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James Ravenscroft's avatar

James Ravenscroft

Drawdown Richmond Hill

"To cut down on plastic usage as one of many steps to shrink my carbon footprint."

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 717 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    1.0
    documentary
    watched
  • UP TO
    100
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    6.0
    petitions
    signed
  • UP TO
    54
    pieces of litter
    picked up
  • UP TO
    44
    plastic containers
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    15
    plastic straws
    not sent to the landfill

James's actions

Pets

All Natural Pet Toys

I will give my pets natural alternatives to toys like femur bones and antlers, canvas, natural rubber, hemp, rope or cotton toys. Or I will make our own toys from recycled items found in our home!

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Pets

Pet Waste

I will spend 10 minutes learning how to compost pet waste at home or research pet waste composting services available in my area.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Keep My Community Clean

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

COMPLETED 18
DAILY ACTIONS

Lifestyle

Natural Fibers

When available, I will purchase clothing made with natural fibers, such as cotton, linen, or wool, rather than synthetic fibers.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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 23
DAILY ACTIONS

Personal Care

Pearly Whites

I will purchase toothpaste in an aluminum tube or in a glass jar or make my own!

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

Takeout Pro

I will use my own containers when ordering takeout.

COMPLETED 21
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Plant a Garden

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Skip the Straw

I will keep 1 plastic straw(s) out of the landfill per day by refusing straws or using my own glass/metal straw.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Sign a Petition

I will sign a petition in support of a plastic-related initiative in my state/province.

COMPLETED 6
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Share My Actions

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

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?


  • James Ravenscroft's avatar
    James Ravenscroft 7/31/2019 2:11 PM
    As we wrap up this month of Plastic-free living I confeee I have not always succeeded. But I am more conscious of my choices. Now if I can just remember to always bring a bag with me to pick up trash. That is definitely one thing I will keep on doing.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Lifestyle Natural Fibers
    What are the benefits (to people, animals, and the environment) of purchasing clothes made with natural fibers?

    James Ravenscroft's avatar
    James Ravenscroft 7/31/2019 2:05 PM
    It is better to go all natural fibres and not just for the good of the oceans and other waterways. Plastics in fibres end up as microplastics and are breathed in by human and non-human animals. Plus you don't want to forget about the people working with plastic fibres, many of whom are in developing countries with less robust labour safety laws. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Personal Care Pearly Whites
    Currently most of the packaging for toothpaste is plastic. How can you advocate for more alternatives through your purchasing power and influence in community?

    James Ravenscroft's avatar
    James Ravenscroft 7/22/2019 6:18 AM
    I find this challenge daunting. In my search for plastic free toothpaste I found that even in heakth food stores the organic or alternative products were still mostly plastic. Only in a specifically eco-focused store could I find plastic free but the cost is high. I am left with making my own. The only real change will come by targeting the toothpaste companies.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Community Share My Actions
    In what ways is social media an effective tool for sharing your values?

    James Ravenscroft's avatar
    James Ravenscroft 7/22/2019 6:08 AM
    I find that social media is a good way to share the issues that are important to me and to find others who are also engaged in action.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Skip the Straw
    Have you noticed a shift in your community as more messaging about reusable straws becomes mainstream? Cite some examples.

    James Ravenscroft's avatar
    James Ravenscroft 7/19/2019 9:37 PM
    I have noticed more people skipping straws. I am also struck how much people are habit bound, concerned by how paper straws don't last. Having a straw last has been our problem.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Lifestyle Watch a Documentary
    Which documentary did you choose to watch? What did you learn?

    James Ravenscroft's avatar
    James Ravenscroft 7/19/2019 9:30 PM
    Watching a TED talk about social plastics was enlightening. Who knew you could link helping people around the world and the world itself.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Community Sign a Petition
    What is a plastic-related issue in your state/province?

    James Ravenscroft's avatar
    James Ravenscroft 7/15/2019 4:59 AM
    As I pick up litter when I walk outside, it is clear that single use plastics are a big issue. The number of plastic bottles, plastic bags, cutlery, etc. I pick up is quite staggering.  
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Pets All Natural Pet Toys
    In what ways is supplying your pet with all natural pet toys better for your pet, better for you, and better for the environment?

    James Ravenscroft's avatar
    James Ravenscroft 7/06/2019 10:22 AM
    This one is a challenge because we have items that we bought previously that are plastic. Throwing them out defeats the purpose so we focus on buying bulk treats put in paper bags and not buying plastic toys in the future.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Use Reusable Containers
    How can you think outside the box (or bag!) when it comes to disposables?

    James Ravenscroft's avatar
    James Ravenscroft 7/06/2019 10:19 AM
    We like to use beeswax-cloth wraps that we got from a company in Toronto. They market bags too and even a bamboo cutlery set. Makes cutting down on single use much easier. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Plant a Garden
    Besides having access to fresh herbs and vegetables, what benefits will you see from growing your own garden?

    James Ravenscroft's avatar
    James Ravenscroft 7/05/2019 3:17 AM
    I have loved gardening since I was small. For me, hands in soil is a way of connecting to my Source. It is calming and puts me in touch with what is important in life - life itself.