MC Mandolia
"I want to help the Maryland Zoo win for the second year in a row!"
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 1,121 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO91plastic containersnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO78pieces of plastic cutlerynot sent to the landfill
MC's actions
Food
Use Reusable Utensils
I will keep 3 plastic cutlery out of the landfill per day by using my own reusable cutlery.
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
Back in the Bowl
I will purchase refillable beauty products.
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.
Personal Care
Pretty oh so Pretty
I will purchase beauty products that are packaged in sustainable packaging.
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.
Food
Use Reusable Bags
I will not accept any disposable bags when making purchases, including produce bags.
Food
Buy Unpackaged Produce
I will purchase produce items without plastic packaging.
Lifestyle
Homemade Cleaners
I will make my own cleaning products at home.
Personal Care
Fresh as a Daisy
I will use deodorant either from a bar or a jar or I will make my own.
Personal Care
Pearly Whites
I will purchase toothpaste in an aluminum tube or in a glass jar or make my own!
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?
Food
Use Reusables at Work
I will use reusable dishes and silverware when eating at work.
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).
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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MC Mandolia 7/31/2019 10:32 AMCongratulations everyone! I'm so proud of our team :) -
REFLECTION QUESTIONPersonal Care Back in the BowlWhy 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?
MC Mandolia 7/24/2019 9:23 AMI think most people feel really removed about the effects our choices make on the environment. Unless you choose to learn more (i.e. by watching a documentary), it's easy to avoid thinking about what happens to our trash, or to not consider it at all. It is unfortunately ingrained in our society that things are meant to be thrown away and that's normal. -
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?
MC Mandolia 7/24/2019 9:21 AMI am fortunate enough that most of the people in my life already use reusable cutlery. If I get take out, which is rare, I always refuse the single use plastic. I will also share my bamboo utensils with other people to help them avoid using single use plastic. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONPersonal Care Pretty oh so PrettyHow can you advocate for the importance of reducing packaging to the rest of your friends, family and larger community?
MC Mandolia 7/24/2019 9:20 AMI talk to the people in my life about the products that I buy, usually stating explicitly that I bought them because they were in bulk or came in a recyclable container. Or if they come in glass, I can explain how I'm using this container for another purpose. So I tend to lead by example. -
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?
MC Mandolia 7/24/2019 9:18 AMI will definitely keep using travel sized containers! I like using bar soaps, because it's one less item to take up space in the quart size bag for liquids you're allowed to take on planes. If you buy small jars of jam or honey, those make good travel sized toiletry containers for thicker toiletries like lotions or creams. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONLifestyle Natural FibersWhat are the benefits (to people, animals, and the environment) of purchasing clothes made with natural fibers?
MC Mandolia 7/24/2019 9:16 AMClothes that are not made with natural fibers can shed microfibers in your washing machine, which make their way into our water systems and are eventually eaten by marine animals. While you can buy a Guppyfriend washing bag or a Cora ball to collect those fibers, it's helpful to not have clothes shedding those fibers in the first place! -
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?
MC Mandolia 7/24/2019 9:13 AMBefore I go out, I always try to think about what zero waste tools I'll need to bring with me. I typically end up bringing a napkin, travel coffee mug, metal straw, and bamboo utensils. This covers most of the situations I encounter, although I sometimes need a reusable tupperware. I find that when I bring out my reusable items, people typically comment on them. I can then take that as an opportunity to tell them where I bought the items and why I put the effort into carrying them around! -
MC Mandolia 7/12/2019 1:00 PMI chose to participate in Plastic Free July because I try to live plastic free throughout the year. I think it's incredible that we participate in this challenge as a zoo, and was shocked by how excited people were last year. I hope we continue to learn more as a community and win for the second year in a row! -
MC Mandolia 7/11/2019 6:07 AMI don't know how many of you are getting the emails from EcoChallenge, but in the most recent one, they have a really interesting link. There's an organization called rePurpose that has a 2 minute plastic waste survey, and then you can choose to pay a few dollars per month to offset the plastic you consume. So it's pretty similar to carbon credits. The survey was fun and easy, and I could offset my plastic use for about $2.50 a month. A very cool concept!-
MC Mandolia 7/12/2019 12:59 PMAwesome! -
Krystina Jarvis 7/11/2019 6:43 AMIt looks like this has also been added as an action under the Community section!
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REFLECTION QUESTIONFood Use Reusable ContainersHow can you think outside the box (or bag!) when it comes to disposables?
MC Mandolia 7/04/2019 4:25 AMI think that (unfortunately) one of the more radical ways to think outside of the box with disposable items is to try and find a way to reuse it after its original purpose. Maybe you have to eventually throw away or recycle a yogurt container, but how can you use it in the meantime?