Samantha Howard

"I will strive to reduce the amount of non-reusable plastic I utilize and waste in my every day life through this eco-challenge "

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
270 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

1.0

pieces plastic cutlery

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

11

plastic containers

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

10

minutes

spent learning

Samantha's actions

Kitchen

Choose Reusable Food Storage

I will only use reusable containers instead of single-use plastic storage items (such as plastic wrap, single-use sandwich bags).

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Kitchen

Skip Plastic Bags

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

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Kitchen

Plastic Free Lunch Boxes

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

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Kitchen

Clean Plate Club

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Study

Complete a Waste Audit

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

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Study

Estimate Your Ecological Footprint

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

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Study

Plastic History Buff

Single-use plastics are everywhere, but that wasn't always the case. I will spend at least 15 minutes learning about the history of single-use plastics and how it became ubiquitous in our daily lives.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Study

Dig into Bioplastics

I will spend at least 15 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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Family + Pets

Balloons Blow

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Participant Feed

REFLECTION QUESTION
Kitchen

How difficult was this challenge for you? What made it easy or difficult?
Samantha Howard 7/09/2023 9:44 AM
This challenge was not too difficult for me. We stocked up on reusable, paper bags from Aldi and can now reuse them anywhere we go grocery shopping. It is also very convenient that these bags are larger and more durable than the small, thin plastic bags, so less is needed to carry more items, and we can take fewer trips from the car to inside the house now when we bring groceries in! It's a win-win!

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Kitchen

How can you think outside the box (or bag!) when it comes to disposables?
Samantha Howard 7/09/2023 9:41 AM
We have an abundance of various sized glass food storage containers with rubber lids at home. We barely even have any plastic, reusable tupperware containers. Besides the positive environmental impact, the glass containers are also much easier to clean than tupperware, I have found. Leftover spaghetti in tupperware = forever red-tinted tupperware. That is not the case in a glass container! Ha!

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Kitchen

Beyond reducing waste, there are many benefits to packing zero waste lunches (for kids or yourself!). What other benefits have you noticed from this practice?
Samantha Howard 7/09/2023 9:37 AM
By packing zero waste lunches, one will notice many long-term benefits aside from reducing wasting including: spending less money and taking fewer trips to the grocery store to purchase non-reusable food packaging, cutlery, etc., limiting your exposure to plastics like BPA and BPS that could contaminate your food, and streamlining your daily routine.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Kitchen

How easy was this swap for you? Did you have any concerns before making it?
Samantha Howard 7/09/2023 9:34 AM
I had previously been buying the large, gallon size liquid soap in attempt to reduce my plastic usage as I would not be more frequently purchasing smaller plastic liquid soap containers. I had also previously thought that in order to make my own soap, that I would still be consuming a decent amount of plastics because of the ingredients I would need to purchase for the recipe, but was pleased to recognize that many of those ingredients to make soap come in cardboard packaging rather than plastic. This has made me much more vigilant when it comes to look for products that come in non-plastic packaging and purchasing those over similar products that come in plastic packaging.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Family + Pets

Had you ever considered the environmental impact of balloons before? How can you share this information with your friends and family to encourage them to avoid balloons, too?
Samantha Howard 7/09/2023 9:27 AM
Before working at the zoo, I had never strongly considered the detrimental effects that balloons had on the environment. By conducting some independent research on the environmental impacts of balloons, while I did learn about some negative consequences, such as pollution, injury or death to wildlife, and interference with electrical powerlines and other important machinery, I also learned about some eco-friendly alternatives to balloons for celebrations. I even found an interesting article with comprehension reflection questions that could be used in a classroom setting to encourage students to avoid balloons, and use other means to celebrate. Some of my favorite alternatives that I learned about include: diy confetti made from autumn leaves and shaped hole punches, party garland made out of flowers, leaves, and vines, and potted plants that can then be sent home as party favors for guests. Putting these alternatives into practice would be one great way to encourage and spread this information regarding balloon usage to others.

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