NEW YORK—When we think about sustainability in our industry, we think about the obvious things: bio-acetates and recycled metals, reducing water usage and collecting contact lens blister packaging for recycling, motion sensor lights in the office, and reducing consumption wherever possible. But sustainability, in the bigger picture, is not about limiting ourselves to what impacts us directly—there are countless other ways to get involved with protecting and promoting our environment.

This past Sunday, March 3, was World Wildlife Day. March 3 was declared World Wildlife Day in December 2013 at the 68th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to mark the day that the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was signed in 1973. Now, UN World Wildlife Day is a global annual event dedicated to wildlife.

Honoring the spirit of World Wildlife Day is something ECPs can do throughout the month—and it offers ECPs a great way to connect with their local communities through events and a common cause. Organizers have put together a social media kit for free online here, which is full of materials for activities and targeted posts to remind patients about the message communicated by World Wildlife Day 2024. Resources include social media graphics, printable posters, videos, special messages and more.

Posting about the day on social media can help ECPs communicate their values and priorities to potential patients and customers. Most importantly, though, getting involved, making use of these resources and celebrating the messages generated by World Wildlife Day can have an important impact on keeping our wildlife protected.



World Wildlife Day is also a good reminder for ECPs to organize local, community-based programming: beach cleanups, visits to a local animal shelter, tree-planting, fundraisers for environmental causes and more.

Under the hashtag #ConnectingPeopleAndPlanet, users can share how they are bridging the gap between humans and wildlife, while the #DigitalInnovation and #TechForWildlife hashtags allow users to share how technology and digital developments used in daily life are helping protect our wildlife.

Although eyecare and wildlife might not go hand in hand at first glance, remembering days like World Wildlife Day creates an excellent opportunity for ECPs to bolster their community involvement. Be it a wildlife-themed trunk sale, an after-hours animal-themed design contest, a group visit to a local animal shelter in need, a fundraiser for a wildlife-focused nonprofit—there are countless ways to have a positive effect on your local community and our wildlife at large.