Key Sustainability Dates | UK Calendar

Veganuary Month

Veganuary is an annual campaign that encourages people to try a vegan lifestyle for the month of January. The goal of Veganuary is to raise awareness about the benefits of a vegan diet and to make it easier for people to try veganism by providing them with resources, recipes, and support. At Bywaters, we’ve put together a list of traditional shops that sell Vegan food for your journey.

2nd – World Wetland Day

World Wetlands Day is observed on February 2nd every year to raise awareness about the importance of wetlands for our planet and to promote their conservation.

16th – World Whale Day

Each year, World Whale Day is commemorated on the third Sunday of February. This day serves to raise awareness for whales and related species threatened by human activities impacting the ocean.

28th – Skip the Straw Day

Skip the Straw Day occurs on the fourth Friday of February each year. This day is dedicated to avoid the use of single-use plastic straws. There will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050 – It is important that we find sustainable alternatives to single-use plastic items we use today!

SGD Teach in

This month-long campaign is committed to raise the awareness of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in education generally. It is an important campaign to inform the public about the importance of sustainable development.

Food Waste Action Week

Food Waste Action Week is an annual campaign celebrated by companies such as WRAP and Love Food Hate Waste that takes place to raise awareness about food waste and encourage individuals, businesses and organisations to take action to reduce food waste.

3rd – World Wildlife Day

World Wildlife Day is an annual observance celebrated on March 3rd to raise awareness about the world’s wild animals and plants, and to promote their conservation.

5th-6th – Net Zero Live London

This major London-based conference will gather business leaders from across industries to discuss real-world insights and our collective efforts to cut emissions and towards achieving Net Zero.

10th-12th – 10th Annual Sustainability Week (London)

This major sustainability conference will delve into accelerating emission reductions and environmental impact improvement strategies. It will host over 200 industry-leading speakers on the matter.

14th – International Day For Action For Rivers

International Day of Action for Rivers is an annual observance held on March 14th to raise awareness about the importance of rivers and to promote their conservation and sustainable use. Alternatively, join Bywaters in our mission to help our environment with our popular river cleans.

18th – Global Recycling Day

Global Recycling Day is an annual event celebrated on March 18th to raise awareness about the importance of recycling and to encourage individuals, businesses and governments to take action to promote a circular economy.

21st – International Day of Forests

International Day of Forests is an annual observance held on March 21st to raise awareness about the importance of forests and to promote their conservation and sustainable management.

22nd – World Water Day

World Water Day is an annual observance held on March 22nd to raise awareness about the importance of freshwater and to advocate for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.

22nd – Earth Hour

Earth Hour was first organised by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in 2007. Today, it encourages the public and communities across the world to turn off non-essential electric lights for an hour.

Earth Month

Earth Month is an annual event that takes place in April to raise awareness about environmental issues and promote actions to protect the planet. The month-long celebration includes a variety of events and activities, such as community cleanups, educational programs and sustainability-focused initiatives.

22nd – Earth Day

The purpose of Earth Day is to promote environmental awareness and encourage people to take action to protect the planet. This includes promoting sustainable practices such as reducing waste, conserving energy and natural resources, and supporting renewable energy sources.

30th – Stop Food Waste Day

The goal of Stop Food Waste Day is to highlight the economic, social and environmental impacts of food waste. It also encourages individuals, businesses and governments to take action to reduce it.

No Mow May

Every year, No Mow May is a month-long campaign encouraging garden owners and green space managers not to mow in May. This is in order to help flowers bloom for pollinators such as bees and butterflies.

Meat Free May

Meat Free May is a global initiative encouraging individuals and communities to reduce their meat consumption and embrace plant-based alternatives for the month of May.

16th – Love a Tree Day

Each year, Love a Tree Day is observed to celebrate the life and joy that trees bring us. From cherishing the food and oxygen they give us to reading under their shade, trees are a source of many of life’s pleasures.

20th – World Bee Day

The goal of World Bee Day is to recognise the crucial role that bees play in supporting biodiversity, food security and the economy. This is in addition to promoting the conservation and sustainable use of bees and other pollinators.

22nd – International Day of Biodiversity

The International Day of Biodiversity is an annual observance held on May 22nd to raise awareness about the importance of biodiversity and to promote the conservation and sustainable use of the planet’s biological diversity.

23rd – World Turtle Day

The goal of World Turtle Day is to promote the conservation and protection of turtles and tortoises and their habitats. The day is an opportunity to raise awareness about the threats facing turtles, including habitat loss, poaching and climate change. This is in addition to encouraging individuals, organisations and governments to take action to protect them.

30 Days Wild

This month-long campaign by The Wildlife Trust encourages the country to do a ‘wild’ thing every day throughout June. From going on a nature hike to having breakfast around wildlife, there isn’t a set structure, so the way you want to take part is up to you.

1st  – World Reef Awareness Day

World Reef Awareness Day is an annual observance that stresses the importance of the world’s reefs to our delicate ecosystem, and encourages consumers and businesses to make decisions that positively impact it.

5th – World Environment Day

The goal of the day is to raise awareness about the importance of environmental protection and to encourage individuals, organisations, and governments to take action to reduce their environmental impact, promote sustainability, and protect the planet for future generations.

7th-15th – The Great Big Green Week

The Great Big Green Week is one of the UK’s largest events dedicated to nature and environmentalism. It brings together communities to take action against climate change.

8th – World Oceans Day

The overall goal of World Oceans Day is to highlight the importance of the oceans for sustaining life on Earth, as well as the threats facing the oceans and the need for action to protect them.

10th-16th – World Bike Week

World Bike Week is an annual event celebrated in June to promote cycling as a sustainable and healthy means of transportation. The week-long event features various activities and initiatives aimed at encouraging people to choose cycling as a way to commute, exercise and explore their communities.

15th – Global Wind Day 

Global Wind Day happens every year on the 15th of June. It showcases the importance of wind energy as a renewable and sustainable energy source that can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, combat climate change and create jobs in the renewable energy sector.

16th – World Refill Day

The goal of World Refill Day is to encourage individuals and businesses to adopt refillable and reusable alternatives to single-use plastic containers, such as water bottles, coffee cups, and food containers.

17th – World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought

This United Nations observance day is dedicated to raise awareness of desertification and droughts. Droughts are one of the biggest threats from desertification. In fact, studies suggest that it will impact 75% of the population by 2050 – It is vital that we tackle this trend today.

21st-29th – London Climate Action Week

London Climate Action Week brings the public together to discuss and find solutions to climate change.

22nd – World Rainforest Day 

The goal of World Rainforest Day is to raise awareness about the critical role that rainforests play in regulating the Earth’s climate, supporting biodiversity and providing ecosystem services that are essential for human well-being.

24th-25th – Reset Connect

This free to access conference is one of the UK’s leading sustainability and green investment events. It is a great opportunity to see business leaders discuss climate change and sustainability from a commercial point of view. This event also coincides with London Climate Action Week.

National Marine Week

The Wildlife Trust’s National Marine Week is a campaign to celebrate everything marine-related. Over half of our planet’s oxygen comes for the ocean – It is vital that we take care of it.

Plastic Free July 

The aim of Plastic Free July is to raise awareness about the environmental impacts of plastic pollution. The campaign empowers individuals, businesses and communities to take action by reducing their reliance on single-use plastics. We previously wrote an article sharing ideas regarding how to take part in this event, click here to find out more.

3rd – International Plastic Bag Free Day

International Plastic Bag Free Day, observed every year on July 3rd, aims to highlight the harmful environmental impact of disposable plastic bags. While plastic bags are used for an average of just 20 minutes, they can take up to 1000 years to decompose.

5th-11th – Net-Zero Week 

Net Zero Week is one of the largest conferences dedicated to achieving net zero. Net zero is the world’s answer to stopping climate change. On the 27th June 2019, the UK became the first major economy in the world to pass laws to end our contribution to climate change.

27th – National Tree Day

National Tree Day provides an opportunity for individuals, communities and organisations to get involved in activities like planting trees, caring for existing trees, and learning about the benefits of trees for the environment and society.

29th – World Tiger Day

Every year, World Tiger Day is celebrated to promote the conservation of tigers. The wild tiger population has decreased by 95% since the beginning of the 20th century. It is important that we take measures to protect this critically endangered animal.

12th – World Elephant Day

World Elephant Day is an international annual event on August 12, dedicated to the preservation and protection of the world’s largest land animal.

12th-18th – National Allotments Week

National Allotments Week aims to promote the benefits of allotment gardening and to raise awareness about the importance of allotments in communities and for the environment. It was originally organised by the National Allotment Society.

19th – World Humanitarian Day

This day is observed by UN member states to celebrate humanitarian workers and those to commit their lives for the cause.

Recycle Week

Recycle Now’s Recycle Week is one of the UK’s largest campaigns centred around sustainability. It focuses on encouraging people to recycle responsibly. For the past couple of years, the event has been celebrated between September and October.

Organic September 

The event aims to promote and raise awareness about organic agriculture and the benefits of consuming organic products.

Second Hand September

This month-long event was first organised by Oxfam. The goal of this campaign is to encourage the public to shop second hand to reduce waste and encourage a more sustainable lifestyle.

1st-5th – Zero Waste Week 

During Zero Waste Week, participants are encouraged to take action to reduce waste in their daily lives, such as by avoiding single-use plastic, composting food waste, or choosing products with minimal packaging.

7th – International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies

The United Nation’s International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies encourages the communities to work together to improve air quality and reducing air pollution. Clean air is critical to both the planet’s ecosystem and human health – It is critical that we work together improve air quality.

22nd-5th October – Fair Trade Fortnight

Fairtrade Fortnight is an annual event that takes place in several countries around the world to promote and raise awareness about the Fairtrade movement. During Fairtrade Fortnight, various activities and events are organised to raise awareness about Fairtrade, such as coffee mornings, fashion shows, exhibitions and film screenings.

16th – International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer

The goal of this United Nations observance day is to stress the importance of the ozone layer to support life on Earth.

20th – World Clean-Up Day

During World Clean Up Day, volunteers from around the world come together to clean up litter in their communities, from streets and parks to beaches and forests. The event also aims to raise awareness about the importance of waste reduction and proper waste management.

Their target is to involve 5% of the world’s population to catalyse lasting societal behaviour change around mismanaged waste.

22nd – Car Free Day

The goal of Car Free Day is to encourage motorists to use more carbon-friendly alternatives to their usual mode of transport. From cycling to work to carpooling, the alternatives you choose to driving are entirely up to you.

29th – International Day of Awareness on Food Loss and Waste Reduction

This United Nations observance day aims to raise awareness of the importance of food loss. Studies suggest that around 33% of world food production goes to waste every year. It is important that we tackle this matter, especially when you consider that around 10% of the world population regularly goes to bed hungry.

Unblocktober

‘A month to save our sewers and seas’ – Unblocktober is a month-long UK campaign that aims to educate the public on adequate drain and sewer practice. It is important as blocked drains and sewers can lead to foul waste flooding, pollution and additional repair.

1st – World Vegetarian Day

The aim of World Vegetarian Day is to promote a vegetarian lifestyle, as well as stressing its benefits to both your health and our planet. Livestock production is responsible for over 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

4th – World Animal Day

The goal of World Animal Day is to promote and take action for animal rights and the general welfare of animals. It is celebrated annually on the 4th of October, the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi (the patron saint of animals).

4th – No Disposable Cup Day

No Disposable Cup Day is celebrated every year on the 4th of October to encourage the UK to stop using disposable cups. The UK is one of the biggest consumers of disposable cups, it is important that we find sustainable alternatives to our lifestyle.

14th – International E-Waste Day

International E-Waste Day is an annual event that takes place in October to raise awareness about the environmental issues associated with E-Waste (otherwise known as WEEE Waste) and its responsible management.

16th – World Food Day 

World Food Day is an annual event that is observed on October 16th to raise awareness about hunger and poverty, as well as to promote food security and sustainable agriculture.

UN Climate Conference

The United Nations Climate Conference (also known as COP or UNFCCC COP) is one of the world’s leading conference for discussing solutions to climate change. It brings together world leaders to find solutions, as well as setting sustainability targets. Previously, we’ve written a piece about the 2024 conference, which can be found here.

World Vegan Month

World Vegan Month is a month-long celebration that aims to promote a vegan lifestyle, much like Veganuary, as well as highlighting its benefits for your health and the planet. At Bywaters, we’ve put together a list of traditional shops that sell Vegan food for your journey.

National Tree Week

National Tree Week aims to raise awareness about the importance of trees for clean air, wildlife habitats, and carbon storage. It also aims to encourage people to get involved in planting and caring for trees in their local communities.

28th – Buy Nothing Day

Buy Nothing Day is celebrated around the world to encourage people to not buy anything for the day, and reflect on the impact that consumerism has on our planet through shopping.

Carbon Literacy Action Day

For the past few years, Carbon Literacy Action Day is celebrated around winter time to encourage the public to learn more about Carbon Literacy and to understand the impact that we have on the planet. It is one of the world’s largest climate education training events.

4th – World Wildlife Conservation Day

This WWF event is held to stress the importance of wildlife conservation. Around 1 million animal and planet species are currently under threat of extinction. It is important that we work together now to protect our planet’s biodiversity.

5th – World Soil Day

This United Nations event aims to raise awareness about the importance of soil to our existence. Soil and water are sources to life, over 95% of our food originates from these two fundamental sources.

5th – International Volunteer Day

International Volunteer Day is observed by the United Nations to acknowledge the impact that collective action has on the world generally. The UN estimates that over 800 million people aged over 15 volunteer on a monthly basis, just imagine what kind of change that would bring if we all got involved.

11th – International Mountain Day

This day is observed by the United Nations stress the importance of and campaign to restore mountain ecosystems. About half of the world’s biodiversity hotspots are found on mountains, it is crucial that we preserve their ecosystems for the environment.