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Laura Newman's avatar

Laura Newman

Maryland Zoo

"I can't wait to challenge myself to reduce my use of plastics!"

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 1,383 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    174
    plastic bottles
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    60
    plastic straws
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    26
    zero-waste meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    66
    pieces of litter
    picked up
  • UP TO
    1.0
    plastic containers
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    1.0
    donation
    made
  • UP TO
    28
    pieces of plastic cutlery
    not sent to the landfill

Laura's actions

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 26
DAILY ACTIONS

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Plant a Garden

I will plant an herb or vegetable garden in my home, workplace, or community garden

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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 30
DAILY ACTIONS

Personal Care

Pretty oh so Pretty

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Personal Care

Brusha Brusha Brusha

I will replace my plastic toothbrush with a bamboo toothbrush.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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 30
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Keep My Community Clean

I will pick up 3 piece(s) of litter each day.

COMPLETED 22
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Share My Actions

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Use Reusable Utensils

I will keep 1 plastic cutlery out of the landfill per day by using my own reusable cutlery.

COMPLETED 28
DAILY ACTIONS

Lifestyle

Homemade Cleaners

I will make my own cleaning products at home.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Pets

Thrifty Pets

I will purchase my pet's water/food dishes, collars or leashes from the thrift store.

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

Food

Start Composting

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Raise Money For a Nonprofit

I will raise money to support a nonprofit dedicated to plastic pollution reduction.

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?

  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Personal Care Pretty oh so Pretty
    How can you advocate for the importance of reducing packaging to the rest of your friends, family and larger community?

    Laura Newman's avatar
    Laura Newman 7/08/2019 7:35 AM
    By talking about it. Making conscious choices and discussing them with the people around me goes a long way.

  • Laura Newman's avatar
    Laura Newman 7/08/2019 7:30 AM
    It has been such great encouragement for me to actually pack a lunch every day. That way I'm not trying to find something convenient but unhealthy to eat by midday!
  • 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?

    Laura Newman's avatar
    Laura Newman 7/08/2019 7:03 AM
    I got out of the habit of using my beeswax cling wrap alternative and my reusable baggies. Being better about using the alternatives would make a big impact for my family. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Plant a Garden
    Besides having access to fresh herbs and vegetables, what benefits will you see from growing your own garden?

    Laura Newman's avatar
    Laura Newman 7/02/2019 2:43 PM
    It will encourage me to make more of an effort to figure out meals based on what I already have on hand instead of heading out to the store. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Community Keep My Community Clean
    How does the act of picking up litter connect you more to your community?

    Laura Newman's avatar
    Laura Newman 7/02/2019 2:42 PM
    It forces me to be much more present and willing to observe the community around me. 

  • Laura Newman's avatar
    Laura Newman 7/01/2019 5:49 PM
    Loved picking up pieces of litter while I was out and about on zoo grounds today!

  • Laura Newman's avatar
    Laura Newman 6/30/2019 10:46 AM
    Only one more day! My husband and I have been looking in to what types of herbs we use the most and what we can put in our new herb garden. What do you all grow yourself?

  • Laura Newman's avatar
    Laura Newman 6/29/2019 11:04 AM
    Only two more days, y’all! I’ve got my beeswrap  all ready. 😁

  • Laura Newman's avatar
    Laura Newman 6/28/2019 2:10 PM
    We still have a few more days and I’m already becoming much more aware of the plastics in my daily life. 

  • Laura Newman's avatar
    Laura Newman 6/27/2019 5:20 PM
    My husband and I are planning to head to the store this weekend to pick up some last minute necessities to make sure we get off to Plastic Free July on our best foot!