Marissa Ratzenberger

Detroit Zoological Society's Green Team

"Reducing our plastic footprint for a greener tomorrow!"

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
874 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

30

pieces of litter

picked up
UP TO

21

plastic containers

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

2.0

public officials or leaders

contacted

Marissa's actions

Personal Care

That Was a Close Shave

I will replace my disposable razors with steel razors. Why not try using hair conditioner instead of shaving foam for that baby smooth feel?

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Personal Care

Pearly Whites

I will purchase toothpaste in an aluminum tube or in a glass jar or make my own!

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Personal Care

Brusha Brusha Brusha

I will replace my plastic toothbrush with a bamboo toothbrush.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Minimize Packaging

I will purchase food items with the least amount of packaging.

COMPLETED 6
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Keep My Community Clean

I will pick up 5 piece(s) of litter each day.

COMPLETED 6
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Share My Actions

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

UNCOMPLETED
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 2
DAILY ACTIONS

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 21
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?

Marissa Ratzenberger 7/27/2019 10:53 AM

In the attempt to eliminate plastic from my grocery shopping habits, I have really noticed just how much single use plastic there is in the grocery store! Whether it be a small film in the window of a box or in the seal of a container, I have found that I really have to look closely at what I am purchasing. This has definitely made me more aware of what I am buying.

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Marissa Ratzenberger 7/15/2019 8:48 PM

While traveling this weekend for school, I ended up needing to purchase takeout in order to pack my lunch. I forgot to inquire about biodegradable container options and ended up with a couple of plastic containers. I will definitely remember to ask next time!

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Community Keep My Community Clean

How does the act of picking up litter connect you more to your community?

Marissa Ratzenberger 7/09/2019 6:09 AM

When I pick up a piece of litter within my community, I feel that I am helping to keep it clean for animals, their habitats and for the people that live there. It connects me to the health of the community as a whole, and it has become a goal to find new paths in order to collect more litter.

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Marissa Ratzenberger 7/03/2019 8:18 PM

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Use Reusable Containers

How can you think outside the box (or bag!) when it comes to disposables?

Marissa Ratzenberger 7/02/2019 8:31 AM

Some of the items that I buy at the grocery store (such as peanut butter or jelly) are already stored in glass containers. In order to continue reducing the amount of plastic that I purchase while grocery shopping, I can reuse these containers to store food, pack lunches and buy items in bulk at the store.

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Marissa Ratzenberger 7/01/2019 8:11 PM

Day 1 of the Plastic Free EcoChallenge was exciting! While completing my daily action of picking up pieces of plastic, I was able to engage some friends in a conversation about plastic and the EcoChallenge itself. We then had a conversation about the ways that they are reducing their plastic footprints as well. It was a great way to share successes and tips with each other, and it definitely made me excited for the rest of the month!

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Marissa Ratzenberger 6/26/2019 11:34 AM

Over the years I have worked to reduce the amount of plastic I use when grocery shopping. This has involved reusable bags and mesh produce pouches. This year, I am planning to completely eliminate plastic from my grocery shopping habits, including packaging and films. I am looking forward to starting this challenge!

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