Sarah Best

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

I will spend 5 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 replace my plastic toothbrush with a bamboo toothbrush.

I will make the switch to sustainable, reusable period products.

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

I will purchase food items with the least amount of packaging.

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

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

I will use a reusable bottle and stop purchasing bottled water, saving 3 disposable plastic bottle(s) a day.

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

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

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

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

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 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.

Single-use plastics are everywhere, but that wasn't always the case. I will spend at least 10 minutes learning about the history of single-use plastics and how it became ubiquitous in our daily lives.

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

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

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

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

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 not buy anything except items required for health and safety.

When I need to replace my dish soap, I will switch to a bar or refillable option.

I will spend at least 10 minutes researching the impacts of bioplastics and how to properly dispose of them in my city, and I will share this information with 5 friends, family, and/or colleagues.

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.

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.

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.

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

If traveling, I will bring my own snacks and meals in my own containers to avoid the waste of take-out containers.

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

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