Join the movement to refuse single-use plastics with Plastic Free EcoChallenge!

Coalition of North American Zoos and Aquariums

Plastic Free Ecochallenge 2019

July 1 - July 31, 2019

Detroit Zoological Society's Green Team Feed

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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?

Allyson Szydlowski 7/31/2019 6:08 AM

It was very difficult to find time to log my actions this month, but I am eager to continue these habits and also tackle some new ones in August!

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Community Keep My Community Clean

How does the act of picking up litter connect you more to your community?

Claire Lannoye-Hall 7/31/2019 5:16 AM

This one was way easier than it should have been. Any day I was at work I would go out and walk the grounds to pick up a few things. Days I was at home, I just had to walk down the front of my yard, we live on a main road, and I was able to locate several pieces of trash. :(

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Use Reusable Containers

How can you think outside the box (or bag!) when it comes to disposables?

Claire Lannoye-Hall 7/31/2019 5:14 AM

This is an everyday for our family - I package all our leftovers in reusable containers and label them with post-it notes so we know when they're safe to eat. Packing lunches for myself and Maddie may take a larger lunch box, but the fruit and animal crackers didn't get squished so it's a double win!

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Lifestyle Travel Smart

How can/did you prepare to be successful in this action? Did you engage in conversation with anyone about your new habit?

Claire Lannoye-Hall 7/31/2019 5:13 AM

Traveling to an in-town conference and using reusable materials was pretty easy - especially since the conference heavily promoted sustainable choices. I did manage to misplace two of my reusable straws over the course of the week which is a bummer...

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Use a Reusable Mug / Collapsible Cup

Great job on getting rid of your disposable cup habit! How does it make you feel? What's next on your list to reduce your waste?

Claire Lannoye-Hall 7/31/2019 5:11 AM

I stepped this one up by seeing how many beverages I could do in reusable mugs - bringing gatorade powder in my water bottle each morning and filling it up mid-day cut way back on plastic bottles in my house as well as the plastic rings that hold the bottles. Saves time not having to cut those up into little pieces, too!

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Nancy Butler 7/30/2019 10:48 AM

Here's the trash I picked up today along the service drive between Gate 4 and about halfway down the golf course. I exceeded my pledge of 5 pieces!

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Minimize Packaging

With the added mindfulness of reducing your packaging, what have you noticed about the amount and type of single use plastics used for packaging when you shop in the grocery store?

Marissa Ratzenberger 7/27/2019 10:53 AM

In the attempt to eliminate plastic from my grocery shopping habits, I have really noticed just how much single use plastic there is in the grocery store! Whether it be a small film in the window of a box or in the seal of a container, I have found that I really have to look closely at what I am purchasing. This has definitely made me more aware of what I am buying.

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Amy Greene 7/25/2019 8:50 AM

I'm pleased to report that the BINC Summer Nature Camp staff requested that we purchase camp snacks in bulk this year. Airtight containers and a few measuring cups were all we needed to store and evenly distribute snacks to our campers with significantly reduced waste. This is also our third year using reusable plates for camp lunches and snacks. Kudos to the Camp Staff for doing dishes and for modeling these small yet significant actions to the campers!

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Lifestyle Complete a Waste Audit

What did you learn about the waste you create? Where can you reduce the most?

Lynn Cox 7/25/2019 6:09 AM

I recycle a lot!!! I need to get that number down. Less packaging, more bulk. I reuse bags when I can to avoid getting new bags for produce! Stores have where you can weigh your items and then put a sticker on them. I weigh everything separately and get a label, then I reuse one bag for three/four different items. Instead of four separate plastic bags.

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Lynn Cox 7/25/2019 6:06 AM

I need to have more focus!!! I feel as if I am not doing enough! I know I can do more!!! Life is very busy and convenience seems to be King, BUT I always carry my metal straws with me (my son hates drinking out of a glass, but loves his metal straw) and I carry water flavor drink mix as an alternative to my Monk fruit sweeteners. Being a diabetic, I would carry artificial sweetener packets for my unsweetened ice tea. Sometimes I would use five or six during one dinner. With the liquid flavor mixes, all that individual packaging is gone! One bottle will last a month!

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