Jen Rudolph
"Preserve the environment by monitoring my effects and taking direct action to continually effect my waste footprint. "
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 916 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO4.0plastic bottlesnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO84plastic strawsnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO1.0community eventhosted or attended
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UP TO84plastic containersnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO1.0waste auditconducted
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UP TO84pieces of plastic cutlerynot sent to the landfill
Jen's actions
Family
Glass Bottle Baby
I will replace 4 plastic bottles with glass or stainless steel alternatives.
Lifestyle
Natural Fibers
When available, I will purchase clothing made with natural fibers, such as cotton, linen, or wool, rather than synthetic fibers.
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.
Lifestyle
Complete a Waste Audit
I will conduct a waste audit - including recyclables and compost - to understand how much waste I create and where I can reduce the most.
Food
Plant a Garden
I will plant an herb or vegetable garden in my home, workplace, or community garden
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.
Lifestyle
Travel Eating
If traveling, I will bring my own airplane snacks and eat at local restaurants to avoid take-out containers.
Family
Swap the Snacks
I will swap out 2 prepackaged snacks a day for fresh fruits or veggies.
Food
Use Reusable Bags
I will not accept any disposable bags when making purchases, including produce bags.
Personal Care
Dam the Flow
I will use a menstrual cup and/or cloth pads
Community
Join a Cleanup Effort
I will host or participate in a beach, highway, river, or other cleanup effort in my community.
Food
Skip the Straw
I will keep 3 plastic straw(s) out of the landfill per day by refusing straws or using my own glass/metal straw.
Personal Care
Just Say No
I will avoid buying toxic plastics, including polycarbonate, polystyrene and polyvinyl.
Food
Use Reusable Utensils
I will keep 3 plastic cutlery out of the landfill per day by using my own reusable cutlery.
Community
Share My Actions
I will make my environmental actions visible by posting to my social media networks.
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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REFLECTION QUESTIONPersonal Care Just Say NoDo some research on polystyrene and polyvinyl. How many items in your house already contain these toxins?
Jen Rudolph 7/05/2019 7:51 AMI included this in my waste audit, actually - there are too many for me to comfortably admit to on this feed :) I'm working on eliminating and replacing these items in my household, but I am finding there's also a financial barrier to doing it all at once. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONPersonal Care Dam the FlowDisposable tampons and menstrual pads are often quite expensive. What are the economic and personal benefits of this switch for you?
Jen Rudolph 7/05/2019 7:50 AMI'VE SAVED SO MUCH MONEY!!!!! The "pink tax" - and, as a matter of fact, just the fact that we have to pay for these items at all, since they're necessary to live - is awful. I also feel like the inconvenience of having to add these to the wash is nothing compared to how much I'm saving each month. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONLifestyle Travel EatingWas this action easy or difficult to do? How did it change your travel experience?
Jen Rudolph 7/05/2019 7:48 AMI only had one restaurant that said they couldn't give me my dinner in my own reusable container - they cited "health violations," which I think is suspect, but I didn't push it. All the rest of the restaurants were more than happy to oblige! -
REFLECTION QUESTIONLifestyle Complete a Waste AuditWhat did you learn about the waste you create? Where can you reduce the most?
Jen Rudolph 7/05/2019 7:47 AMUgh. After last year's plastic-free July, I thought I was so much better at reducing plastic waste. Unfortunately, I've found myself falling into similar patterns of using single-use plastic when I forget to pack my reusables, or if I'm running late and need the convenience. It's really tasked me with keeping myself accountable and organized. -
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?
Jen Rudolph 7/05/2019 7:46 AMTo be honest, I just found it to be so much easier then having to deal with buying new products every time I traveled. I'll absolutely keep doing this! -
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?
Jen Rudolph 7/05/2019 7:45 AMI'm SO excited to mention that I was able to really utilize carrying my own utensils, reusable bags, and straws when I traveled to visit family recently. My sister was so impressed - it encouraged her to try it when she traveled, too! -
REFLECTION QUESTIONLifestyle Natural FibersWhat are the benefits (to people, animals, and the environment) of purchasing clothes made with natural fibers?
Jen Rudolph 7/05/2019 7:44 AMBy purchasing products with natural fibers, we aren't filling up landfills with clothing that isn't biodegradable. Synthetic fibers take longer to break down - if they break down at all. -
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?
Jen Rudolph 7/05/2019 7:42 AMI just purchased my first set of reusable bamboo utensils to take with me in my everyday bag! I hope to be an example for my family and friends, who already have looked at me like I was crazy for pulling my own utensils out of my bag. I was able to explain how many plastic utensils I was saving from landfills--they got it! -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFood Skip the StrawHave you noticed a shift in your community as more messaging about reusable straws becomes mainstream? Cite some examples.
Jen Rudolph 7/05/2019 7:41 AMDefinitely! My local coffee shop exclusively uses paper straws, now. Although this is an issue for the disability community, they make sure to have a selection of compostable straws that are able to be used by those that need them. This kind of thoughtful conservation action really means a lot to me! -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFood Use Reusable BagsHow difficult was this challenge for you? What made it easy or difficult?
Jen Rudolph 7/05/2019 7:40 AMI had been using reusable bags frequently, but not exclusively. The hardest part was making sure I had reusable bags in places where I typically would pull out a plastic bag.