Coalition of North American Zoos and Aquariums

Plastic Free Ecochallenge 2019

July 1 - July 31, 2019

Maura Powers

Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
1,054 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

1.0

conversation

with a person
UP TO

25

pieces of litter

picked up
UP TO

67

plastic containers

not sent to the landfill

Maura's actions

Community

Share My Actions

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Family

Swap the Snacks

I will swap out 1 prepackaged snacks a day for fresh fruits or veggies.

COMPLETED 19
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Keep My Community Clean

I will pick up 1 piece(s) of litter each day.

COMPLETED 25
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

Pets

All Natural Pet Toys

I will give my pets natural alternatives to toys like femur bones and antlers, canvas, natural rubber, hemp, rope or cotton toys. Or I will make our own toys from recycled items found in our home!

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Use Reusable Containers

I will only use reusable containers instead of single-use plastic storage items (such as plastic wrap, single-use sandwich bags).

COMPLETED 28
DAILY ACTIONS

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

Dam the Flow

I will use a menstrual cup and/or cloth pads

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Personal Care

Brusha Brusha Brusha

I will replace my plastic toothbrush with a bamboo toothbrush.

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 20
DAILY ACTIONS

Create Your Own Action

Pets - Plastic Rx: Clean and reuse medical syringes

Challenge: Swap out multiple single-use, pre-medicated syringes for one syringe and a bottle of medication. When my parrot was ill, the vet offered to provide the twice a day, two week script in pre-medicated, single-use syringes or provide me with a bottle of the medication. Instead of taking home 28 syringes, I took home the bottle of meds and one syringe. This certainly saves money from buying more syringes and saves them from going into the landfill.

COMPLETED 12
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?

Maura Powers 7/29/2019 3:18 PM

Went to Great Wraps with Callie today, and look what they had - compostable straws! Way to be eco-friendly!

Read More
Maura Powers 7/27/2019 9:23 AM

Check it out - Publix is selling “greenware” - it’s like plastic ware, but it’s polylactic acid, a bioplastic made from plants. At least 85% of the polymer’s mass is derived from an organic source, such as corn or sugar beets (by organic, I mean in the chemistry sense, not the farming sense 😉). Not only is it sustainable, it’s made in the USA, too!

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?

Maura Powers 7/21/2019 2:14 PM

I would speak to them about how the accumulation of plastic products, which do not break down, have a massive footprint on the environment. However I think instead of explaining, I would rather they look and see for themselves. I've found that a simple ten minute visit to the beach usually results in picking up several pieces of plastic debris. Simply seeing the pollution in a small area in such a short span of time can be eye-opening to some people. I've found that it makes me and others reflect more on the products we've used.

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?

Maura Powers 7/18/2019 4:37 PM

Unlike plastic brushes, many bamboo brushes are biodegradable and compostable. I would recommend speaking with your dentist if you have certain dental concerns that may require a specialized hygiene plan. I chose a bamboo brush with soft, nylon bristles because the boar bristles were too harsh for my gums.

Read More
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?

Maura Powers 7/17/2019 10:53 AM

Purchasing a single silicon cup to use for one full year is obviously more wallet-friendly than pads and tampons to be used for a week every month. But I would recommend doing your research and discussing with your OB/GYN about which options are best for you. And if you can’t use the products, don’t feel disheartened, and don’t sacrifice your health and hygiene. A visit to your GP or the ED will be much more expensive and use up far more single-use plastic products! And if you can’t make the switch to a cup, there are some other fairly eco-friendly options, such as tampons without plastic applicators or bulk-packaged pads without plastic wrapping, which have less of an environmental impact.
For more info about the products, check out this article.
https://www.webmd.com/women/guide/menstrual-cup

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Lifestyle Naked Bins

Does changing the lining of your waste bin change the kind or amount of trash you produce?

Maura Powers 7/15/2019 2:02 PM

I believe our home is still producing a similar amount of waste. However we have begun "organizing" our types of waste and disposing of the different kinds in different containers. For sanitation reasons we place biological contaminants/gross organic materials into one trash receptacle that is lined, while the remainder of the material is placed in un-lined bins.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Community Share My Actions

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

Maura Powers 7/13/2019 6:40 PM

I don’t know if it’s completely effective at communicating values, but it certainly gets one’s ideas spread to more individuals. I personally found the idea of the London Marathon dispensing their water in biodegradable pods to be fascinating. It would be great to see how other eco-friendly groups could team up with the company to bring their products across the pond. https://www.notpla.com/about/

Read More
Maura Powers 7/13/2019 6:33 PM

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Family Swap the Snacks

How does swapping out prepackaged snacks for fresh fruit or veggies benefit your family?

Maura Powers 7/13/2019 2:24 PM

Fresh fruits and veggies are certainly a healthier alternative to prepackaged snacks. Not only does this encourage healthier eating habits, it also reduces plastic waste in landfills.

Read More
Maura Powers 7/12/2019 8:58 AM

If you need to medicate your pets at home, ask your veterinarian for medication dispensing options. If your pet needs syringes for medication, ask about taking home the bottle of meds with just a couple syringes instead of a script of pre-drawn, single-use syringes.

Read More