Plastic is one of the most pressing environmental and health challenges in today’s world. From grabbing a to-go container for leftovers to putting groceries in single-use bags, plastic is everywhere. 

Unfortunately, the everyday plastics people use tend to end up in landfills even when people recycle. According to multiple sources, only about five percent of plastic is being recycled in the U.S. 

An organization that is trying to combat this problem is EARTHDAY.ORG. The nonprofit is committed to ending plastics to help human and planetary health. To spread awareness of this ever-growing problem, EARTHDAY.ORG is hosting a Your Art, Our Earth Poster Challenge. 

The organization invites all youth to participate in the competition, and the winners will design the 2024 Earth Day poster. The competition has three critical themes: Human Health and Plastics, Plastics and Our Oceans, and Plastics and Fashion. 

“We know how incredibly powerful imagery can be in driving home a message, and there’s never been a more important time to send the message that plastics are endangering us and the planet,” says Kathleen Rogers, the President of EARTHDAY.ORG. “Help us with your incredible designs in fighting back through art!”

The theme for the poster contest is Planet vs. Plastics, and students can submit their work until January 15, 2024. 

To learn more about this contest, visit their website at earthday.org.