourage them to bring reusable water bottles, cloth bags, gently used books, or other sustainable goods to trade. This promotes reusing and repurposing items while reducing unnecessary waste.
8. Conduct an Earth Day at Work Energy Audit
Take a closer look at how your office consumes energy and find ways to cut back. Assign a team to identify areas where the company can improve, such as switching to LED lighting, using smart power strips, or encouraging employees to power down computers when not in use. If your workplace is open to suggestions, consider working with a sustainability consultant to make long-term changes.
9. Partner with a Local Environmental Organization for Earth Day Activities
Get involved with a local conservation group by organizing a volunteer day. Whether it’s restoring a park, cleaning up a river, or helping plant trees, giving back to the community in an environmentally friendly way strengthens team bonds while making a real impact.
10. Offer Green Incentives
Encourage employees to adopt sustainable habits by offering small rewards for eco-friendly choices. Incentives could include gift cards for bringing reusable coffee cups, composting lunch scraps, or setting up an at-home recycling system. You can also introduce a workplace challenge where employees track their sustainable actions, and the top participants win prizes.
Making Employee Activities on Earth Day an Ongoing Commitment
These Earth Day activities aren’t just about celebrating one day a year—they can help inspire long-term sustainability habits. Whether it’s reducing waste, supporting eco-friendly initiatives, or simply spending more time appreciating nature, small actions add up. Consider making Earth-friendly practices part of your company’s culture year-round, reinforcing the idea that every day is an opportunity to make a difference. When better to start than, today?
Encourage your team to keep the momentum going by setting company-wide sustainability goals, checking in on progress, and celebrating green achievements throughout the year. Earth Day at work is just the beginning—what can your team do next?
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