You're out on your favourite trail - boots crunching softly on the path, wind on your face, mind clear. Then, up ahead, a flash of colour catches your eye. Not the purple of a wildflower or the red of a passing cyclist, but something out of place: a crisp packet, wedged under a bush. It's a tiny thing... but it breaks the spell.
Time spent in nature should inspire care and respect for the world around us, and it is endlessly frustrating that this notion is not universally shared. After spending time in one of the world’s most beautiful landscapes this week, Glencoe, we couldn’t help but notice the many bits and pieces dropped by uncaring individuals. As Earth Day approaches, we thought we would think about how we can all protect the landscapes we love - not just by what we wear (sustainable fibres all the way!), but by what we leave behind. Tackling outdoor waste is one simple, powerful way we can all make a difference. It might feel overwhelming, but we all know that small acts of caring can ripple outwards to make real change happen.
Why Outdoor Waste Deserves Our Attention
This year, Earth Day’s theme is: Our Planet. Our Power. It’s a call to action - to recognise that we each have the power to protect the places we love from the growing crisis of plastic pollution.
It’s estimated that over 400 million tonnes of plastic are produced every year, and a huge amount of it ends up where it doesn’t belong - clogging rivers, littering coastlines, and breaking down into microplastics that threaten wildlife and seep into our food, water, and even the air we breathe.
In the outdoors, plastic waste can take hundreds of years to decompose. That rogue bottle cap, energy gel wrapper, or discarded drinks bottle might feel like a small thing - but collectively, they’re part of a much bigger problem. And unlike natural waste, plastics don’t just disappear. They linger, fragment, and circulate through entire ecosystems.
But here’s the good news: if human choices created the plastic problem, then human choices can help solve it. By reducing what we bring, rethinking what we use, and removing what doesn’t belong, we turn intention into action. That’s what Earth Day is all about. And it starts with us - on the trails, by the sea, and in the everyday habits we choose to change.
Voices Making a Difference
There are individuals and organisations doing inspiring work to tackle this issue head-on - on the trails, along our coastlines, and even in our own homes.
Jo Moseley
Many of you will be familiar with a friend of FINDRA, Jo. A paddleboarder, filmmaker, and so much more! Jo ties in some litter collection with daily beach walks - just a couple of minutes out of her day which over time is adding up to a monumental impact. Her message is simple: you don’t have to do everything, but you can do something. Whether it’s a beach stroll with a bin bag or a riverside run with litter gloves, Jo leads by example, reminding us that protecting our blue spaces starts with small, local action.
“Picking up litter on my walks not only makes it a beach workout but lifts my spirits & my soul too. 💙”
Through her “litter picking” posts, Jo highlights the work of another important organisations combating the plastic crisis in our oceans, The 2 Minute Foundation
The 2 Minute Foundation
Sometimes, the most powerful changes start with just two minutes. The 2 Minute Foundation is a charity on a mission to inspire simple, everyday actions that help protect our planet - like a two-minute beach clean, street clean, or litter pick. Through their clever cleanup stations, education programmes, and community challenges, they show that small acts, done often, can make a big difference. It’s about progress, not perfection - and doing what you can, when you can, wherever you are.
As founder Martin Dorey puts it:
"We believe that simple acts can add up to make a big difference, that doing something positive is infinitely better than doing nothing, and that it is positivity, people and passion that will change our world for the better."
Trash Free Trails
Trash Free Trails is a community-focused non-profit organisation dedicated to reducing plastic pollution on our trails and wild places by 75% by 2025. Founded by mountain biker and surfer Dom Ferris, the initiative aims to reconnect people with nature through purposeful adventure. As Dom explains:
"We want to create a sustained reduction in the amount of Single-Use Pollution on our trails, and to do so we need a roadmap, steered by policy and guided by scientific evidence. Our community are not just volunteer trail cleaners – they’re Citizen Scientists who support this vision every step of the way." (SingleTrack World)
Through community-led clean-ups, educational programs, and campaigns like the 'State of Our Trails Report,' Trash Free Trails empowers individuals to take action and protect the environments they cherish.
The Green Company
Sustainability isn’t just for when we’re outside. What we do at home - like how we wash our clothes - has a big role to play too. The Green Company is a brilliant example of a small group of people making a significant difference. Founded by a group of school friends, there are now over 100,000 people who have made the swap to Green Sheets: lightweight, dissolvable laundry detergent sheets that come in plastic-free packaging. No bulky bottles, no waste - just fresh clothes and cleaner habits.
“The Green Company has developed and expanded since those early days, but our mission remains the same; helping you reduce plastic wastage through cleaner, greener alternatives.”
What can we do?
Protecting our outdoor spaces doesn’t require grand gestures - just a little more awareness and intention. Here are a few ideas to get started:
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Use reusable bottles and make good snack choices – a fairly simple one to start, and I am sure one you all do. Plastic water bottles have a lot to answer for and living in the UK, it is completely avoidable. There are also better snack choices available, which have compostable packaging, or even better, make them at home in reusable containers. Minimise your own contribution to landfill.
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Leave nothing behind but footprints – again, we know our audience and none of you would deliberately drop litter and ruin our beloved outdoors, but picking up when you see something out of place is such a small gesture, and if everyone did it, what a difference you would make.
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Join a local clean-up – take the litter picking to the next level. Grab a group of friends or engage your local community to get involved. Whether it is a green space, local trail or a beach, nature will thank you for taking the time to remove single use plastic. And it’s a great excuse to get together (coffee and cake after?)
Closing Thoughts
The outdoors gives us so much - space to breathe, think, move, and feel connected. This Earth Day, we’re encouraging everyone in the FINDRA community to give something back. Whether it’s one wrapper picked up on a walk, one switch to a plastic-free product, or one inspired conversation with a friend - it all matters.
Because the smallest steps, taken together, can lead to real change. And because the wild places we love are worth looking after.
Sunday Inspiration
Favourite Book
No More Rubbish Excuses by Martin Dorey
#2minutebeachclean founder Martin Dorey offers a practical guide to reducing personal waste and embracing sustainable living. The book presents 50 straightforward actions—termed #2minutesolutions - that individuals can implement to cut down on plastic use and minimize environmental impact.
Favourite Quote
Favourite Song
Where Do the Children Play? by Cat Stevens
It was written n 1970, and 55 years later, it sadly is still as relevant. A beautiful song.
