Caitlin M.

Zero Waste PDX

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
650 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

1.0

conversation

with a person
UP TO

29

plastic containers

not sent to the landfill

Caitlin's actions

Personal Care

Tim Taylor Your Beauty Products

I will lessen my plastic impact by making my own makeup.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Personal Care

Back in the Bowl

I will purchase refillable beauty products.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Lifestyle

Buy Only What I Need

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

COMPLETED 28
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 29
DAILY ACTIONS

Personal Care

Just Say No

I will avoid buying toxic plastics, including polycarbonate, polystyrene and polyvinyl.

COMPLETED 29
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Takeout Pro

I will use my own containers when ordering takeout.

COMPLETED 29
DAILY ACTIONS

Personal Care

See the Green

I will properly recycle used contact lenses and packaging.

COMPLETED 29
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
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?

Caitlin M. 7/26/2019 12:56 PM

I'm always shocked at the amount of plastic used in grocery and retail stores. I've worked retail and clothes often come in a single plastic bag per item. Even things on the shelves that appear to be free of plastic packaging can come to the store wrapped in plastic and employees remove it before stocking the items. The sheer amount of waste is disheartening.

Read More
Caitlin M. 7/19/2019 11:18 AM

I reached out to my senator and representative at the Oregon legislature. I shared my concern for the amount of wasted packaging and the issue that plastic bags still available at produce and bulk food isles.

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?

Caitlin M. 7/19/2019 11:04 AM

I slipped up today and purchased items I didn't need. When I was in Whole Foods, getting 100% recycled toilet paper, I saw their sustainably-made clothing was 40% off. I don't need new clothes but I couldn't pass up the chance at eco-friendly clothes. I haven't purchased any clothes in about a year, so I felt OK with my decision.

Read More
Caitlin M. 7/01/2019 8:17 AM

I went to the farmer's market yesterday and made sure to bring my own produce bags and jars. I stocked up on local fruits and veggies with no packaging. I'm ready to start this challenge!

When I was in line to pay for my spinach at one of the larger vendors, it was disheartening to see so many people grabbing the plastic bags to put their produce in. Hillsboro may have banned plastic bags at grocery stores but unfortunately that doesn't translate to farmers markets.

Read More