Earth Day Recap, Sustainable Everything, and More Environment News Trends
A look at the environmental news from PR Newswire in March and April that you might have missed.
By Cameron Schneider | Published May 10, 2023
Environmental news is growing and as the second quarter of 2023 comes to a close, we have a deep dive into the four main trends our team discovered in March and April: Everything from electric vehicles (EVs) to renewable energy, sustainability initiatives, Earth Day, and more.
These news releases can be found on the PR Newswire Environmental News Page as your go-to environmental information hub, but for now, keep on reading.
A Few of the Most Popular Environmental Releases
During March and April, many releases passed through PR Newswire's network with great success, but these few releases were particularly notable:
- Regenerative agriculture took big steps with PepsiCo's announcement of a $216 million investment in long-term partnerships.
- Progress on the next generation of electricity was big news as Vogtle Unit 3 reached initial criticality.
- Milk is changing as we know it — Wood Milk launched for the next generation of milk drinkers.
Most Common Trends in Environmental News
We have gone over the most popular releases, and now it’s time to get into the main reason you are here: the trends. Within this two-month period, PR Newswire distributed 1,959 releases pertaining to the environment. From company earnings to product announcements, sustainability initiatives, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reports, PR Newswire saw it all in March and April. Let's dive in.
Electric Transport
Transportation is a part of our daily lives and is becoming more environmentally friendly with the increasing production and usage of electric vehicles. EVs are becoming the norm (as the kids say), which means great things for our environment and the future.
Electric transport comes in more ways than just your run-of-the-mill 4-door car. You can now scoot your way around the city with Varla’s new electric scooter or book an electric vehicle on Zevo’s EV sharing platform.
Here are some examples from March and April:
- Upway, the #1 Trusted in the Electric Bikes Marketplace, Launched in the U.S.
- 7-Eleven, Inc. Launched New Electric Vehicle Charging Network, 7Charge
- Meals On Wheels of San Francisco to Electrify Two-thirds of Fleet to Reduce Carbon Footprint and Fuel Costs
- Kia began building facility for electric purpose-built vehicle (PBV) production
Electric transport took over the wire with a whopping 826 releases mentioning "electric vehicle" crossing the wire during this two-month period.
Renewable Energy
Energy as we know it is changing and it's changing for the better. Renewable energy sources such as wind and solar are taking over the energy market, our homes, and businesses. Companies are taking the initiative to make the switch and better the environment with their energy sources. We are also seeing these energy swaps in homes across the country.
Here are some examples from March and April:
- GameChange Solar Supplied Electricity to Over 15 Million People in 5.8 Million Homes
- New wind farm program gave Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland residents choice and transparency among energy suppliers
- Attentive Energy One Announced Plans for Two New Offshore Wind Ports In New York City, Creating $400 Million In Economic Activity In New York State
Wind and solar power made quite the splash in the news, with 225 releases sent throughout March and April, making renewable energy a trend to be watched.
All Things Sustainability
Sustainability protects our earth in more than one way and is becoming an area in which society is ready to make changes for the better. Whether it’s finding sustainable alternatives to less eco-friendly products or building a new standard for sustainable architecture, PR Newswire distributed a wide variety of sustainability-related press releases in recent months.
Here are some examples from March and April:
- The Body Shop US Expanded Its Refill Program with the Introduction of Refillable Makeup
- Smartwool Launched Second Cut™ Hike Sock, a Sock Made from Your Old Socks
- Chipotle Piloted a New Responsible Restaurant Design Alongside its Sustainability Campaign
"Sustainability"/"Sustainable" was the topic of conversation 6,651 times throughout this two-month period. From companies developing sustainability initiatives to product announcements, it’s safe to say sustainability is a hit and will continue to be so moving forward.
Earth Day (More like Earth Month)
April 2023 has since come and gone, but Earth Day was still making its mark into the early days of May. We have seen more and more companies announcing Earth Day initiatives, while others made it a month-long project. Everything from the commitment to plant trees to company donations, and sustainable products crossed the wire surrounding Earth Day.
Here are some examples from March and April:
- Think Energy Launched Initiative to Protect 1 Million Trees for Earth Month
- Subaru of America Celebrated Fifth Year of "SUBARU LOVES THE EARTH" Community Recycling Program
- Peet’s Coffee “FREES DAIRY-FREE" for Earth Month, Debuted Plant-based Spring Menu
Earth Day and Earth Month certainly made their mark this March and April with a smashing 232 news releases crossing the wire. Earth Day continues to be a major holiday, and this year we have seen more companies come out in support and make commitments to better the planet 365 days a year.
The Future
These past two months have been busy for the environmental hub here at PR Newswire. If May and June are anything like March and April, I’d say we are in for a good time for environmental news.
About the Author
Cameron Schneider is a Content Editor from a small town in Minnesota and a recent communications and graphic design graduate of the University of Wisconsin La-Crosse. She loves spending time with her dogs, family, and friends. A few hobbies of Cameron’s would be art, reading, and relaxing outside when the Minnesota weather cooperates.