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Mariana  Del Valle 's avatar

Mariana Del Valle

Monterey Bay Aquarium

"Reducing my waste one step at a time; while creating collective impact with others around me "

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 580 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    20
    public officials or leaders
    contacted
  • UP TO
    75
    zero-waste meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    1.0
    waste audit
    conducted

Mariana 's actions

Lifestyle

Homemade Cleaners

I will make my own cleaning products at home.

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 20
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Cook a Zero-Plastic Waste Meal

I will prepare 3 meal(s) at home each day without using any items packaged in single-use plastic.

COMPLETED 25
DAILY ACTIONS

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

Shop the Bulk Bins

I will purchase dry goods from the bulk section of my grocery store, and use my own containers to do so.

COMPLETED 4
DAILY ACTIONS

Lifestyle

Natural Fibers

When available, I will purchase clothing made with natural fibers, such as cotton, linen, or wool, rather than synthetic fibers.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Start Composting

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Lifestyle

Complete a Waste Audit

I will conduct a waste audit - including recyclables and compost - to understand how much waste I create and where I can reduce the most.

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?


  • Mariana  Del Valle 's avatar
    Mariana Del Valle 7/31/2019 1:16 PM
    Happy Last day! I hope everyone met some of their goals! I feel more confident on reaching out to companies and leaders and voicing my needs as a costumer trying to live a plastic free life! WOOOHH!!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Lifestyle Homemade Cleaners
    What did you learn by making your own cleaning products? What is the biggest difference in making vs buying?

    Mariana  Del Valle 's avatar
    Mariana Del Valle 7/31/2019 1:15 PM
    I did not get a chance to make own products... have not ran out of my products just yet! Its definitely on my to do list! 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Lifestyle Natural Fibers
    What are the benefits (to people, animals, and the environment) of purchasing clothes made with natural fibers?

    Mariana  Del Valle 's avatar
    Mariana Del Valle 7/27/2019 1:31 PM
    It is SUPER hard to buy clothes with natural fibers, that are also ethical and have a low carbon footprint and that are in a good price point to afford!  I am trying to purchase used as much as I can and if needed like I did in the sense of under garmets I went with Knickey! https://knickey.com/ it doesn't break the bank and has all the qualities I am looking for. Even though is hard to find it is SO beneficial to know that I am having a low impact on how much water and resources are being used, how its not going to harm the environment and that it is supporting a practice that is good to the workers and not putting them in harms way. If anyone can give me ideas of where you get your clothes that would be awersome!! 

    • Diana Guerrero's avatar
      Diana Guerrero 7/29/2019 11:10 AM
      The last two years I have been perusing the second hand (treasure shops as they are called here) stores. They often have good options but I find the same challenges...my main peeves are socks and undergarments! Harder and harder to find natural fibers and other important elements.


  • Mariana  Del Valle 's avatar
    Mariana Del Valle 7/22/2019 8:27 AM
    I have yet to purchase clothing with natural fibers. I found that its really hard to find ethically made clothing in the US to reduce my carbon footprint. One thing that I have done is shopped at thrift stores and receive used clothing from friends this July. I also have been doing that with other things around the house like paintings and home decor :) 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Shop the Bulk Bins
    How has buying bulk impacted the quality of the food you receive? Why do you think Western society relies more on prepackaged foods rather than buying in bulk?

    Mariana  Del Valle 's avatar
    Mariana Del Valle 7/17/2019 1:12 PM
    Its way better! I know I am getting much more nutrional snacks! I think we get so used to prepackaged because we are so busy to even think sometimes about our food. I also wish more businesses offered their snacks in other forms. 
  • 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?

    Mariana  Del Valle 's avatar
    Mariana Del Valle 7/17/2019 1:11 PM
    It helps using your own containers. Our It gives me more awareness but I also question how much plastic is used before the meat gets to us! It was a bit hard to get the butcher to understand that I didnt want a plastic bag. 

    • Diana Guerrero's avatar
      Diana Guerrero 7/17/2019 2:36 PM
      That is a big challenge, I am always refusing it at the butcher counter as well.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Community Write Letters or Emails
    How might thinking creatively help us address big systems problems - like plastic pollution - differently?

    Mariana  Del Valle 's avatar
    Mariana Del Valle 7/08/2019 1:47 PM
    By creating a collective voice and pressuring the companies that are already established to make the changes it can have a huge impact. I contacted Safeway with suggestions on how they can be better! 

  • Mariana  Del Valle 's avatar
    Mariana Del Valle 7/08/2019 10:13 AM
    Today I bought TP from who gives a crap! They are also participating in Plastic Free July and have committed to getting rid of plastic in their packaging! 

  • Mariana  Del Valle 's avatar
    Mariana Del Valle 7/07/2019 11:19 AM
    One thing that I am going to try for plastic free july is to educate staf faround me on what goes where when it comes to our waste. I will do this in a variety of different ways and will post as I do it :)