Coalition of North American Zoos and Aquariums

Plastic Free Ecochallenge 2023

July 1 - July 31, 2023

Carol Armstrong

L.A. Zoo - Team Angeleno Plastic Eliminators (Team APE)

"I want to achieve a plastic free sea by getting others to join me..."

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
1,800 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

2.0

plastic bottles

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

31

pieces of plastic cutlery

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

4.0

conversations

with people
UP TO

309

pieces of litter

picked up
UP TO

34

plastic containers

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

198

minutes

spent learning

Carol's actions

Kitchen

Plastic Free Lunch Boxes

I will only pack reusable cutlery, drinkware and containers in my family's lunches to reduce plastic waste.

COMPLETED 31
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Keep My Community Clean

I will pick up 10 piece(s) of litter each day.

COMPLETED 31
DAILY ACTIONS

Bathroom

Travel Toiletries

If traveling, I will reuse my old travel tubes to refill with my soaps or only bring bar soaps with me.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Study

Follow the Chasing Arrows

The chasing arrows symbol we associate with recycling doesn't always actually mean something is recyclable. I will spend at least 60 minutes learning the different meanings the symbol can have.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Advocate For Better Food Packaging

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Bathroom

Eco Deodorant

I will switch to a plastic-free deodorant — whether purchased or DIY'd.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Family + Pets

Balloons Blow

Although a long-standing festive tradition, balloons are harmful for animals and the environment. I will spend 60 learning about the dangers of balloons and find eco-friendly alternatives to use instead.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Bedroom

Practice Sustainable Fashion

I will spend 60 minutes learning about the costs of fast fashion and begin trying to practice sustainable fashion in my own life.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Bathroom

Pearly Whites

I will switch to a plastic-free toothpaste — whether purchased or DIY'd.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Bedroom

Eco Detergent

I will use laundry detergent that is packaged in glass or aluminum, or an alternative like soap nuts.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Learn about Environmental Justice

Using the action resource links below, my family will spend 60 minutes learning about environmental justice, causes of environmental injustice, and how plastic waste disproportionately impacts already vulnerable communities.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Kitchen

Plant a Garden

I will plant an herb or vegetable garden using as little plastic as possible and to save from the plastic used buying herbs and veggies.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Study

Numbers Everywhere

The numbers #1-7 on plastics tell us a lot - and can help us be better recyclers. I will learn what these numbers mean and which types of plastics are accepted for recycling in my area.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Study

Dig into Bioplastics

I will spend at least 60 minutes researching the impacts of bioplastics and how to properly dispose of them in my city, and I will share this information with 50 friends, family, and/or colleagues.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Kitchen

Cook a Plastic Free Meal

I will prepare meals at home each day without using any items packaged in single-use plastic.

COMPLETED 29
DAILY ACTIONS

Kitchen

Glass Bottle Baby

I will replace 2 plastic bottles with glass or stainless steel alternatives.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Support a Sharing Economy

I will create or support a sharing economy with family, friends, and neighbors.

COMPLETED 31
DAILY ACTIONS

Kitchen

Try a New Recipe

I will try new recipe(s) or food preparation method(s) each day, such as canning, pickling, making yogurt, or baking granola bars or bread.

COMPLETED 29
DAILY ACTIONS

Participant Feed

Carol Armstrong 7/31/2023 1:12 PM
I am encouraged by the Plastic Free Ecochallenge because it reaches so many people and creates a valuable sharing community. The plastic pollution problem can't be solved by individuals in isolation - it must be solved by many people working together to force change at the highest levels of corporate and political governance. So, hopefully by seeing so many people actively participating in the challenge, those who can move the needle are watching and listening and willing to lead changes!

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Study

What did you learn about bioplastic production and disposal? Did anything surprise you? Are bioplastics accepted by your city's waste management?
Carol Armstrong 7/31/2023 12:56 PM
I learned that there is no easy answer when it comes to bioplastics and we should have a coordinated effort toward understanding them via more transparency and accountability about what they mean for the long-term (e.g., recyclability, bioaccumulation, and breakdown). Our city's waste management advises checking first to see if the products are legitimate before purchasing them because they might not be recyclable or compostable/biodegradeable. We are in the process of looking at some compostable utensils and dishware to see if it decomposes effectively at the facility of one of the city's contractors.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Kitchen

Besides having access to fresh herbs and vegetables, what benefits will you see from growing your own garden?
Carol Armstrong 7/31/2023 12:51 PM
There are also mental health benefits from taking care of plants and watching them grow - it makes you feel like a part of something larger than yourself/your human-centered world.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Family + Pets

Had you ever considered the environmental impact of balloons before? How can you share this information with your friends and family to encourage them to avoid balloons, too?
Carol Armstrong 7/31/2023 12:50 PM
Yes I had considered the environmental effect of balloons before and have been doing my best to share information about them. Notably mylar balloons can interfere with power lines, which can become a life and death situation as we face ongoing conditions of extreme heat and wildfire damage in California. There are other ways to party without balloons!!

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Community

What did you and your family learn about environmental justice? What questions came up for you? What feelings?
Carol Armstrong 7/31/2023 12:48 PM
We learned that plastic pollution disproportionately burdens people who have the least flexibility in terms of what they can afford and access in terms of purchasing and what they have the opportunity to influence in terms of making change in manufacturing and clean up. It made me thing that, since we now know that climate anxiety is a real condition, we are systemically forcing people who are already burdened with many disadvantages into a "guiltier" position about plastics because they have fewer choices to effect change.

Read More
- Krystina Jarvis 7/31/2023 3:14 PM
  It's all so interconnected. I recently saw an interview Dr. Jane Goodall did where she said that the best solution to solving climate problems is ending poverty and it's so true.
  
  Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Bedroom

Was this an easy or difficult swap for you to make? Did you have any concerns before making the swap?
Carol Armstrong 7/31/2023 12:43 PM
This was not a difficult decision for me and I did not have any concerns before making the swap. I've been keeping my eye out for changes toward more choices in this area and was encouraged to see paper cardboard packaging offered by a major brand at a major retailer
(see attached photo).

Read More
- Krystina Jarvis 7/31/2023 3:21 PM
  Hey Carol! I hate to burst an eco-bubble, but unfortunately these bottles are greenwashing. The outer packaging is cardboard, but all the cardboard is doing is hiding a plastic bag inside of it😔 And that plastic bag is way less recyclable than a plastic jug, so it's even worse on that front. On the back of those bottles, too, it says "This package uses 66% less plastic than a typical 100oz laundry bottle," but it's only a 50oz bottle so even if it was a plastic bottle, it should already be using 50% less plastic. Greenwashing is so sneaky!
  
  Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Bedroom

How can you express your personality, creativity, and values in ways that don't require fast fashion or buying more clothes and accessories?
Carol Armstrong 7/31/2023 12:40 PM
You can practice sustainable fashion in a number of ways - mend or modify clothes you already have, participate in a buy-nothing exchange, purchase clothes at Goodwill or the Salvation Army or a vintage/reuse store, and/or you can buy sustainable clothing from retailers that are making strides to be plastic-free. You can also make your own clothes, jewelry, hats, etc. One group I heard of went to a used clothing store, and bought previously owned sweaters and then unraveled them to then use the yarn again to knit gloves for people experiencing homelessness!

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Bathroom

Currently most of the packaging for toothpaste is plastic. How can you advocate for more alternatives through your purchasing power and influence in community?
Carol Armstrong 7/31/2023 12:36 PM
I purchased solid toothpaste tabs in glass jars with metal lids for myself and then also bought some as prizes for participants in our "mystery plastic" identification game at the Zoo - in that way I'm encouraging others to try it, too!

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Bathroom

What 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?
Carol Armstrong 7/31/2023 12:33 PM
The benefit of using bar soaps and refilling travel sized containers is that it prevents me from purchasing more plastic and thereby I create less of a demand for plastic products. Yes - I think this is an action that I can continue.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Kitchen

Beyond reducing waste, there are many benefits to packing zero waste lunches (for kids or yourself!). What other benefits have you noticed from this practice?
Carol Armstrong 7/31/2023 12:31 PM
I eat healthier when I take the time to plan my zero waste lunches in advance - I also create more manageable / reasonable portions.

Read More