Earth Day is April 22, 2024 (Photo: Brian Yurasits Unsplash)
By Christina Phillips
Earthday.org, the global force behind Earth Day on April 22, announced it is partnering with the Out of Home Advertising Association of America (OAAA), a trade group representing the entire out of home (OOH) advertising industry, for the sixth year in a row to support the launch of a national (OOH) campaign to help shine a light on the dangers of plastics to human health.
In a news release, Earthday.org said the theme for 2024 is Planet VS Plastics and has been driving home the message that plastics are not inert.
Research is finding that plastics break down into tiny fragments called microplastics, which leach out toxic plastic chemicals. They are both associated with a wide range of human health issues from Alzheimer’s to strokes to male infertility to obesity.
“Plastics in one form or another have contaminated our soil, our air and our water,” said Kathleen Rogers, the President of Earthday.org. “Plastics are in our food chain and by default, inside all of us, and we are inhaling them in from the air we breathe. It’s important that the public knows this – and that we bring this crucial issue to the forefront of consumers’ minds.”
Earthday.org noted that babies seem the most at risk with evidence microplastics can interrupt maternal-fetal communication and potentially damage DNA. Reports have linked microplastics to autism and other endocrine disruption issues which can amongst other things manifest as early onset puberty, as well as association with some cancers, including in the prostate gland of fetuses.
“Helping to drive awareness around this important and widespread issue is what out of home is made for – delivering larger-than-life impact and engagement with the masses. These are big problems to solve, and we need to harness big, bold storytelling to help solve them,” said Anna Bager, President and CEO, OAAA.
“This incredible campaign devised by our friends at the creative agency Extra Credit Projects and supported by OAAA, is about alerting the public to the dangers of plastics and their additive chemicals. It is forthright because Earthday.org believes that the plastic industry doesn’t give a fork about the planet,” said Tom Cosgrove, Chief Creative and Content Officer for Earthday.org.
Earthday.org’s founders created and organized the very first Earth Day on April 22, 1970. Since then, Earthday.org has mobilized over 1 billion people annually on Earth Day, and every other day, to protect the planet.
Earthday.org’s mission is to diversify, educate, and activate the environmental movement worldwide.
Earthday.org is the largest recruiter to the environmental movement, working with more than 150,000 partners in nearly 192 countries to build environmental democracy.
More information:
Earthday.org
oaaa.org
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