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Caitlin Foster's avatar

Caitlin Foster

Seattle Aquarium Members and Friends

"My goal is to reduce my household's single-use plastic consumption while also advocating for systemic change."

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 196 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    5.0
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    6.0
    pieces of plastic cutlery
    not sent to the landfill

Caitlin's actions

Family

Natural Paints

I will paint rooms in my home with low/no VOC or natural paints.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Lifestyle

Natural Fibers

When available, I will purchase clothing made with natural fibers, such as cotton, linen, or wool, rather than synthetic fibers.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Visit the Butcher

I will purchase meats and cheeses from the deli counter or a butcher shop, and use my own containers to do so.

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Cook a Zero-Plastic Waste Meal

I will prepare 1 meal(s) at home each day without using any items packaged in single-use plastic.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Shop the Bulk Bins

I will purchase dry goods from the bulk section of my grocery store, and use my own containers to do so.

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

Personal Care

Back in the Bowl

I will purchase refillable beauty products.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Lifestyle

Travel Toiletries

If traveling, I will reuse my old travel tubes to refill with my soaps or only bring bar soaps with me in a TSA approved reusable quart sized bag.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Use Reusable Utensils

I will keep 3 plastic cutlery out of the landfill per day by using my own reusable cutlery.

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

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

Pets

Thrifty Pets

I will purchase my pet's water/food dishes, collars or leashes from the thrift store.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Lifestyle

Travel Eating

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

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?

  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Use Reusable Containers
    How can you think outside the box (or bag!) when it comes to disposables?

    Caitlin Foster's avatar
    Caitlin Foster 7/31/2019 10:50 AM
    We're working to be more cognizant of single-use plastics as "swag" for events. For Donor Halloween, we're hunting for non-plastic pencils or crayons to give away as "teal pumpkin" prizes!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Use Reusable Utensils
    How can you be an advocate for using resusables instead of disposables for the rest of your community? Where are they currently dependent on disposable cutlery, and how can you convince them of the need for change?

    Caitlin Foster's avatar
    Caitlin Foster 7/31/2019 10:48 AM
    Our cafe currently uses compostable cutlery, but with the advent of the reusable dish policy, I'm hopeful we'll institute something similar for cutlery soon!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Shop the Bulk Bins
    How has buying bulk impacted the quality of the food you receive? Why do you think Western society relies more on prepackaged foods rather than buying in bulk?

    Caitlin Foster's avatar
    Caitlin Foster 7/29/2019 3:44 PM
    Nuts, granola, etc. from the bulk section usually seem more fresh and flavorful. I believe Western society's reliance on prepackaged food is a result of our fixation on convenience.
  • 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?

    Caitlin Foster's avatar
    Caitlin Foster 7/29/2019 3:43 PM
    We don't see the impacts of our purchases; they just "disappear" into the trash can or recycling bin. Being more mindful of each single-use plastic item helps you tally up the sheer volume of your use.