Coalition of North American Zoos and Aquariums

Plastic Free Ecochallenge 2023

July 1 - July 31, 2023

Susie Santilena

L.A. Zoo - Team Angeleno Plastic Eliminators (Team APE)

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
770 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

52

plastic bottles

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

126

pieces of plastic cutlery

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

63

plastic containers

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

160

minutes

spent learning

Susie's actions

Bathroom

Eco Deodorant

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

COMPLETED
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 25
DAILY ACTIONS

Kitchen

Cook a Plastic Free Meal

I will prepare meals at home each day without using any items packaged in single-use plastic.

COMPLETED 25
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

Kitchen

Try a New Recipe

I will try new recipe(s) or food preparation method(s) each day, such as canning, pickling, making yogurt, or baking granola bars or bread.

COMPLETED 6
DAILY ACTIONS

Bedroom

Eco Detergent

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Kitchen

Use Reusable Utensils

I will keep 3 plastic cutlery out of the landfill per day by using my own reusable cutlery.

COMPLETED 27
DAILY ACTIONS

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 27
DAILY ACTIONS

Kitchen

Switch to Loose Leaf Tea

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

COMPLETED 22
DAILY ACTIONS

Kitchen

Minimize Packaging

I will purchase food items with the least amount of packaging.

COMPLETED 23
DAILY ACTIONS

Bedroom

Practice Sustainable Fashion

I will spend 60 minutes learning about the costs of fast fashion and begin trying to practice sustainable fashion in my own life.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Family + Pets

DIY Cat Litter

I will swap out my cat's litter for sawdust, mulch, or dirt with baking soda.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Bathroom

Say No to "Flushable Wipes"

Wipes don't break down in sewer systems, but combine with fat to create massive clogs. I will find alternatives to using disposable wipes.

COMPLETED 23
DAILY ACTIONS

Participant Feed

REFLECTION QUESTION
Kitchen

With the added mindfulness of reducing your packaging, what have you noticed about the amount and type of single use plastics used for packaging when you shop in the grocery store?
Susie Santilena 7/30/2023 11:27 AM
As much as I love Trader Joes, the way they sometimes wrap veggies in saran wrap is so wasteful and unnecessary. Cucumbers, really?! I also realized how wasteful it is to see people grab a bunch of plastic produce bags and put one kind of veggie in each. I like how much less waste I make when I can skip buying them from the grocery store and get produce bag deliveries from CSU, Inc. or grow veggies in my garden instead. Plus, the difference in flavor is worth it! For those who aren't privileged enough to have the space, community gardening and produce bag subscriptions are good options.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Kitchen

Do an inventory of your kitchen to see how many single-use plastics you've used in the past. What are some resuable alternatives to these commonly used products? What would your impact be if you switched all the single-use products from your inventory to reusable?
Susie Santilena 7/30/2023 11:21 AM
I think the biggest culprits I see in my kitchen are ziplock backs and takeout containers. I try to even reuse these by washing them for as long as I can, but ziplocks especially reach a limit. Some friends turned me on to wax food wraps, which work well for snacks, but not wet stuff. I've also found reusable ziplocks made of sturdier material, but it's still plastic. I think the best option for me is to use the items I have to death, then replace with adorable glass and metal bottles and jars.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Family + Pets

Other species can teach us important lessons about ourselves and life in general. What has your cat taught you?
Susie Santilena 7/30/2023 10:15 AM
My cat taught me the importance of play and relaxation! They also taught me how to give them treats for doing the most simple tasks. Rewards are important.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Kitchen

How can you be an advocate for using reusables instead of disposables for the rest of your community? Where are they currently dependent on disposable food packaging or eating utensils, and how can you convince them of the need for change?
Susie Santilena 7/21/2023 2:16 PM
Besides setting an example with my own reusables, one way I can advocate for reusables instead of disposables is by bringing reusable utensils and items to wash them to work, let colleagues know, and keep them in an easily accessible place in the lunchroom.

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