Make Your Promise to the Planet

As the winter holidays approach, many of us are thinking about gifts for loved ones, traditions to uphold, and resolutions for the New Year. This season, why not embrace a gift that extends far beyond the holidays—one that supports a sustainable future for generations to come? The Promise to the Planet campaign invites you to make a personal commitment to reducing your environmental impact and contributing to a cleaner, safer, and healthier planet.

Launched by The LENA Project in collaboration with the University of Iowa’s Office of Sustainability and the Environment, this campaign has an ambitious goal: to collect 5,000 promises by Earth Day 2025. These promises are plotted on an interactive map, allowing participants to see the collective impact of their actions as each promise turns the map from grey to green.

“Making a promise to the planet is a powerful way to reflect on and protect what truly matters during the holiday season,” said Beth Mackenzie, an organizer for the campaign.  "Like many, my family is what matters most to me, so for my New Year's Resolution, I'm making a promise to protect them and the planet by switching to non-toxic household cleaners."

Making Your Promise: A Holiday Tradition with Impact

Incorporating an eco-friendly promise into your holiday celebrations can be a meaningful tradition. Whether it’s committing to eat more local foods, reducing single-use plastics, or taking the bus to work, every promise contributes to local and global change.

Here are a few ideas for holiday-themed promises:

• Green Your Gatherings: Make a promise to use reusable plates, cups, and utensils at holiday parties and family gatherings, all year long
• Eco-Friendly Gifts: Commit to giving gifts that are experiences, secondhand treasures, goods made by local artisans, or gift certificates to local establishments
• Winter Warmth: Promise to lower your thermostat and cozy up with blankets to save energy
• Community Connection:  Pledge to begin volunteering for an environmental organization or cause

See Your Impact Grow

When you make a promise, it doesn’t disappear into the ether—it gets added to the Promise Map, a visualization of commitments made by individuals. The map shows just how impactful collective action can be, offering inspiration and solidarity to those making pledges. Check out the map to see what promises others have already made.

A New Year’s Resolution with Purpose

As you ring in 2025, consider making your New Year’s resolution a Promise to the Planet. It’s a tangible, forward-thinking way to start the year with purpose, while joining thousands of others in creating a brighter, greener future.

This holiday season, give yourself—and the planet—the gift of hope and action. Together, we can reach the goal of 5,000 promises and show the power of community in building a sustainable world.

Happy holidays, and here’s to a greener New Year!