Coalition of North American Zoos and Aquariums

Plastic Free Ecochallenge 2019

July 1 - July 31, 2019

Sandra Morrison

"The Florida Aquarium is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization whose mission is to entertain, educate and inspire stewardship of the natural environment."

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
738 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

1.0

community event

hosted or attended
UP TO

2.0

conversations

with people
UP TO

1.0

documentary

watched
UP TO

2.0

hours

volunteered
UP TO

120

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

38

pieces of plastic cutlery

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

38

plastic containers

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

38

plastic straws

not sent to the landfill

Sandra's actions

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

Pets

DIY Cat Litter

I will swap out my cat's litter for sawdust, mulch, and dirt with baking soda.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Personal Care

Pretty oh so Pretty

I will purchase beauty products that are packaged in sustainable packaging.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Volunteer in my Community

I will volunteer 2 hour(s) in my community.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Use Reusable Utensils

I will keep 2 plastic cutlery out of the landfill per day by using my own reusable cutlery.

COMPLETED 19
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Takeout Pro

I will use my own containers when ordering takeout.

COMPLETED 19
DAILY ACTIONS

Pets

Rubber Glove Pet Hair Removal

I will use a rubber glove to remove pet hair from clothes, carpets and furniture.

COMPLETED 19
DAILY ACTIONS

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 19
DAILY ACTIONS

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.

COMPLETED 19
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Join a Cleanup Effort

I will host or participate in a beach, highway, river, or other cleanup effort in my community.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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

Community

Visit A Waste Management Facility

I will visit a local dump/transfer station, material recovery facility, and/or landfill to learn about the waste stream.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Share My Actions

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Advocate For More Food Packaging Options

I will advocate for alternatives to single use packaging at local grocery stores, markets, or work.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Family

Discover Together

I will spend 15 minutes educating my family on the basics of living a reduced/no-plastic lifestyle.

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?

Sandra Morrison 7/19/2019 9:38 AM
What We're Doing to reduce plastic and make folks aware of the threat to our oceans.
- We're reducing the use of plastic in Aquarium operations, including our cafe and retail shops, and stepping up our recycling efforts. There's virtually no single-use plastic in our dining operations or at special events.
- We communicate with our visitors and social media audiences about the impacts of ocean plastic pollution, and what each of us can do to help solve the problem.
What You Can Do

With your help, we can make progress toward a plastic-free ocean.

#1 Use less single-use plastic.
It's simple: the less plastic you use, the less will end up in the ocean. Going reusable makes a big impact for the planet!

#2 Encourage businesses and brands that are making the switch.
Positive reinforcement is a powerful tool. The more businesses hear from you, the more they will change.

#3 Support policies to reduce single-use plastic.
Local and state governments across the United States, and around the world, are voting on laws to move us toward a more sustainable future.

Let them know they have your support!

#4 Be social.

The more we talk about plastic pollution, the more change will happen. Keep the conversation going on Facebook and Twitter, and in your community.
Read More
Sandra Morrison 7/19/2019 9:33 AM

Plastic waste in the ocean isn't a small problem. It's enormous, almost impossible to visualize. Consider this: Every nine minutes, plastic weighing as much as a blue whale (about 300,000 pounds) ends up in the ocean.

Plastic is everywhere. We eat and drink from it, make clothes from it and buy products wrapped in it. Once these things become trash, they don't just disappear. Instead, they stick around for hundreds of years in landfills or, worse, in the natural environment.

How does so much plastic make its way to the ocean? Hint: It's not just trash from the beach. It's trash from everywhere. Since 1950, people have discarded more than 6 billion tons of plastic, and only nine percent of that has been recycled.

Even when we dispose of plastic properly, it can blow out of garbage and recycling cans or off hauling trucks to become pollution. Wind, storm drains and rivers can then carry it to the ocean, even from areas hundreds of miles inland.

Consider our Skip the Straw campaign!

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Community Share My Actions

In what ways is social media an effective tool for sharing your values?

Sandra Morrison 7/19/2019 9:31 AM

Make a point of noticing small deeds and accomplishments by individuals, and call them out on social media: the employee who exemplified the company mission or demonstrated a core value: the person who set up a book group or helped the customer change a flat tire in the parking lot; the intern who thought of an interesting way to set up an office; the person who ran community volunteer day. Take a video or photo. #EverybodyWins when you cultivate positive emotions by noticing and telling what's going on. And the rest of the world sees what your company values, notices, and rewards.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Community Visit A Waste Management Facility

Landfills and recycling centers tell us a lot about our communities and purchasing habits. What did you glean from your visit?

Sandra Morrison 7/19/2019 9:29 AM

This waste rots and decomposes, and produces harmful gases (CO2 and Methane) which are both greenhouse gases and contribute to global warming. Landfills

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Family Discover Together

What concerns you the most about how we are affecting the planet? Consider both local and global actions.

Sandra Morrison 7/16/2019 11:57 AM

Just the future impact on our local and global actions on the planet. How will our planet be in 5-10 years.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Personal Care That Was a Close Shave

What 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?

Sandra Morrison 7/16/2019 11:55 AM

I think it was a way to sell more items. My husband and I feel like we're dong something good by using steel razors.

Read More
Sandra Morrison 7/15/2019 5:50 AM

Still going strong! Let's do this FLAQ team!

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Community Join a Cleanup Effort

How does working with others to clean up your community make you feel?

Sandra Morrison 7/11/2019 7:42 AM

It brings us together for a cause.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Community Volunteer in my Community

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

Sandra Morrison 7/11/2019 7:41 AM

It brings everyone together. Together we can make big changes. Together, we can reduce waste, protect and restore our natural planet's balance.

Read More
Sandra Morrison 7/11/2019 7:29 AM

We are excited to get organizations onboard with our "Skip the Straw Challenge". Just last month, Bank of America Tampa resolved to protect our Blue Planet by accepting our ‘Skip the Straw’ challenge. Their commitment to reducing single-use plastics as part of their operations will have a positive impact on the health of our local waterways – from the Bay to the Gulf. We are proud to stand as a partner and resource for organizations and individuals committed to leaving the planet in a better condition than how we found it.

Read More