Our Mission
EarthFIRST’s mission is to empower FIRST teams to take action for our planet by promoting sustainability, reducing waste, and inspiring environmental responsibility within the robotics community.
A Sustainability Initiative for Robotics Teams
FIRST isn’t only about building robots, it’s about building a better world. EarthFIRST is a student-led movement that unites FTC and FRC teams who believe in protecting our planet through sustainable engineering, innovative reuse, and caring for the environment.
What We Do
At EarthFIRST, we work to make sustainability a core part of the FIRST experience. We encourage teams to reuse and recycle, minimize waste, and think creatively about how to make robotics more environmentally friendly. Through collaboration, education, and shared commitment, we’re making sustainability in robotics stronger.
Why Join?
Joining EarthFIRST connects your team to a community consisting of STEM-minded innovators dedicated to making robotics more sustainable. As an EarthFIRST Team, you’ll be recognized on our website and social media, and you’ll have opportunities to collaborate on eco-friendly projects and initiatives. You’ll also be setting an example for others in the FIRST community. By joining, your team becomes a part in shaping a future where innovation and environmental care work hand in hand.
How to Join
Becoming part of EarthFIRST is simple:
- Reach out: Send us an email to EarthFIRST@team2342.org letting us know your team is interested in joining the movement
- Sign up: Fill our our EarthFIRST Team Signup Form to make it official
- Take action: Participate in or host events that help the environment
Your commitment matters, and helps inspire others while keeping our planet thriving.
The EarthFIRST Pledge
Teams that join EarthFIRST commit to:
● Recycle and reuse robot parts and materials
● Reduce waste at meeting, events, and competitions
● Hosting or participating in at least one EarthFIRST event
● Promote sustainability within the community
● Share ideas and inspire others
● Use #EarthFIRST on social media to spread awareness
By taking the pledge, your team becomes part of a growing community leading the movement for sustainability in robotics.
Team Phoenix Does a Rail Trail Cleanup
This event was a Rail Trail Cleanup that launched Team Phoenix’s Earth FIRST Initiative in 2024. Sixteen members of Team Phoenix worked together to pick up trash along the rail trail through downtown Nashua. They were able to collect 5 trash bags of litter, helping decrease environmental risk in that area.
Team Phoenix Hosts an Electronics Recycling Event
In order to promote environmentally stable practices, Team Phoenix hosted an Electronics Recycling Event in January of 2025. The event was hosted in the parking lot of the Texas Roadhouse in Nashua, NH. The local community brought their old electronics and dropped them off to our team. 1400 pounds of electronics were collected by Team Phoenix who then brought them to Aurum Recovery Group to be recycled in an environmentally friendly way. This made sure that these electronics were not contributing to the landfills or causing any harmful environmental issues.
A second Electronics Recycling Event was hosted in October of 2025, held in the parking lot of Old Navy Parking Lot, Nashua, NH. All electronics were brought to the Aurum Recovery Group.