For Earth Day, WVU Her Campus girls partnered with Garnier to clean up the downtown campus, turning a simple Sunday afternoon into a meaningful step toward sustainability. As a member, I had the opportunity to take part in the event alongside other girls who wanted to make a visible difference in our community. We spent the afternoon picking up litter around our campus, places we walk through every day, but don’t always stop to think about it in terms of environmental impact. Being part of that effort made it clear how much small actions can add up.Â
The clean-up was inspired by Garnier’s “One Green Step” initiative, a campaign that encourages individuals to take small, manageable actions to help the environment. The idea behind the campaign is simple: when people collectively commit to even one sustainable habit, whether that’s recycling more, reducing waste or participating in cleaning up their communities, it can lead to lasting change.Â
Garnier’s broader mission, known as Green Beauty, focuses on making sustainability more accessible through efforts such as using more recycled packaging, improving sourcing practices, making cruelty-free products and working toward carbon neutrality. Their partnerships with student organizations help bring those values directly to college campuses, where younger generations are already passionate about environmental issues.Â
The clean-up wasn’t just about picking up trash, but it was about being a part of something bigger. It was rewarding to see immediate results of our campus being cleaner, but it also felt empowering to know we were contributing to a larger movement focused on sustainability. By the end of the day, our bags were full, and our streets looked noticeably cleaner. We walked away with a stronger connection to the environment around us. Earth Day may only come once a year, but as Garnier’s campaign reminds us, making a difference can start with #onegreenstep.
