Coalition of North American Zoos and Aquariums

Plastic Free Ecochallenge 2019

July 1 - July 31, 2019

Alexa Koskewich

Calgary Zoo Stampede Stomp Out Plastic

"Going waste free."

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
768 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

3.0

conversations

with people
UP TO

1.0

documentary

watched
UP TO

3.0

hours

volunteered
UP TO

95

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

1.0

waste audit

conducted

Alexa's actions

Community

Share My Actions

I will make my environmental actions visible by posting to my social media networks.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Lifestyle

Buy Only What I Need

I will not buy anything except items required for health and safety.

COMPLETED 16
DAILY ACTIONS

Personal Care

Pretty oh so Pretty

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Personal Care

Back in the Bowl

I will purchase refillable beauty products.

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Volunteer in my Community

I will volunteer 3 hour(s) in my community.

COMPLETED
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

Natural Fibers

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Personal Care

Brusha Brusha Brusha

I will replace my plastic toothbrush with a bamboo toothbrush.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Buy Unpackaged Produce

I will purchase produce items without plastic packaging.

COMPLETED 6
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Advocate For More Food Packaging Options

I will advocate for alternatives to single use packaging at local grocery stores, markets, or work.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Minimize Packaging

I will purchase food items with the least amount of packaging.

COMPLETED 25
DAILY ACTIONS

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

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
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?

Alexa Koskewich 7/31/2019 8:02 AM

It's hard to understand the impact on someone, thing, place else if you have no connection to it. Out of spite out of mind.
I, we, need to find ways to connect to our world, the whole world. There are many. I'll incorporate new experiences to my daily life.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Visit the Butcher

How has using your own containers impacted the quality of the food you receive? Does this give you more awareness of where your food comes from as opposed to just grabbing a package of mystery origin cheese/meat?

Alexa Koskewich 7/28/2019 1:43 PM

Since I'm dealing directly with a person, I can ask questions. They also often make recommendations, like trying yak for the 1st time.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Community Share My Actions

In what ways is social media an effective tool for sharing your values?

Alexa Koskewich 7/24/2019 1:03 PM

Very limited. I'm not into social media, mostly just a way to keep in touch with friends and family. But I do have a soap box at work where I deal with tourists from around the world all day.😃

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Advocate For More Food Packaging Options

Single use plastics have become normalized in our society to the point that most people don't see them as a problem. What would you say to a friend, colleague, or family member who may not understand why these disposables are an issue?

Alexa Koskewich 7/22/2019 9:56 AM

I prefer to just lead by example. I get asked all the time about my homemade produce bags. They are sparkly. Then I can encourage them to upcycle. We get quite the discussions going. It's always better when the audience is engaged.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Minimize Packaging

With the added mindfulness of reducing your packaging, what have you noticed about the amount and type of single use plastics used for packaging when you shop in the grocery store?

Alexa Koskewich 7/22/2019 9:53 AM

Which is better plastic milk jugs or cardboard ones. I'll have to do some more research.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Lifestyle Buy Only What I Need

As you have reduced your spending, what have you noticed about your 'health and safety' purchasing habits? How might this change your longer term purchasing decisions?

Alexa Koskewich 7/22/2019 9:45 AM

I like this. Saves money and purchase regret.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Lifestyle Natural Fibers

What are the benefits (to people, animals, and the environment) of purchasing clothes made with natural fibers?

Alexa Koskewich 7/19/2019 4:15 PM

I find polyester holds odors, requiring more washing with deodorizer.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Community Volunteer in my Community

How does volunteering enhance your community and/or change your relationship with it?

Alexa Koskewich 7/16/2019 5:55 PM

I do cleanup as I walk in the mornings. Many people thank me. And some will start picking with me.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Community Estimate Your Plastic Consumption and Go #PlasticNeutral

What did you find out about your plastic consumption by using the calculator? What did or didn't surprise you?

Alexa Koskewich 7/16/2019 5:51 PM

My consumption is lower than the average North American, but still high.

Read More
Alexa Koskewich 7/16/2019 5:50 PM

As far as food packaging in grocery stores. I'm being told they have government guidelines that prevent them from allowing me to use my own containers and the same goes for the local producers. Any ideas? Farmers markets and you pick are extremely limited in my area.

Read More