Carol B

"I'm using this July to try to break some of my worst plastic-using habits. I often feel awkward refusing things like straws and I've never brought my own containers to restaurants, but those are a few of the things that I'm planning to tackle this month! "

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
458 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

5.0

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

38

plastic containers

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

1.0

plastic straw

not sent to the landfill

Carol's actions

Food

Use Reusable Containers

I will only use reusable containers instead of single-use plastic storage items (such as plastic wrap, single-use sandwich bags).

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Use Reusables at Work

I will use reusable dishes and silverware when eating at work.

COMPLETED 16
DAILY ACTIONS

Lifestyle

Complete a Waste Audit

I will conduct a waste audit - including recyclables and compost - to understand how much waste I create and where I can reduce the most.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Takeout Pro

I will use my own containers when ordering takeout.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Skip the Straw

I will keep 1 plastic straw(s) out of the landfill per day by refusing straws or using my own glass/metal straw.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Lifestyle

Travel Eating

If traveling, I will bring my own airplane snacks and eat at local restaurants to avoid take-out containers.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Personal Care

Pretty oh so Pretty

I will purchase beauty products that are packaged in sustainable packaging.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Use Reusable Bags

I will not accept any disposable bags when making purchases, including produce bags.

COMPLETED 7
DAILY ACTIONS

Personal Care

Back in the Bowl

I will purchase refillable beauty products.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Estimate Your Plastic Consumption and Go #PlasticNeutral

I will visit rePurpose website, complete the 3-minute plastic consumption calculator, and explore how I can reBalance my annual plastic footprint.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Lifestyle

Watch a Documentary

I will watch a documentary film about waste with family and friends and talk about what we learned.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Participant Feed

Reflection, encouragement, and relationship building are all important aspects of getting a new habit to stick.
Share thoughts, encourage others, and reinforce positive new habits on the Feed.

To get started, share “your why.” Why did you join the challenge and choose the actions you did?

Carol B 7/31/2019 3:53 PM

So sad this is the end! BUT i just had some lovely conversation with colleagues about the impact this challenge has had on their everyday actions and perspectives about plastic, its use, and their need for it going forward. <3

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Carol B 7/31/2019 9:11 AM

Day 31 is bittersweet! I feel good about my consistency with some things and disappointed about my miserly progress with other things. More than anything else, I'm feel positive about continuing these actions and taking on a bit more even after the challenge :) I'm proud of our little Teska Team!

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Lifestyle Travel Eating

Was this action easy or difficult to do? How did it change your travel experience?

Carol B 7/29/2019 9:08 AM

It was easy in some ways but harder in others. I was able to bring my own things, but I found that I was noticing just how difficult it is to get anything while traveling by plane that isnt wrapped or uses some type of single-use container.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Use Reusable Containers

How can you think outside the box (or bag!) when it comes to disposables?

Carol B 7/22/2019 2:47 PM

Instead of stopping with the thoughts "i need something to put my food on/in I keep thinking..."why?" "for how long?".

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Use Reusables at Work

It is often true that we only have control over our own actions and not the collective community. How can you lead by example when it comes to switching disposables for reusable dishes in your community?

Carol B 7/19/2019 8:18 AM

I constantly go and grab reusable things and make it a point to voice that I'm looking for them, or choosing alternatives. I am working to normalize reuse in my work environment.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Use Reusable Bags

How difficult was this challenge for you? What made it easy or difficult?

Carol B 7/19/2019 8:10 AM

Easy because I make sure I always have a bag handy when I'm out and about and I've become more comfortable with being adamant that I "don't need a bag" if I really don't. Sometimes even a slightly precarious trip to the car and from the car to the house is still worth not adding yet another bag in my life.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Personal Care Back in the Bowl

Why is it so difficult to understand the impacts our purchases and waste have on other people, animals, and places? How might your experience with this challenge impact your future consumption and choices?

Carol B 7/18/2019 9:12 AM

because oftentimes we don't come into contact with those who are affected, especially animals and people in faraway places.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Skip the Straw

Have you noticed a shift in your community as more messaging about reusable straws becomes mainstream? Cite some examples.

Carol B 7/18/2019 9:11 AM

Yes! For example I wanted to find an alternative to using disposal straws for boba tea and I easily found lots of options available online.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Takeout Pro

How could you mitigate issues that may arise if the restaurant does not want to let you use your own containers at first?

Carol B 7/18/2019 9:10 AM

I can ask them about their concerns and think about ways that we can find a solution.

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Carol B 7/18/2019 9:04 AM

Halfway through and I'm realizing some of my goals are just not gonna happen this month, for example I'm not buying makeup so I'm gonna switch it out!

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