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Krystal Nelson 's avatar

Krystal Nelson

Life Unplastic Gainesville

"to reduce my footprint on this world I love to travel so much!"

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 1,137 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    3.0
    conversations
    with people
  • UP TO
    1.0
    documentary
    watched
  • UP TO
    90
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    77
    pieces of plastic cutlery
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    97
    plastic containers
    not sent to the landfill

Krystal's 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

Use Reusable Utensils

I will keep 2 plastic cutlery out of the landfill per day by using my own reusable cutlery.

COMPLETED 26
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Takeout Pro

I will use my own containers when ordering takeout.

COMPLETED 22
DAILY ACTIONS

Personal Care

Back in the Bowl

I will purchase refillable beauty products.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Family

Swap the Snacks

I will swap out 2 prepackaged snacks a day for fresh fruits or veggies.

COMPLETED 25
DAILY ACTIONS

Family

Plastic Free Lunch Boxes

I will only pack reusable cutlery, drinkware and tupperware-like containers in my children's lunches to reduce plastic waste.

COMPLETED 25
DAILY ACTIONS

Lifestyle

Buy Only What I Need

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

COMPLETED 22
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Share My Actions

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Personal Care

Dam the Flow

I will use a menstrual cup and/or cloth pads

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

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

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

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

Personal Care

Pretty oh so Pretty

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Create Your Own Action

Not purchasing spices & dry goods until I complete what I have

My pantry isn't overflowing, but there are plenty of half-used bags/boxes/jars of things. I need to get creative!

COMPLETED 3
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?


  • Krystal Nelson 's avatar
    Krystal Nelson 7/31/2019 5:39 AM
    I just want to say happy end of the challenge! (and hopefully, happy start of new, lifelong changes!)

  • Krystal Nelson 's avatar
    Krystal Nelson 7/29/2019 9:14 AM
    Oh! I forgot to add - this weekend we made our own almond/oat milk in the Vitamix and I don't think I'll ever go back to commercial options again. So good and easy, just required a little prep. I soaked 1 cup almonds overnight, and soaked 3/4 cup rolled oats the following day for three hours. I drained the soaking liquid and blended with 7 cups filtered water, a little local honey, and pinch of salt. I know a lot of people strain their nut milks, but everything was so liquified there wasn't much to strain (it's probably higher in calories than store brands, but I'm not counting).

    • Krystal Nelson 's avatar
      Krystal Nelson 7/30/2019 12:29 PM
      Oh no, chocolate almond milk sounds irresistible! 

    • Life Unplastic 's avatar
      Life Unplastic 7/30/2019 8:40 AM
      Yay I’ve been wanting to try this too. Especially after seeing this post on a group i follow on Facebook 🤤

    • Brooke Tate's avatar
      Brooke Tate 7/29/2019 1:48 PM
      I've been meaning to try this! Although growing up on whole milk as a kid has made it ridiculously difficult to enjoy the taste of other milks... But I was hoping homemade might taste way better! Thanks for sharing

  • Krystal Nelson 's avatar
    Krystal Nelson 7/29/2019 5:49 AM
    This weekend we visited Cypress and Grove to get our growler refilled. Just curious - who has the best prices for refills in town?

  • Krystal Nelson 's avatar
    Krystal Nelson 7/28/2019 7:12 AM
    Heading grocery shopping today and treating ourselves to lunch out. I just stumbled across this concept in Durham, and I would be totally on board if something like this was offered here! https://durhamgreentogo.com/

    • Juliana Cantillo's avatar
      Juliana Cantillo 7/28/2019 1:16 PM
      This is the same concept a lot of universities are employing on their campuses - I'd love to see it work on a larger scale!! It's such a great idea!

    • Brooke Tate's avatar
      Brooke Tate 7/28/2019 8:46 AM
      Oh I love this! I feel like Gainesville could totally get on board. I'd be a member!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Personal Care Pretty oh so Pretty
    How can you advocate for the importance of reducing packaging to the rest of your friends, family and larger community?

    Krystal Nelson 's avatar
    Krystal Nelson 7/28/2019 7:10 AM
    I think leading by example is the best way to advocate for packing reduction. And I also think that accepting that there will be imperfect moments is a great way to educate others on living a low-waste lifestyle - that they don't have to be 100% perfect, but start by making one small change at a time.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Personal Care Lather Up
    What are the economic and personal benefits of switching to bar soap/shampoo/conditioner or refillable bottle options?

    Krystal Nelson 's avatar
    Krystal Nelson 7/27/2019 6:08 AM
    Certainly refilling bottles is probably cheaper than purchasing new ones. I question that bar soap is cheaper than bottled body wash, as my partner probably goes through 40-50 bars of soap in the time it takes me to deplete a bottle of body wash (not exaggerating). I've not found any bar products I like more than liquid, but it would be so helpful for travel!
  • 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?

    Krystal Nelson 's avatar
    Krystal Nelson 7/27/2019 6:06 AM
    I guess I'm lucky because I haven't noticed these effects!

  • Krystal Nelson 's avatar
    Krystal Nelson 7/27/2019 6:05 AM
    Was unexpectedly taken out for lunch yesterday, and served waaay more than I could eat. I asked for a box and was given styrofoam. When is the city switching over? I thought these containers were outlawed?

    • Kayla Muzzillo's avatar
      Kayla Muzzillo 7/28/2019 2:52 PM
      Hi Krystal!
      The city banned them and it goes into effect January 1, 2020. Although styrofoam is terrible, many local businesses use them because of the low cost. The city wants to give businesses time to adjust. 

  • Krystal Nelson 's avatar
    Krystal Nelson 7/26/2019 5:51 AM
    I've been working on saving extra bags and packaging from shipments to repurpose when shipping out items I've sold on Poshmark. I've been afraid to reuse items, thinking that others might think that it's "tacky" - but this challenge has helped me realize that most people probably would be happy to extend the life of a single-use item!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Personal Care Dam the Flow
    Disposable tampons and menstrual pads are often quite expensive. What are the economic and personal benefits of this switch for you?

    Krystal Nelson 's avatar
    Krystal Nelson 7/26/2019 5:44 AM
    The THINX I own are not cheap either, but after a few cycles should pay for themselves. I can't fully stop my tampon habit (I travel too much!), but I'm committed to purchasing only organic cotton ones.