Robert Balaban

I will replace my soaps, shampoos, conditioners, and lotions with sustainable, unpackaged, or refillable options.

When it's time to buy more, I will replace my beauty products with refillable, sustainable, and/or DIY options.

I will spend 10 minutes learning about the costs of fast fashion and begin trying to practice sustainable fashion in my own life.

I will calculate my ecological footprint, and from the results brainstorm and take action on ways I can reduce my annual footprint.

Plastic production, not just disposal, pollutes communities and harms people. I will learn about the impacts of plastic production on humans, animals, communities, and the environment.

I will conduct a waste audit - including recyclables and compost - to understand how much waste I create and where I can reduce the most.

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.

Although a long-standing festive tradition, balloons are harmful for animals and the environment. I will spend 10 learning about the dangers of balloons and find eco-friendly alternatives to use instead.

I will teach my little ones about microplastics while we do a craft project together using glitter alternatives.

Contamination prevents what is recyclable from being recycled. I will spend 10 minutes researching which materials are accepted by local haulers or drop stations in my community and recycle only those items.

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

I will use wool dryer balls or another plastic-free alternative to dryer sheets to keep my clothes static-free.

When possible, I will not use disposable bags when shopping, including produce bags.

I will keep 3 plastic cutlery out of the landfill per day by using my own reusable cutlery.

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

I will spend 15 minutes finding out where landfills and/or toxic waste sites are situated in my region and which communities are most impacted by these sites.

Using the action resource links below, my family will spend 10 minutes learning about environmental justice, causes of environmental injustice, and how plastic waste disproportionately impacts already vulnerable communities.

I will host a watch party with friends and/or colleagues to watch and discuss a movie about plastics.

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