Earth Overshoot Day: Using Up The Earth’s Annual Resources
Today marks Earth Overshoot Day 2025, the day that humanity has used up all the natural resources that Earth can regenerate in a year.
We are now entering an ecological deficit for the rest of the year, as we are using the earth's resources like timber, food and carbon sequestration 1.8 times faster than the planet can replenish.
Therese Noorlander, Sustainable Director Industry, Grundfos said on Linkedin: “Today is World Overshoot Day, a stark reminder that we’re using more resources than our planet can regenerate in a year.
“It’s sobering, but also a powerful call to action. We must rethink, reuse, recycle… and sometimes even refuse the use of resources.
“As part of my own journey, I’m committing to eat even more plant-based food.
“I believe that small steps can add up.”
Why do we have World Overshoot Day?
Earth Overshoot Day was first suggested by Andrew Simms, who partnered with Global Footprint Network in 2006 to launch the first campaign.
The main cause of ecological overshoot is down to individual and collective consumption choices and habits.
Global Footprint Network hosts and calculates the day, every year the network announces the date for Earth Overshoot day on the 5th of June, which is dedicated to World Environment Day.
To determine the date Global Footprint Network calculates the number of days of that year that Earth's biocapacity suffices to provide for humanity's ecological footprint.
WWF is one of the world’s largest conservation organisations and has collaborated with the Earth Overshoot Day since 2007.
Kiersten Washle, Portfolio Energy and Sustainability Manager, JLL said on Linkedin: “I wish we lived in a wiser, better world, where we lived in a way that we do not expend resources faster than Earth can regenerate them.
“The reality though, is that on average, lifestyles around the world today consume materials at a pace that means for 2025, the day we cross the threshold of overconsumption is July 24th.
“Lifestyles vary around the world so, rather than a worldwide average, the graphic below shows what Earth Overshoot Day would be if everyone lived like the citizens of that country. In the US, we don't even make it a full three months.
“Days like these are not holidays to celebrate but rather opportunities to reflect on our lifestyles, consumption habits and ways we can make a difference."
Each country has its own Overshoot Day each year, marking the date that each country enters its ecological deficit. This is an idicator of habits, governance and resource distribution.
The earliest day is Qatar on the 6th of February.
Singapore’s day is on the 26th of February, the US’s day is the 13th of March and Australia is not far behind with the 19th of March.
The United Kingdom is on the 20th of May, while Uruguay has the latest Overshoot Day in the world, being on the 17th of December.
Last year the global Earth Overshoot day was dated as the 1st of August, roughly a week later than this year.
What is being done to make a difference
ABB is an example of a company that is aiming to improve the date of Earth Overshoot day.
As a global technology leader in electrification and automation, the company is moving to a circular business model in the aim to eliminate waste and keep products in use, which will reduce overshoot.
ABB says that its strategy focuses on preserving resources at every stage of a product's life.
Anke Hampel, ABB Head of Sustainability says: "Collaboration with suppliers and partners is essential for circularity-driven innovation.
“Each of us has a distinct role to play in transitioning to a fully circular economy. By preventing resource waste and reusing materials, we protect the environment and ensure resources for future generations.
“Let’s move away from linear systems and work together to build sustainable models."
ABB has collaborated with Boliden, a Swedish mining and smelting company to build a strategy to use low carbon footprint copper in its equipment and electric motors.
As well as being selected by GreenIron, a company working in mining and metals, that has innovated a hydrogen-based reduction technology that will be industrialised for fossil-free and energy-efficient production of metals.
This will produce fossil-free sponge iron that can then be used in industries such as steelmaking, reducing the carbon footprint of the mining industry.
