Itzel Molenaar

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

I will recycle used contact lenses and packaging.

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

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

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

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

I will keep 1 plastic cutlery out of the landfill per day by using my own reusable cutlery.

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.

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

I will swap out 1 prepackaged snacks a day for fresh fruits or veggies.

I will spend 5 minutes learning about the costs of fast fashion and begin trying to practice sustainable fashion in my own life.

I will host or participate in a beach, highway, river, or other cleanup effort in my community.

I will paint rooms in my home with low/no VOC or natural paints.

I will use a microfiber catcher in my laundry, or install a microfiber filter for my washing machine.

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

I will find secondhand sources for my pet's water/food dishes, collars or leashes.

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

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

I will give my pets natural alternatives to toys like femur bones and antlers, canvas, natural rubber, hemp, rope or cotton toys. Or make our own toys from recycled items found in our home!

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

I will replace my pet's shampoo with an eco-friendly shampoo bar or refillable shampoo option.

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

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

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.

I will replace 4 plastic bottles with glass or stainless steel alternatives.

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.

I will spend at least 5 minutes researching the impacts of bioplastics and how to properly dispose of them in my city, and I will share this information with 1 friends, family, and/or colleagues.

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

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 replace single use diapers with reusable cloth diapers.

I will make better choices for the environment and my baby's bum by using reusable baby wipes most or all of the time.