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Derek Baker's avatar

Derek Baker

Seattle Aquarium - Staff & Volunteers

"Choosing planet over plastic"

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 736 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    18
    pieces of litter
    picked up
  • UP TO
    22
    plastic containers
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    23
    pieces of plastic cutlery
    not sent to the landfill

Derek's actions

Food

Use Reusable Utensils

I will keep 1 plastic cutlery out of the landfill per day by using my own reusable cutlery.

COMPLETED 23
DAILY ACTIONS

Lifestyle

Buy Only What I Need

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

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Personal Care

Pearly Whites

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

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 22
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Join a Cleanup Effort

I will host or participate in a beach, highway, river, or other cleanup effort in my community.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Personal Care

Back in the Bowl

I will purchase refillable beauty products.

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

Personal Care

Just Say No

I will avoid buying toxic plastics, including polycarbonate, polystyrene and polyvinyl.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Pets

Pet Waste

I will spend 5 minutes learning how to compost pet waste at home or research pet waste composting services available in my area.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Family

Thoughtful Toys

I will only buy cloth, wooden or plant-based natural rubber toys. Or make our own toys from recycled items found in our home!

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Start Composting

I will start a compost collection at home, work, or school.

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

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

Food

Lobby for Reusables

I will lobby my workplace to have reusable dishes and silverware in order to minimize disposables.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Keep My Community Clean

I will pick up 3 piece(s) of litter each day.

COMPLETED 6
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?


  • Derek Baker's avatar
    Derek Baker 7/31/2019 9:13 AM
    Great job everyone! Had some friends that weren't in the competition tell me they were inspired by what we were doing and want to enter the challenge next year!
  • 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?

    Derek Baker's avatar
    Derek Baker 7/26/2019 2:24 PM
    Have my traveling utensils that I keep in my bag and just made sure to pack a reusable bag with some containers when we went on a recent trip down to Oregon. Super easy and you feel good to be a thoughtful traveler. 

  • Derek Baker's avatar
    Derek Baker 7/24/2019 1:50 PM

  • Derek Baker's avatar
    Derek Baker 7/17/2019 2:10 PM
    Picked up a plastic bag on the walk to the water taxi this morning. Time to get the ban passed statewide!

  • Derek Baker's avatar
    Derek Baker 7/15/2019 11:26 AM
    Wen't camping this past weekend and made the conscious effort to avoid grocery items with plastic. Hit the butcher and did the reusable container thing. Definitely challenging but felt good to have so little waste!

  • Derek Baker's avatar
    Derek Baker 7/11/2019 8:58 AM
    Quick tip on avoiding the worst plastics which are polycarbonate, polystyrene and polyvinyl. If you look on the number on the bottom of plastic it is basically avoiding #3, #6 and #7.

  • Derek Baker's avatar
    Derek Baker 7/10/2019 1:55 PM
    Was disappointed to read this article about big oil companies investing in more plastic manufacturing facilities instead of alternatives.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Use Reusable Utensils
    How can you be an advocate for using resusables instead of disposables for the rest of your community? Where are they currently dependent on disposable cutlery, and how can you convince them of the need for change?

    Derek Baker's avatar
    Derek Baker 7/03/2019 10:00 AM
    Leading by example is a good first step. When people see you bring your own utensils or other reusables it makes them recognize that they may not be using the most sustainable option (it is easy for many to forget). Quick food and takeout is where I see the disposable cutlery the most and I think it is important to note for them that you are not taking the cutlery because it is plastic. Makes them take notice and note that their customers are taking note.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Community Keep My Community Clean
    How does the act of picking up litter connect you more to your community?

    Derek Baker's avatar
    Derek Baker 7/03/2019 9:56 AM
    I think we should all have pride in our shared space and it feels good to lend a hand. I have had some neighbors notice that I am picking up trash and have been thanked for my contribution. Makes us all more connected and invested in our community. Helping out is contagious (in my opinion).

  • Derek Baker's avatar
    Derek Baker 7/03/2019 9:50 AM
    Tip for folks in West Seattle. Started going to Public Goods where you can refill things like beauty products, household cleaners, etc in your own containers. Cool place. https://apublicshop.com/