Liz Evans

Although a long-standing festive tradition, balloons are harmful for animals and the environment. I will spend 5 learning about the dangers of balloons and find eco-friendly alternatives to use instead.

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

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

I will spend 5 minutes educating my family on the basics of living a reduced/no-plastic lifestyle.

I will pick up 1 piece(s) of litter each day.

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

Throughout its life cycle, polystyrene (styrofoam) can harm people, communities, and the planet. I will refuse styrofoam whenever I can, making sure to kindly let people know why I'm asking for alternative packaging.

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

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 replace 1 plastic bottles with glass or stainless steel alternatives.

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

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

The chasing arrows symbol we associate with recycling doesn't always actually mean something is recyclable. I will spend at least 5 minutes learning the different meanings the symbol can have.

Single-use plastics are everywhere, but that wasn't always the case. I will spend at least 5 minutes learning about the history of single-use plastics and how it became ubiquitous in our daily lives.