Coalition of North American Zoos and Aquariums

Plastic Free Ecochallenge 2023

July 1 - July 31, 2023

Janice Foltz

OKC Zoo and Botanical Garden

"Prioritize reduce, recycle and reuse for better utilization of resources while maintaining a cleaner environment"

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
1,815 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

34

plastic bottles

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

33

plastic straws

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

2.0

conversations

with people
UP TO

2.0

plastic containers

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

160

minutes

spent learning

Janice's actions

Family + Pets

Get Rid of Glitter

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Bathroom

Pearly Whites

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

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

Kitchen

Fill a Water Bottle

I will use a reusable bottle and stop purchasing bottled water, saving 1 disposable plastic bottle(s) a day.

COMPLETED 31
DAILY ACTIONS

Kitchen

Go Strawless

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

COMPLETED 31
DAILY ACTIONS

Study

Learn about Plastic Production

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Kitchen

Better Gum

I will give up gum or choose gum made from chicle or other plastic-free gum bases.

COMPLETED 31
DAILY ACTIONS

Bedroom

Natural Fibers

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

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 15 learning about the dangers of balloons and find eco-friendly alternatives to use instead.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Family + Pets

Discover Together

I will spend 15 minutes educating my family on the basics of living a reduced/no-plastic lifestyle.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Study

Plastic History Buff

Single-use plastics are everywhere, but that wasn't always the case. I will spend at least 20 minutes learning about the history of single-use plastics and how it became ubiquitous in our daily lives.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Study

Dig into Bioplastics

I will spend at least 20 minutes researching the impacts of bioplastics and how to properly dispose of them in my city, and I will share this information with 3 friends, family, and/or colleagues.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Bedroom

Practice Sustainable Fashion

I will spend 20 minutes learning about the costs of fast fashion and begin trying to practice sustainable fashion in my own life.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Bedroom

Ditch Dryer Sheets

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

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 20 minutes learning the different meanings the symbol can have.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Bedroom

Sunshine Bleached

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Kitchen

Travel Eating

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Participant Feed

REFLECTION QUESTION
Study

How has learning about the history of single-use plastic shifted your mindset on plastics and their function within society?
Janice Foltz 7/31/2023 6:02 AM
There are many uses for plastics that are important such as surgical gloves and even straws for those with disabilities. What has changed for me is understanding the excess use of plastic. I knew plastic waste was an issue but I guess the enormity of it was what surprised me. I skip grabbing for the plastic bag in the produce section at the store for bagging food like bananas that is unnecessary. I look for natural fibers instead of synthetics. I research products that don't have microbeads. So my mindset has changed in that I think before I buy. I research reviews of products so researching the contents of a product doesn't take that much time. Hopefully sharing my knowledge with others will be a small part of shifting the "market" which motivates companies to do the same. I am not perfect but I'm trying.

Read More
- Rose Bemo 7/31/2023 7:40 AM
  I’ve learned a lot from your posts Janice, thank you for sharing!
  
  Read More
Janice Foltz 7/30/2023 10:29 AM
Today I learned...
I am reading an article by S. Pascoe Ortiz published in PLOS journal. It states that some bioplastics are neither biodegradable nor compostable. I'm learning that regardless of our efforts in recycling, an equally or possibly a more important solution is reducing the production and abuse of plastic materials. It makes this ecochallange even more important to do.

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?
Janice Foltz 7/30/2023 10:10 AM
What surprised me is the high temperature needed in industrial composting facilities to break down bioplastics and that very few cities have the infrastructure to do so. We can become super recyclers but there are not enough infrastructure. My city's waste management does accept bioplastics but only if you are a resident of the city. So I'm not sure how residents in surrounding cities will dispose of their bioplastics.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Kitchen

Was this action easy or difficult to do? How did it change your travel experience?
Janice Foltz 7/29/2023 7:30 AM
This was not difficult. I prefer to use reusable containers. It keeps my snack separated and my sandwiches don't get squished like they do in disposable sandwich bags.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Bedroom

The simple act of hang drying your laundry can be an act of mindfulness. Where else in your daily routine can you make mindfulness a practice?
Janice Foltz 7/29/2023 7:28 AM
Not only can I hang dry laundry but I need to take more care in the detergents I buy which could be harmful to the environment. Also, purposefully buy clothing which are made with natural materials.

Read More
Janice Foltz 7/29/2023 7:26 AM
I learned that just because a product claims to recyclable doesn't mean it really is. We have to be diligent about researching what we buy and what alternatives there are. This challenge has been very informative.

Read More
Janice Foltz 7/28/2023 5:56 AM
Today I learned...
I was reading articles on microbeads and what products contain them. I was surprised by how many I used. So now I'm checking the ingredients list on my face washes, soaps and sunscreens for polyethylene and polypropylene and finding alternate products that don't have them. I'm finding lists online to help me choose.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Bedroom

What are the benefits (to people, animals, and the environment) of purchasing clothes made with natural fibers?
Janice Foltz 7/28/2023 5:49 AM
Natural fibers are more comfortable. Natural fibers do not adversely affective those who are prone allergies. From what I've read, organic cotton is grown without pesticides, growth regulators and synthetic chemical fertilizers. Gross! They are breathable which is important on these hot July days. For the environment and animals, they are biodegradable.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Family + Pets

How can you and your little one exercise your creativity without creating more plastic waste?
Janice Foltz 7/28/2023 5:44 AM
Instead of buying craft supplies, I would think of ways to use what I already have. When my kids were little we made doll houses out of carboard boxes. We used left over carpet squares for the flooring, cut out pictures from magazines for pictures, and small shoe boxes were cut to make a table. They colored coloring pages and used that for wallpaper. My mom had my childhood doll clothes and furniture that we used as well. Imagination is key.

Read More
Janice Foltz 7/27/2023 5:42 AM
Today I learned ...
I read about a non-profit organization that is developing and scaling technologies to rid the world's oceans of plastic. They were started by a 16 year old named Boyan Slat who learned about the "Great Garbage Patch" in school. He dropped out of school and founded "The Ocean Cleanup." I am always impressed by individuals who have such courage and guts to take on such a huge challenge and do something amazing.

Read More