Coalition of North American Zoos and Aquariums

Plastic Free Ecochallenge 2019

July 1 - July 31, 2019

Nidhi Kaul

"Do more with less."

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
853 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

1.0

community event

hosted or attended
UP TO

2.0

conversations

with people
UP TO

2.0

documentaries

watched
UP TO

5.0

hours

volunteered
UP TO

95

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

78

pieces of plastic cutlery

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

53

plastic bottles

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

40

plastic containers

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

25

zero-waste meals

consumed

Nidhi's actions

Food

Use Reusable Utensils

I will keep 3 plastic cutlery out of the landfill per day by using my own reusable cutlery.

COMPLETED 26
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Share My Actions

I will make my environmental actions visible by posting to my social media networks.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Host a House Party

I will host a house party with friends and/or colleagues to watch a movie or present a guest speaker on plastics.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Volunteer in my Community

I will volunteer 5 hour(s) in my community.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Personal Care

Tim Taylor Your Beauty Products

I will lessen my plastic impact by making my own makeup.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Personal Care

Back in the Bowl

I will purchase refillable beauty products.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Estimate Your Plastic Consumption and Go #PlasticNeutral

I will visit rePurpose website, complete the 3-minute plastic consumption calculator, and explore how I can reBalance my annual plastic footprint.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Family

Swap the Snacks

I will swap out 2 prepackaged snacks a day for fresh fruits or veggies.

COMPLETED 20
DAILY ACTIONS

Family

Glass Bottle Baby

I will replace 1 plastic bottles with glass or stainless steel alternatives.

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

Lifestyle

Watch a Documentary

I will watch a documentary film about waste with family and friends and talk about what we learned.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

COMPLETED 25
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Use Reusable Water Bottles

I will use a reusable bottle and stop purchasing bottled water, saving 2 disposable plastic bottle(s) a day.

COMPLETED 26
DAILY ACTIONS

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?

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Buy Unpackaged Produce

I will purchase produce items without plastic packaging.

COMPLETED 26
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?

Nidhi Kaul 7/31/2019 5:30 PM
As this month's challenge comes to an end, I want to mention all of the eco-friendly swaps I've done in case it inspires others:
- plastic to go cutlery --> bamboo To Go Ware
- plastic shampoo bottle --> Lush shampoo bar
- plastic razor --> Merkur safety razor + double edge safety razor blade refills (which are recyclable)
- plastic sanitary pads --> P.I.M.P. cloth pads
- plastic-packaged face moisturizer --> glass jar
- plastic H2O bottles --> S'well bottle
- disposable Ziplog bags --> reusable Stasher bags
- plastic phone case --> Pela "Lead the Way" phone case
- makeup remover --> coconut oil from a glass jar
- compostable paper cups --> reusable steel mug (reuse > rot!)
- plastic-packaged deodorant --> Schmidt's glass jar deo (note: this doesn't work for everyone, baking soda is an irritant...)
- disposable perfume bottle --> reusable Atlier Cologne bottle
- roommates used to trash food waste --> added a compost bin in kitchen, I empty it daily
- fabric freshener --> compostable cedar rings in my closet
- purchasing sauerkraut --> making my own
- plastic loofah --> luffa-based sponge
- paper/plastic bags @ grocery stores --> bring reusable cloth bags
- single use paper towels --> reusable paper towels (even better would be cloth towels; will get there one day)
- not upgrading my phone unless absolutely necessary (still hanging onto my iPhone 6)
- not shopping for clothing/accessories unless absolutely necessary (borrowing/clothing swaps, anyone?)
To be fair, not all of these swaps have happened only over the past 30 days - it's taken the past 365 days to do all of these. But I believe every small step that you take should be celebrated. So congrats to all of us!
Read More
- Dana Jennings 8/02/2019 2:38 PM
  
  Thanks for this recap and all the inspiration you're bringing!
  
  Read More
Nidhi Kaul 7/31/2019 5:05 PM

***On the topic of waste***

My family grew up in India (where TP is a foreign concept), and they have been suggesting for years that I switch from TP to a bidet.

Last month I went to the doctor's office, and she also recommended I switch.

Then yesterday, I started receiving targeted Instagram ads from Tushy, a new bidet attachment brand. Seemed like fate, right?

Unfortunately, living with roommates means that I need to take their opinions into consideration as well... and they aren't so convinced.

However, once I get my own bathroom next year, I plan on investing (and thereby decreasing by paper & plastic waste... no pun intended!) I encourage you to think of the same, for both health & eco benefits.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Community Volunteer in my Community

How does volunteering enhance your community and/or change your relationship with it?

Nidhi Kaul 7/31/2019 4:58 PM

It brings me a lot closer to the cause I fight so fiercely for.

Sometimes it is easy get disheartened about sustainability (plastic is everywhere you look) and detach myself mentally from a cause that I care so deeply about.

Going to volunteer events re-energizes me; surrounding myself with people who are more passionate and accomplished than I am in this field motivates me to do more...and be a better global citizen.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Community Host a House Party

What are the benefits of hosting a house party related to getting to know your guests, connecting them to the cause you are focusing on, and building your community?

Nidhi Kaul 7/31/2019 4:55 PM

I had a "house party" with two of my roommates (whom I never see - so they were very much like guests) and we watched The True Cost. It was a terrifying and upsetting documentary about human rights violations and environmental costs when it comes to clothing manufacturing / "fast fashion." One of my roommates, who is an avid Old Navy and H&M shopper, was shocked to see the kinds of living conditions the workers in Bangladesh have to suffer through. It made her understand why I am such a "hippie" when it comes to reducing my clothing expenses and only investing in quality sustainable pieces from Madewell, Grocery Apparel, Everlane, Karen Kane, and Eileen Fisher.

Read More
Nidhi Kaul 7/28/2019 10:05 PM

I used to love Trader Joe's, but I'm no longer a fan. This month has made me hyperaware of all the packaging that goes into TJs produce, dry foods, and frozen foods alike. Jut signed this petition to urge them to curb this habit & encourage you to do the same - https://engage.us.greenpeace.org/onlineactions/5KaxfWC5eEmTq_zXAy4tnA2?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=ad&utm_campaign=Inc__190211_FBtraderjoes____AFZZZZZZZZZZ&utm_content=CK.GP.2019.FB.Plastics.TraderJoes.R01.LLAR.BO.18p.C01.T02.D02.P05&ms=CK.GP.2019.FB.Plastics.TraderJoes.R01.LLAR.BO.18p.C01.T02.D02.P05&sourceid=1005371&fbclid=IwAR3-Q2eqask4Q5atNUG21WnMD4iM-aBgZ7VGIQv0qDiDXKaXS2tJS72QtE0

Read More
- Nidhi Kaul 8/06/2019 9:51 PM
  
  Awesome @Liz - will sign now, thanks for sharing!
  
  Read More
- Liz Zavodsky (EcoChallenge Staff) 8/02/2019 8:08 AM
  
  Nice! I love TJ's too and want them to reduce their plastic. We had an ecochallenge participant from last year start a petition as well: https://www.change.org/p/trader-joe-s-reduce-plastic-packaging/u/24305179
  
  Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Community Estimate Your Plastic Consumption and Go #PlasticNeutral

What did you find out about your plastic consumption by using the calculator? What did or didn't surprise you?

Nidhi Kaul 7/26/2019 10:37 PM

I aim to live a low-waste life, and even then, my plastic footprint is 420% over the average Indian's. If everyone in the world consumed like I did, there would be more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2041. I had a vague idea about the disparity here but had no idea to what magnitude.

Read More
Nidhi Kaul 7/26/2019 10:18 PM

Have you made any oral hygiene swaps? I'm thinking about the below but wondering if it's worth it:

1. Toothpaste tubes --> chewable pills
2. Plastic floss --> water flosser or silk floss

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Cook a Zero-Plastic Waste Meal

Do an inventory of your kitchen to see how many single-use plastics you've used in the past. What are some resuable alternatives to these commonly used products? What would your impact be if you switched all the single-use products from your inventory to reusable?

Nidhi Kaul 7/22/2019 12:32 PM

There are some new innovative solutions to the plastic waste I have in my kitchen (which is mostly old yogurt & Talenti gelato containers), such as reusable beeswax based cling wrap or reusable Ziploc bag replacements - which I have invested in. It's made me more mindful of what I store & how much food I buy in the first place.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Family Glass Bottle Baby

How can you take your commitment to sustainable living beyond yourself and your family? How can you, personally, work toward broader change?

Nidhi Kaul 7/22/2019 12:30 PM

Regardless of generation, there is immense power in setting example through action. To me, living the words I preach means living a low waste lifestyle and finding subtle ways of making these visible to others around me. For example, I always refuse plastic cups in the work kitchen, carry my steel water bottle around everywhere, compost all my waste, etc. making an effort to mention this and encourage this behavior from others if I'm in a group.

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?

Nidhi Kaul 7/22/2019 12:26 PM

It's cheaper. My shampoo bar is supposed to last me 80 washes and cost $10. It's also easier to travel with (no liquid restriction).

Read More