Marianne Barrier

I will spend 30 minutes learning about the costs of fast fashion and begin trying to practice sustainable fashion in my own life.

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.

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

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching the impacts of bioplastics and how to properly dispose of them in my city, and I will share this information with 2 friends, family, and/or colleagues.

I will use a reusable bottle and stop purchasing bottled water, saving 2 disposable plastic bottle(s) a day.

I will keep 3 plastic straw(s) out of the landfill per day by refusing straws or using my own reusable straw.

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

I will lobby my workplace to have reusable dishes and silverware in order to minimize disposables.

I will talk to the owner or manager of a restaurant I frequent to request that they reduce their use of single-use and disposable plastics.

I will hang-dry my laundry to use the sun as a natural bleach alternative, or use another natural bleach alternative.

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

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.

Using the action resource links below, my family will spend 30 minutes learning about environmental justice, causes of environmental injustice, and how plastic waste disproportionately impacts already vulnerable communities.

I will spend 30 minutes finding out where landfills and/or toxic waste sites are situated in my region and which communities are most impacted by these sites.

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

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.

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

I will swap out 2 prepackaged snacks a day for fresh fruits or veggies.

I will make my own cleaning products or choose plastic-free, refillable options.

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

I will use a microfiber catcher in my laundry, or install a microfiber filter for my washing machine.

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

I will give a shout-out on social media to a local company, coworker, friend or family member for their plastic free or green efforts.

Single-use plastics are everywhere, but that wasn't always the case. I will spend at least 30 minutes learning about the history of single-use plastics and how it became ubiquitous in our daily lives.

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

I will not buy anything except items required for health and safety.

I will spend at least 30 minute(s) touring (virtually or in person) a local dump/transfer station, material recovery facility, and/or landfill to learn about our local waste and waste recovery streams.

I will make my environmental actions visible by sharing about them on my social media networks and the Plastic Free Ecochallenge participant feed.