Alexis Gilliam
"Animals don't deserve to suffer at our price. "
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 1,332 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO62plastic strawsnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO31plastic containersnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO1.0donationmade
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UP TO93pieces of plastic cutlerynot sent to the landfill
Alexis's actions
Personal Care
Brusha Brusha Brusha
I will replace my plastic toothbrush with a bamboo toothbrush.
Personal Care
Pearly Whites
I will purchase toothpaste in an aluminum tube or in a glass jar or make my own!
Personal Care
Lather Up
I will replace my soaps, shampoos, and conditions with either a bar or refillable option.
Lifestyle
Natural Fibers
When available, I will purchase clothing made with natural fibers, such as cotton, linen, or wool, rather than synthetic fibers.
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?
Community
Raise Money For a Nonprofit
I will raise money to support a nonprofit dedicated to plastic pollution reduction.
Food
Skip the Straw
I will keep 2 plastic straw(s) out of the landfill per day by refusing straws or using my own glass/metal straw.
Food
Minimize Packaging
I will purchase food items with the least amount of packaging.
Food
Use Reusable Utensils
I will keep 3 plastic cutlery out of the landfill per day by using my own reusable cutlery.
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).
Food
Buy Unpackaged Produce
I will purchase produce items without plastic packaging.
Lifestyle
Travel Eating
If traveling, I will bring my own airplane snacks and eat at local restaurants to avoid take-out containers.
Community
Share My Actions
I will make my environmental actions visible by posting to my social media networks.
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.
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.
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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REFLECTION QUESTIONPersonal Care That Was a Close ShaveWhat have you noticed about the economic and social impact of switching to steel razors? Was there ever really a need for disposable razors, or do you think it was just a way to sell more things?
Alexis Gilliam 7/30/2019 6:46 AMThere really isn’t a big difference between steel razors and the ones coated in plastic other than the steel is actually cheaper and lasts longer. So in a sense there was never really a good reason to move away from it. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONLifestyle Travel ToiletriesWhat is the benefit of using bar soaps or refilling your travel sized containers? Is this an action you think you will keep in your life?
Alexis Gilliam 7/30/2019 6:45 AMYou produce so much less waste and those giant shampoo and conditioner bottles or body wash bottles don’t fill up your trash can! -
REFLECTION QUESTIONLifestyle Travel EatingWas this action easy or difficult to do? How did it change your travel experience?
Alexis Gilliam 7/22/2019 5:16 PMThis was pretty easy for me. I have a little travel set of utensils that contains a metal fork, knife, spoon, fruit fork, and chopsticks. So it basically covers any meal I might come across. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONLifestyle Natural FibersWhat are the benefits (to people, animals, and the environment) of purchasing clothes made with natural fibers?
Alexis Gilliam 7/22/2019 5:14 PMPurchasing clothes made with natural fibers is beneficially because these clothes are made from a material that will biodegrade much faster than the synthetic ones. The synthetic fiber clothing is basically plastic sitting in a land fill. Natural fibers also allow your skin to breathe easier than synthetic fibers. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFood Use Reusable UtensilsHow 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?
Alexis Gilliam 7/11/2019 9:49 AMEvery fast food restaurant uses plastic silverware. These options are due to cost and convenience. If everyone had a travel set with them in their car or bag it would eliminate this need. I know this industry will never change but it could use a different material such as bamboo. Bamboo grows at an extraordinary rate and is relatively cheap to manufacture into other utensils. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFood Minimize PackagingWith 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?
Alexis Gilliam 7/11/2019 9:44 AMMost single use plastics in groceries stores come from just about any food you purchase with the exception of boxed foods and canned goods. This ranges from the plastic wrap around meat products to the little plastic cartons that berries come in. All of these could be replaced with other products. Butchers paper or a reusable mesh bag work just as well. There is plastic constantly surrounding us when there doesn't need to be. We did without before and we can do it again, we just need to get out of this "convenience" mindset. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONLifestyle Travel SmartHow can/did you prepare to be successful in this action? Did you engage in conversation with anyone about your new habit?
Alexis Gilliam 7/04/2019 10:50 AMI always make sure I have some of my reusable straws in my car or if I'm riding with friends I grab a few before heading out. They all know that I don't use the plastic that's offered and some of them have even switched to a reusable one themselves because I don't let them have them when we go out together. I also tend to carry a reusable water bottle with me wherever I go since most places will let you fill it with water for free anyway. -
Alexis Gilliam 7/03/2019 12:16 PMI went to S&Bs Burger Joint last night with some friends and found myself needing a to-go container. Surprisingly their containers are made from 100% recycled paper in the United States! I wish more restaurants would follow this lead and ditch the plastic/styrofoam options! -
REFLECTION QUESTIONPersonal Care Lather UpWhat are the economic and personal benefits of switching to bar soap/shampoo/conditioner or refillable bottle options?
Alexis Gilliam 7/03/2019 12:10 PMBar shampoos and conditioners are easier to travel with. Plus most options are made with more natural ingredients. One of my personal favorites is the Jason and the Argan Oil shampoo bar from Lush. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFood Buy Unpackaged ProduceWhy do you think these produce products started amassing so much plastic packaging? Who is the plastic packaging really serving -- the consumer, the producer, or someone else?
Alexis Gilliam 7/01/2019 7:54 PMProduce packaging started to contain more plastic when it became cheaper and faster to produce than the other options. This packaging serves the producer, there is no additional benefit to the consumer to buy items wrapped in additional plastic.-
Karen Wilson 7/02/2019 12:18 PMOne of the most disturbing things I've seen is pre peeled oranges in a plastic container in the ready to eat section. Is there really anything wrong with the packaging that nature provided?
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