Coalition of North American Zoos and Aquariums

Plastic Free Ecochallenge 2019

July 1 - July 31, 2019

Danielle Phillips

"To be conscious of what I am using on a daily basis so I can make better choices in my zero waste plastic free lifestyle."

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
781 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

5.0

conversations

with people
UP TO

1.0

documentary

watched
UP TO

115

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

38

plastic bottles

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

44

plastic containers

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

38

plastic straws

not sent to the landfill

Danielle's 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 12
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

Buy Unpackaged Produce

I will purchase produce items without plastic packaging.

COMPLETED 9
DAILY ACTIONS

Lifestyle

Buy Only What I Need

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

COMPLETED 10
DAILY ACTIONS

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

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

Pets

Pet Waste

I will spend 20 minutes learning how to compost pet waste at home or research pet waste composting services available in my area.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Family

Provide the Alternatives

I will provide daily plastic free alternatives (straws, water bottles, cuttlery, bar soap, bamboo toothbrushes, etc.) for my family to use.

COMPLETED 19
DAILY ACTIONS

Lifestyle

Travel Eating

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

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

Personal Care

Lather Up

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Takeout Pro

I will use my own containers when ordering takeout.

COMPLETED 6
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

Create Your Own Action

Attend a community event

My goal is to attend one community event related to being plastic free.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY 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
Lifestyle Travel Smart

How can/did you prepare to be successful in this action? Did you engage in conversation with anyone about your new habit?

Danielle Phillips 7/31/2019 11:24 AM

I used mason jars and tin containers that I already had to package up my toiletry items to travel with. I was so proud of myself for not going and buying and small travel items, especially since they can be so much more expensive. It's much cheaper to buy in bulk (and less plastic if there is any!) and just refill containers.

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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?

Danielle Phillips 7/26/2019 10:01 AM

I really don't agree with the number that I received. I don't use bottled water, to go cups or plastic bags. I try to buy items in bulk or glass when I can. I wish that when asking about clothing and shoe items that it said brand new, as I actually purchase most of my clothing, shoes and accessories second hand. Actually even stuff for our home I purchase at thrift stores!

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Lifestyle Travel Toiletries

What is the benefit of using bar soaps or refilling your travel sized containers? Is this an action you think you will keep in your life?

Danielle Phillips 7/24/2019 8:21 AM

I recently switched over to bar soap, I just put it in an agave bag and it's just like using a loofah with body wash on it! I love that a simple switch saves me from having more plastic bottles.
Before I switched over to bar shampoo and conditioner when traveling I would refill my travel sized bottles all the time. It saved me from having to buy new small ones (at an inflated price!) and I could just buy my regular products in larger bottles.

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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?

Danielle Phillips 7/24/2019 8:17 AM

I think sometimes the quality is basically the same when referring to dry goods. I think for the most the quality depends on how much you are willing to pay whether it is bulk or prepackaged.
I think Western society relies more on prepackaged food due to the convenience and fast paced life styles people have. I think if more people just took the time to make their own meals or meal prep buying in bulk wouldn't be so hard.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Buy Unpackaged Produce

Why do you think these produce products started amassing so much plastic packaging? Who is the plastic packaging really serving -- the consumer, the producer, or someone else?

Danielle Phillips 7/22/2019 11:36 AM

I think it makes it easier for the seller if items are already prepackaged as it's easier to sell. For example all raspberries in a container are the same price, no need to weigh. it's also cleaner in the store if the product is not lose falling on the ground etc.. Not saying I agree with these arguments at all as I'd much rather buy things loose so I can purchase the right amount for my family while also creating less waste.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Family Provide the Alternatives

What single-use items (e.g. straws, coffee cups, vegetable bags, plastic bags) does your family regularly use? What could be substituted instead?

Danielle Phillips 7/22/2019 11:33 AM

We regularly use reusable grocery bags, coffee cups, cold drink cups, bamboo straws, our own cutlery and produce bags.

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Danielle Phillips 7/21/2019 7:15 PM

Yesterday I attended a zero waste festival and stocked up on plastic free toothpaste! I also purchased a few for gifts. The best part I found out is that I can refill the jars in Calgary now so no need to keep buying jars!

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Takeout Pro

How could you mitigate issues that may arise if the restaurant does not want to let you use your own containers at first?

Danielle Phillips 7/20/2019 7:08 PM

Last week we went out for Vietnamese food. I knew that I wouldn’t eat the whole thing so when I was done I just packaged it up before they even asked if I wanted to take it home. Not that I’m trying to not ask but if I just do it then hopefully it’s not an issue. There is a Chinese food restaurant that we love but they use styrofoam. My plan is to go in before we actually want to do take out from the buffet and ask if we can bring our own containers. We would make sure that they are the same size so there are no issues. If they say no I would ask to speak to a manager or get their contact info so I could explain why I want to bring my own.

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Danielle Phillips 7/20/2019 7:05 PM

Yesterday I took my own jars to Bulk Barn and got pancake mix and chocolate covered peanuts.

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Danielle Phillips 7/20/2019 7:03 PM

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