Michael Andersen
"Our goal is to go as plastic-free as possible for every purchase we make for the 31 days of July, as well as to model for others various sensible ways of reusing the plastic wares we already own, or model clever uses of non-plastic alternatives (e.g., beeswax coverings instead of plastic wrap). We're not perfectionists, so we're not going to fixate on this obsessively; however, we do want to make it a meaningful challenge too, so we're serious about following through with the commitment."
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 181 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO1.0plastic containersnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO1.0zero-waste mealconsumed
Michael's actions
Community
Join a Cleanup Effort
I will host or participate in a beach, highway, river, or other cleanup effort in my community.
Personal Care
Fresh as a Daisy
I will use deodorant either from a bar or a jar or I will make my own.
Lifestyle
Travel Eating
If traveling, I will bring my own airplane snacks and eat at local restaurants to avoid take-out containers.
Lifestyle
Watch a Documentary
I will watch a documentary film about waste with family and friends and talk about what we learned.
Food
Takeout Pro
I will use my own containers when ordering takeout.
Lifestyle
Buy Only What I Need
I will not buy anything except items required for health and safety.
Food
Cook a Zero-Plastic Waste Meal
I will prepare 1 meal(s) at home each day without using any items packaged in single-use plastic.
Personal Care
Pearly Whites
I will purchase toothpaste in an aluminum tube or in a glass jar or make my own!
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.
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.
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?
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Michael Andersen 7/16/2019 2:18 PMI've noticed more stores selling Light My Fire sporks as a permanent alternative to plastic ware. Link: https://lightmyfire.com/products/spork/spork-original
Since I've carried a few of these around in my daypack, I've avoided so many occasions when food vendors would have otherwise given me yet more of this disposable junk that seems ubiquitous nowadays. It's like everyone is on autopilot. The default brain state is wasteful convenience, and to opt out occasionally strikes some folks as annoying. Crikey! What a stage of devolution we seem to have reached!-
Rebecca Rix 7/17/2019 9:39 PMVery true! Do you prefer the light my fire brand to less expensive versions?
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REFLECTION QUESTIONFood Takeout ProHow could you mitigate issues that may arise if the restaurant does not want to let you use your own containers at first?
Michael Andersen 7/16/2019 2:05 PMMost places have been willing, especially when I mentioned that we are doing a month-long plastic free Eco-Challenge. Just raising awareness one positive, polite interaction at a time seems to make a difference. -
Michael Andersen 7/16/2019 2:02 PMWe'll, we're doing fairly well so far this month. We've stayed for a week at Holden Village in the North Cascades, which is committed to sustainable community living (they even have their own Garbologist!), and we've managed to travel so far fairly waste-free. We did, however, forget our travel mugs at home, as well as out reusable takeout containers. This challenge has prompted me on numerous occasions while grocery shopping to opt for the non-plastic (or at minimum lesser-plastic) alternative, or simply do without. Yay, Eco-Challenge! -
Michael Andersen 6/25/2019 11:26 AMGreetings, Fantastic Elastic Anti-Plastic...ers. As I was rummaging around this site, and checking my initial update email for our team, I came across the Resources Page under the About Tab on the Home Page for this Eco-Challenge (found by clicking in the upper left corner of your profile and then under the About Tab). The Resource Page may be of interest to you if you wish to share more details and How Tos with friends, family or colleagues about combatting our plastic woes. Good stuff there. :)