Hilary Loewenstein

I will keep 2 plastic straw(s) out of the landfill per day by refusing straws or using my own reusable straw.

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

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

Because many tea bags and most sleeves and sachets contain plastic, I will switch to using loose leaf tea.

I will spend 15 minutes learning about the costs of fast fashion and begin trying to practice sustainable fashion in my own life.

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

The chasing arrows symbol we associate with recycling doesn't always actually mean something is recyclable. I will spend at least 15 minutes learning the different meanings the symbol can have.

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

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

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 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 4 friends, family, and/or colleagues.

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

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 purchase food items with the least amount of packaging.

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

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

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

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

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

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 replace my plastic toothbrush with a bamboo toothbrush.

I will spend 15 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 prepare my own pet treats to avoid plastic packaging.