Coalition of North American Zoos and Aquariums

Plastic Free Ecochallenge 2019

July 1 - July 31, 2019

Elizabeth Linske

Protectors of the Blue - NEAq Staff & Volunteers

"To protect the blue planet."

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
1,299 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

5.0

conversations

with people
UP TO

1.0

documentary

watched
UP TO

135

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

19

petitions

signed
UP TO

405

pieces of litter

picked up
UP TO

30

plastic containers

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

12

public officials or leaders

contacted
UP TO

1.0

waste audit

conducted
UP TO

21

zero-waste meals

consumed

Elizabeth's 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.

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

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 21
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Sign a Petition

I will sign a petition in support of a plastic-related initiative in my state/province.

COMPLETED 19
DAILY ACTIONS

Lifestyle

Homemade Cleaners

I will make my own cleaning products at home.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Lifestyle

Naked Bins

I will either line my trash cans with repurposed newspaper or paper bags, or I will not line my trash cans at all.

COMPLETED 29
DAILY ACTIONS

Personal Care

Brusha Brusha Brusha

I will replace my plastic toothbrush with a bamboo toothbrush.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Lifestyle

Travel Smart

If traveling, I will bring my own plastic free items (water bottle, grocery bags, collapsible food containers, utensils, straws, etc.) with me.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Family

Discover Together

I will spend 20 minutes educating my family on the basics of living a reduced/no-plastic lifestyle.

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

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

Personal Care

Lather Up

I will replace my soaps, shampoos, and conditions with either a bar or refillable option.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Personal Care

Fresh as a Daisy

I will use deodorant either from a bar or a jar or I will make my own.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Write Letters or Emails

I will write 1 letter(s) or email(s) per day to a public official or company to advocate for planet-friendly policies.

COMPLETED 12
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Keep My Community Clean

I will pick up 15 piece(s) of litter each day.

COMPLETED 27
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?

Elizabeth Linske 7/31/2019 7:11 AM

Feeling great about my actions this past month! I hope to continue the small changes I made in hopes to eliminate plastic completely from my life.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Personal Care Brusha Brusha Brusha

What are the benefits of switching to bamboo toothbrushes? How would you implore others in your community to make this switch as well?

Elizabeth Linske 7/31/2019 7:10 AM

Bamboo will biodegrade in landfills. I just ordered my toothbrush but am excited to try it.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Community Sign a Petition

What is a plastic-related issue in your state/province?

Elizabeth Linske 7/29/2019 1:25 PM

I have been signing several petitions, most of which are national or international petitions. I have been searching for local petitions, but they are hard to find!

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Personal Care Fresh as a Daisy

Do some research on the toxic side affects of aluminum deodorant. After reading the side effects, can you think of instances where you may have experienced the side effects from this form of deodorant?

Elizabeth Linske 7/29/2019 7:28 AM

I have had issues with natural deodorant in the past. Tried making my own this time, not sure about it. Might need to purchase one in a jar.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Lifestyle Homemade Cleaners

What did you learn by making your own cleaning products? What is the biggest difference in making vs buying?

Elizabeth Linske 7/26/2019 7:42 AM

You can make a lot more for a lot less money!

Read More
Elizabeth Linske 7/22/2019 5:45 AM

Not sure how I feel about this article?

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-07-22/sawdust-might-be-one-answer-to-the-world-s-plastic-problem

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Community Write Letters or Emails

How might thinking creatively help us address big systems problems - like plastic pollution - differently?

Elizabeth Linske 7/22/2019 5:41 AM

There are so many options for packaging out there. I was sent a very interesting article regarding plastic vs the carbon emissions of making paper packaging. I do not have an answer for which is better: plastic that most Americans throw away or adding more carbon to the environment. I have been reaching out to many different organizations and companies regarding their plastic packaging, not many have gotten back to me. If they have, they usually redirect my question. We have to think creatively, not only in packaging, but in our approach to make change. How can we try to bring about change if no one is willing to listen?

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Lifestyle Complete a Waste Audit

What did you learn about the waste you create? Where can you reduce the most?

Elizabeth Linske 7/21/2019 2:09 PM

I can reduce the most with fruit packaging. I do my best to go to farmer's markets or local stores which sells fruit in no plastic packaging. Some days I do not have the time to go do this since it is an extra stop. Most other packaging, I make efforts to buy items in glass or aluminum.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Lifestyle Watch a Documentary

Which documentary did you choose to watch? What did you learn?

Elizabeth Linske 7/21/2019 10:04 AM

I have watched several documentaries this month, most of which were very depressing. I just watched Mission Blue, starring Sylvia Earle, which was a great mixture of horrifying facts and uplifting messages. It did not focus on plastic, rather it covered the overall need for conservation of marine ecosystems. What I got most out of the film was the encouraging message to persevere and overcome the toughest
odds. The marine conservation field can be overwhelming and this film helped to encourage me to keep on going. It made me realize I need to keep fighting for the issues I believe in.

Read More
Elizabeth Linske 7/21/2019 7:23 AM

4.5 trillion cigarettes litter the planet EACH YEAR! Interesting article about the potential effects they may have on the environment.

http://theconversation.com/cigarette-butts-are-the-forgotten-plastic-pollution-and-they-could-be-killing-our-plants-119958

Read More
- Dorna Schroeter 7/21/2019 7:29 AM
  
  This is sick! Time to start taking action on this unnecessary, unhealthy and destructive industry.
  
  Read More