Coalition of North American Zoos and Aquariums

Plastic Free Ecochallenge 2019

July 1 - July 31, 2019

Rosanna Cortez

Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

"Changing my own habits in hopes to influence others to follow my lead."

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
226 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

20

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

8.0

hours

volunteered
UP TO

4.0

plastic containers

not sent to the landfill

Rosanna's actions

Community

Volunteer in my Community

I will volunteer 8 hour(s) in my community.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Family

Discover Together

I will spend 20 minutes educating my family on the basics of living a reduced/no-plastic lifestyle.

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

Pets

Invest in a Pooper-Scooper

I will swap out my single use plastic bags for a pooper-scooper.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Pets

Try a Pet Shampoo Bar

I will replace my pet's shampoo with an eco-friendly shampoo bar.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Plant a Garden

I will plant an herb or vegetable garden in my home, workplace, or community garden

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Use Reusables at Work

I will use reusable dishes and silverware when eating at work.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Personal Care

Brusha Brusha Brusha

I will replace my plastic toothbrush with a bamboo toothbrush.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Personal Care

Back in the Bowl

I will purchase refillable beauty products.

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

Use Reusable Bags

I will not accept any disposable bags when making purchases, including produce bags.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Food

Visit the Butcher

I will purchase meats and cheeses from the deli counter or a butcher shop, and use my own containers to do so.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY 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 1
DAILY ACTION

Personal Care

Fresh as a Daisy

I will use deodorant either from a bar or a jar or I will make my own.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME 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
Pets Invest in a Pooper-Scooper

How are caring for your pet and caring for the environment connected for you?

Rosanna Cortez 7/16/2019 8:20 AM

keeping with more eco friendly everything and anything provides a safer and healthier household for the entire family- including the fur-babies

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Pets Try a Pet Shampoo Bar

In what ways does your pet make your life happier, more interesting, or more rewarding?

Rosanna Cortez 7/16/2019 8:19 AM

Same as humans- lather up and wash

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Pets All Natural Pet Toys

In what ways is supplying your pet with all natural pet toys better for your pet, better for you, and better for the environment?

Rosanna Cortez 7/16/2019 8:19 AM

You can find natural pet toys at the pet store- I prefer not to have my furry family members carrying plastic around in their little mouths- keep it more natural!

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Personal Care Lather Up

What are the economic and personal benefits of switching to bar soap/shampoo/conditioner or refillable bottle options?

Rosanna Cortez 7/16/2019 8:17 AM

I use bar soap everyday- I do use shampoo but actually look at eco friendly/recycled packaging

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Personal Care Fresh as a Daisy

Do some research on the toxic side affects of aluminum deodorant. After reading the side effects, can you think of instances where you may have experienced the side effects from this form of deodorant?

Rosanna Cortez 7/16/2019 8:16 AM

deodorant blocks your lymphnodes (your bodies cleaning system) from releasing toxins from your body- this can cause infections, illness and even disease

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Personal Care Back in the Bowl

Why is it so difficult to understand the impacts our purchases and waste have on other people, animals, and places? How might your experience with this challenge impact your future consumption and choices?

Rosanna Cortez 7/16/2019 8:14 AM

learning is key- learning better options which sometimes are healthier and even more cost effective

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Use Reusables at Work

It is often true that we only have control over our own actions and not the collective community. How can you lead by example when it comes to switching disposables for reusable dishes in your community?

Rosanna Cortez 7/16/2019 8:13 AM

I actually donated a bunch of mugs to the office for coffee- so that the Styrofoam cups would go away

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Visit the Butcher

How has using your own containers impacted the quality of the food you receive? Does this give you more awareness of where your food comes from as opposed to just grabbing a package of mystery origin cheese/meat?

Rosanna Cortez 7/16/2019 8:13 AM

I seek out stores that sell local, it is worth the little extra to be eating local, supporting those local farmers

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Use Reusable Containers

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

Rosanna Cortez 7/16/2019 8:12 AM

I think you just have to be more mindful of what you are buying- the packaging your everyday items come in and how to do better in your home

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Use Reusable Bags

How difficult was this challenge for you? What made it easy or difficult?

Rosanna Cortez 7/16/2019 8:11 AM

thankfully this has become second nature to me- I empty my bags and hang them on my front doorknob to remind myself to take them back out to the car for the next shopping trip

Read More